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“Ugh, you’re soaking, and you smell like brine.” She pushed me away with a smile, then looked around. “Where’s Sprig?”

Her question popped every protective bubble I had put around myself, not daring to even think of him since the explosion. I gave him a lot of shit, but that was what we did. He did feel like my little brother. And the love I felt for him… I sensed the hole burrowing into my chest, exactly in the outline of the sprite who stole everyone’s heart.

“Croygen, where’s Sprig?” Annabeth stepped back, intuition bristling her shoulders.

I wasn’t able to breathe, the agony almost crumpling me over.

“Anna…” I could barely get out her name, my words evaporating on my tongue. Everything felt in slow motion, seeing Ty and Cane climb onto the deck, the flag snapping in the air like a whip. “He-he didn’t make—”

“How DARE you peons treat the high lord, super Monkey-Sprite God King in this manner.” The voice speared through my chest, whirling me around to a drenched monkey on top of Cane’s shoulder, his face furrowed. “I smell like wet dog now.”

“Sprig?” My cry bottomed out, my head and heart still not wanting to fully believe what my eyes saw. “I-I thought…”

“That might be your problem, butt-muncher. You tried to think.”

“Sprig!” I couldn’t stop. Barreling over to him, I swiped up his tiny, wet body from Cane, holding him tight against my chest. A sob squeezed out, turning into a wheeze.

He was alive. He was here. He was safe.

“I can’t breathe, pirate.” He tried to push his head out of my hands. “You’re trying to kill me. Again! I mean, you didn’t even get me lunch before. Or was it dinner? Ohhhh, is it too late for pancakes? Do you smell dog too? Oh, but a honey-dipped hotdog would be satisfactory. I mean, until you got me a proper meal.”

“Shut up, gerbil.” I kissed his head. My lids squeezed for a moment, taking a huge exhale, needing a moment. Katrina didn’t touch me, but I felt her there, her body calming mine though she was feet away. “How? How did you escape?”

“Please.” Sprig rolled his eyes, squirming from my hands and sitting in my palm. “Who do you think I am?” He motioned to himself, taking my notice of his singed tail. “I am a god! Fire does not dare touch me. Death flees in my presence. Danger is in awe of my power.”

“Really?” I tried to hide my smile. “And what happened here?” I picked up his overcooked tail.

“It dared for a moment, but then I put it in its place.”

“You ran for it.” I chuckled.

“Whatever. I caught up with those two mutts on the roof after.”

“Then he passed out.” Cane rumbled, holding his side. “I stuffed him in my pocket.”

“And you didn’t tell me?”

“Between which time were we being shot at did you want us to chat?” Cane glowered.

Fair enough.

“Thank you.” I held Cane’s gaze. He dipped his head, both of us looking away quickly, not liking having to be nice to each other.

“Zid, can you look at his injury?” I asked my crew member, nodding at his still bleeding wound.

“Sure.” Zidane motioned for him to follow, both brothers going down into the galley.

“Wait, that man makes the food, right?” Sprig already jumped off my shoulder, darting after Zid. “Do you have honey knots? Honey churros? Honey meatballs? Honey chicken nuggets in honey dipping sauce? Honey vanilla pound cake…” His voice disappeared under the ship after the men.

Fuck, I loved that little sprite.

“Ummm, Captain?” Vane called from the railing. “I think it’s time to go.”

Glancing past him, I saw a Chinese junk ship sailing out of the port, Batara’s flag waving from it, heading for us.

“Tsai!” I yelled out her name. “It’s time for your magic.”

“Boy, my magic has been dropping men to their knees since my first husband.”