Page 53 of Wicked Sea and Sky

Marin was back, and she was pissed.

But I’d take her any way I could get her. This time was going to be different. It had to be. I didn’t know what happened or where she’d been. But I’d find out.

I studied the dagger. The hilt was ornamented with raised metalwork, vines twisting over the surface and ending near the cross guard in an elaborate C. I recognized it immediately.

“A little sloppy, Mare. Unless you want to be found,” I murmured, tucking the dagger under my belt.

My lips curled into a smile, the first real one in three years.

The hunt was on.

***

When the conservatory door opened, I thrust a potted plant into Cass’s hands and charged past her.

“I got you a housewarming gift, three years late. Mine must’ve gotten lost in the post. Where is she, Cass?”

“Where is who?” Cass bent to sniff the blooms and shut the door behind me.

“Don’t play games you can’t win. I’m not in the mood.”

“Nor am I, considering I haven’t seen your face in years.” She mimed rubbing her chin. “A little scruffy, aren’t you? What happened? You used to be socharming.”

“You know very well what happened. I’m here because Marin left me a note, along with this.” I unsheathed Cass’s dagger, twirled it over my thumb, and then sank it into the soil of a nearby plant. “I believe this is yours. Now, where are you hiding her?”

Cass scoffed. “I see how it is. We don’t talk for three years after that last fight between the four of us, and suddenly, the hint of Marin is in the air, and you’re on my doorstep. What am I? Chopped onions?”

I glared at her. “You’re right. You are chopped onions.”

She scowled and eyed her dagger planted in the soil. The glint in her eye made me think she wanted to use it, not on onions, but on me.

“But…” I hedged, scraping a hand through my hair. “After everything that was said… I didn’t know how to fix it. Silence felt easier. Kept the wounds scarred.”

“Yeah. Me too, I guess.” Cass looked away. “It still hurt,though.” She sighed. “But look, I’m not hiding Marin. She showed up on my doorstep, out of the blue. When I saw her, I thought I must’ve smacked my head on a garden statue and joined her on the other side. But she was real. I’m as shocked as you.”

Cass waved me away as I continued my search, pushing aside ferns and checking behind the fountain.

“You’re wasting your time. Marin’s not here. Truthfully. She came back this morning, ranting about how she spoke to your niece and that you stole her house. Then she left.” Cass crossed her arms. “Mind explaining either of those things?”

“Annie is Bowen’s kid. He got married last year. And the little hellion likes to call me her uncle. There’s no stopping it,” I grumbled.

“I didn’t know. I guess I should send flowers.” Cass chewed the corner of her lip and slumped into a chair. “And the house?”

“Someone was going to buy it, and I had the funds.” I paced over the vines creeping across the tile. “I thought it should stay with us. That Marin would’ve wanted it that way. It seemed like thecharmingthing to do.”

Cass winced and muttered under her breath, “Oh, Marin. How did everything get so messed up?”

I scraped a chair across the floor, batting away a giant vine as I straddled the seat. This morning’s headache pounded like a hammer behind my eyes. I needed answers.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Look, none of this makes sense. Just start by telling me—is she all right?”

Cass glanced away, concern softening her features. While I waited, I looked around the room. None of us was where we were supposed to be. Except for Bowen, but he’d riskedeverything to get there. Cass and I were still sitting in the shadows.

“No,” Cass answered softly. “Marin’s in trouble. And I’m scared, Gav. She’s not the same. I mean… she’s Marin. But she’s hurting.”

I breathed a curse and dropped my head into my hands.

She’s hurting?