“I should have enough air to last me until the surface, but perhaps draw some on your friend.”
I adorn either side of Antoni’s neck with red stripes that absorb into his skin. “You never told me why you’re doing all of this?”
“Didn’t I?”
“No, you were extremely vague.”
“I’m doing this because keeping Shabbin civilization locked away from ours hasn’t made us greater; it’s made us weaker, poorer.” His eyes glaze over. “But that’s not my only reason.”
I wait with bated breath for him to go on.
“My true reason is that I want access to the Cauldron.”
Though curious as to why a full-blooded Faerie, with Shabbin magic to boot, longs to access the Cauldron, I don’t ask. Hasn’t he been generous enough with his secrets?
“You could’ve crossed through the wards,” I say instead.
“And abandon my family? I suppose you don’t know me yet, Fallon, but understand that family comes first.”
Does he considermefamily?
“I may not be an outstanding specimen, but I’ve principles.”
“You’re a most perplexing man, Nonno.” I stare at the face I’ve come to know andnotloathe.
The single candle that still burns in the ceiling lamp gilds the silver strands in the rusty mass of the general’s hair.
“What will you do once we get out?”
“I’ll hunt down Meriam and Dante.”
Like an ocean swell, my pulse surges and dashes itself into every little corner of my body. “You don’t think he’ll come out of the tunnels on his own?”
“As long as the Crows soar over Luce and the tunnels exist, he won’t risk showing his teeth.”
So to run him out, we will have to destroy the tunnels entirely . . . “And the Crows will never fall.” I watch for his reaction as the water gulps down Costa’s portrait. “Right?”
“Right.”
“So we’re on the same side?”
“We’re on the same side.”
“Will you still be on my side when I end Dante’s life?”
“Hopefully, I will beatyour side.” Although I don’t ask him to baste his tongue in salt, he licks his salt-crusted lips. “Fallon of Shabbe and of Luce, Child of theRahnach bi’Adh, I swear to serve you until my very last breath.”
I suck in a breath as the skin of my bicep prickles, burns. I peer at my pockmarked arm that now glows with a bargain. My very first one. I whip my attention toward Justus who’s studying it too.
His eyes shine with tender satisfaction. “Just in case you forget to call on me in times of need.”
I’m so stunned by his declaration that I barely register his intent when he swims toward me and holds out his dagger.
“Prick your finger.”
I blink out of my heart-eyed daze and slash the tip over the point of the blade. I start to reach up but what if— What if we get swept away at sea and separated? “Tell me where my mother is.”
“She’s in the ocean.”
