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‘I … I see.’ That was optimism bordering on untruth. I needed to have a good word with Agenor about this brand new family tradition of swearing ourselves to gods – hell knew what else I might be unprepared for. ‘Of course. I’ll try to come up with something, then. What … what is the plan?’

Perhaps we should return to Tolya, Creon dryly suggested.Not sure if our new family member would be happy if we resumed our activities before her very eyes.

Something told me the tiny falcon would object loudly and violently if we made the mistake of testing that theory. I grimaced and said, ‘Let’s not risk it. I’d like to keep your naughty bits undamaged, if possible.’

Wise. He paused to pick up his shirt from the deck.Don’t think you’ll find a better replacement anywhere.

I sucked the last bit of red from my dress just to fling it at him. He whirled away in a burst of laughter, chest still shaking as he pulled his shirt over his wings and shoulders.

‘Alright,’ I said, suppressing my grin as I turned back to the yet to-be-named bird – gods help me, how did one name a bird? ‘We’re going back to the nymph isle over there. They don’t yet know I’m godsworn, so maybe it would be wise if you were to hide yourself for a bit while we try to—’

My newfound familiar interrupted me with a furious squeak, fluffing up her downy feathers until she oddly resembled a ball of yarn on legs.

I think that’s a no, Creon offered.

‘For fuck’s sake,’ I said, glaring at her and then at him. ‘Listen, the nymphs—’

Are Zera’s patron people, he signed with a shrug.They might grant a sworn mage a few more favours than a treasonous fae puppet.

‘But Lyn didn’t tell Helenka.’

It’s not her secret to tell. Did you expect her to go around boasting about your powers?

That was a perspective I had not considered yet. ‘Not particularly, but …’

It’s a pretty convincing argument you’ve got here, really. He raked a free hand through his long locks, thinking for a moment.No one in his right mind would argue that Zera supports my bid for the empire’s throne. So the fact that she swore you in regardless … Well, as soon as you’re ready to spread that news, it may turn some heads.

As soon as I was ready. I glanced at my bird familiar, who was slowly shrinking back to her usual size, then at the distant green shores of Tolya.Ready, as usual, was too optimistic a word – but my newfound powers had claimed me in any case. Wouldn’t it be best to just confidently and wholeheartedly claim them back?

I threw a last doubtful look at the feathery little monster on the taffrail. She fluttered up with a joyful squeak, and somehow it was that sound of unbridled excitement that gave me the last nudge I needed.

‘Fine.’ I would be ready when I needed to be. ‘Let’s go upset a few more nymphs, in that case.’

Chapter 25

Thelittlebirdprotestedloudly when Creon scooped me into his arms, and she did not calm down until I patiently explained that those fluffy wings of hers would never be able to hold my weight. Even then, she scowled at Creon from her spot on the wooden rail, squeaking aggressively when he swept out his dark wings and launched the two of us into the air with a powerful slap or two.

As he soared towards the waiting shores of Tolya, she shot past us at twice his speed, then darted around in mid-air and waited for us to catch up.See?her triumphant chirping seemed to tell us.Not so fast now with those big wings of yours, are you?

It was pure blasphemy for Creon’s laughter to come out silently; itneededits sound, damn it, that burst of amusement that shook his whole body and turned the gorgeous mask of his face into a far more gorgeous mirror of the soul below. Before I could tell him to ignore the challenge, his wingbeats accelerated. We shot forward so fast that the wind stilled every cry I might have uttered, and my little falcon squeaked in outrage and surged forward with even more vehement flapping of her wings.

Just like that, her name hit me.

It emerged in my mind with absolute certainty, just as the understanding of her thoughts had done before. Of course. Ofcourse.Sucking in a lungful of briny sea air, I lifted my head from Creon’s taut shoulder and yelled, ‘Alyra?’

She pivoted mid-wingbeat, frozen in surprise for just a moment. Then, with a joyful yelp, she raced back to us, whirled one full circle around us with such vigour that she nearly flew face-first into Creon’s left wing, and darted off again, still twittering ecstatically as she fluttered farther towards Tolya.

Well.

That was a yes, I supposed.

Only then, when I was sure we would not be hit by a feisty, feathery projectile any moment, did I dare to look up at Creon. He met my gaze with quiet, shining eyes. A look of approval on the surface, but something far more meaningful than that lingering just below …Alyra, the Eagle, a spring constellation named after the proud mythical bird who flew too fast and found herself stuck between the stars with no way back home.

‘I’ve been reading your book,’ I said, as if that explanation was still needed.

A hint of a smile played at the corners of his mouth – a smile that abruptly reminded me why I’d been about to kiss him senseless mere minutes ago. It took a stern reminder of the rapidly diminishing distance to the watching eyes of Tolya to stop myself from revisiting that plan immediately.

We flew on, Alyra dancing ahead of us. With every wingbeat, the shoreline of the island came closer, the waters of the many bays and coves sparkling in a thousand shades of turquoise and aquamarine. At the sight of those pristine white beaches and the verdant trees beyond, it was hard not to feel like a rumpled mess; my dress stuck damp and stiff to my skin, and my hair was a tangle of rough strands sticky with salt. Then again, what would Helenka expect – that I’d rise from a desperate battle looking like Miss Matilda’s finest clients, ready for court?