Couldn’t talk. Tried. Managed a sound. Chirr. Question.
“The heavy ones on the bottom. I know. I saw.” Her hand still on my chest. “The poetry near the pillows. Where I could reach them in the dark.”
Remembered. Chose those. Chose them for her.
“And the astronomy text with the star charts. You put that where the light comes through in the morning.”
Yes. So she could. Read them. With the sun.
“You remembered everything I said. Every book I mentioned. Every preference.”
Wings burning. Muscles tearing. Keep flying.
“That’s not instinct, Tavrin. That’s not the beast. That’s you.”
The balcony. There. Right there.
I folded my wings too early. Hit stone instead of air. Rolled. Kept them tucked against me, kept the precious cargo safe, took the impact with my shoulder and back.
Stone under me. Cold. Good.
Good.
“Tavrin?”
I should get up. Should take them inside. Nest is warm. Safe.
Couldn’t move.
“Tavrin!”
Her face above me. Stars behind her. No, those weren’t stars. Spots in my vision. Darkness eating the edges.
“No. No no no. Stay with me.”
Tried. Tried to lift my hand. Show her I was fine. Hand wouldn’t move.
“Elspeth, help me. We need to get him inside.”
Hands on me. Small ones, large ones. Pulling. I was too heavy. Deadweight. All these feathers, all this mass, and I couldn’t make any of it work.
“Please.” Wren’s voice cracked. “Please, Tavrin. You don’t get to do this. You don’t get to save us and then do this to me.”
Wanted to tell her. Not dying. Just empty. Gave everything. Nothing left.
Her lips on my forehead. Hot. She felt hot now. That meant I was cold. Bad sign.
“I’m not losing you. Do you hear me? I didn’t choose you just to lose you.”
Choose.
She chose me.
She chose me and I chose her and the bond was right there, I could feel it, waiting, coiled, ready to pounce.
“Whatever you need.” Her voice. Fierce. Desperate. “Whatever it takes. I’ll do it. Just tell me how to help you.”
The bond.
