Page 144 of A Cursed Son

I exhale, all my panic gone. Still holding him, I ask, “Why do you use a Tiurian word?”

He breaks the embrace to look at me. “Oh. You mean… Why not? Aramids uses it in some of his poetry. Mostly, to be very honest, it was dream me who said it.” The corner of his mouth lifts. “Was it why you wanted a dictionary?”

“Hmm. Yes.” Sure, it’s embarrassing, but I’m not going to come up with a stupid lie now. “I wanted to understand why you were calling me that.”

He chuckles. “It’s just wife.”

“In a forbidden language.”

He tilts his head. “Why? Do you think Tiurian words will make things manifest or something? You’re my wife already, like it or not.”

“No, I… Like I said, it’s forbidden.”

The amusement vanishes from his face, and he says slowly, “This is not Krastel, Astra.”

“I know. Where exactly are we, by the way?”

He pauses. “This is the Wild Forest. We’re already in the Shadow Lands, but still close to the Dark Court.”

Shadow Lands—where no court rules. “Doesn’t sound safe.”

“We’ll be brief.” His jaw is tight.

I can see that he’s tenser than usual, perhaps more alert.

“I guess… we’re getting there?”

His eyes are distant, his expression thoughtful. “Yes.” He then turns and looks back. “I got our suitcase.”

I see it lying in the boat behind him and smile. “You know, you could have summoned it in front of me. It’s not like it’s a secret or something.”

“It doesn’t work like that. But it means you can change now.”

Indeed. I’m still wearing the multi-leaves dress, and I’m glad Lidiane’s such an amazing dressmaker that all the sewing doesn’t prickle.

The boat slows down, and for the first time, I realize Marlak has been using his magic to move it. What was I thinking? That it was the current? I was definitely tired.

He turns, opens the suitcase, then beckons me. “Put aside what you want to wear. I’ll turn around, and you can jump in the water. The river’s shallow up here and your feet will touch the bottom.”

I could tease him and tell him he’d seen me naked innumerable times, but then I fear he’ll get grumpy. Plus, I’m glad to have the space to freshen up. Then I recall something. “Aren’t there nymphs here?”

He chuckles. “Not right here, no. Their magic protects us, but they won’t come to see you naked, Astra. There’s nothing to fear.”

“I was just wondering,” I say as I search for the first hook on my back.

He chuckles and turns around. “If something scares you, yell.”

“I will.”

It’s a little difficult to reach behind me and open my dress, but I manage it, and get rid of my clothes and the underwear, so that I’m standing here naked. Naked on a small boat with Marlak. What would happen if I breached the distance between us and touched him?

Well, he’d probably complain. With that thought, I jump in the river. The water isn’t that cold, but it helps to waken me. My feet soon reach the sandy bottom, and I’m glad to have footing. Do I have footing in my life?

What happens if I decide I’m no longer a Krastel elite guard, that I’m no longer loyal to Otavio and the Krastel King? Do I even have any shred of loyalty left for them? At least I don’t need to think about that now.

I pull myself up, back to the boat, then feel a current of air around me, making me shiver for some seconds, until I’m dry. Marlak’s magic sometimes is impressive.

I smile. “Thanks.”