When he hit the water, he still hadn’t finished changing. I knew it’d be the same for the others.
I gulped a breath a mere blink before the sea devoured metoo.
It was a miracle that my bones didn’t shatter. They certainly felt like they had. I couldn’t tell how deep I sank. Eerie stripes of moonlight illuminated the water, passing over my body like ghosts.
While my hands flailed, my legs instinctively kicked, propelling me upward. I swam for the surface, my head growing light and heavy at the same time. My lungs pinched tight, my heart pumping madly to keep me alive.
I kicked harder. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Reiji struggling to grasp a piece of debris. I grabbed him, pain spasming through my hands.
I wrapped my arm around his neck, kicking both of us to shore, where Kiki and the rest of my brothers were waiting.
The twins greeted Reiji and me, but Andahai and Hasho were crouched beside Benkai. My second brother had collapsed on the sand.
I ran to him.Benkai!
Hasho propped him up, and Andahai shook him until, finally, Benkai spat sand and seawater.
I wasn’t the only one who collapsed with relief.
“You scared us, Brother.” Andahai punched Benkai in the shoulder. “We thought you’d died.”
Benkai managed a smile. “It’ll take more than the Dragon King to killme.” Seawater dripped from his hair onto the thin robe over his shoulders. “But if we keep away from the Taijin Sea for a while, I won’t complain.”
I threw my arms around him, laughing silently as I huggedhim.
“You’re hurt,” said Hasho, seeing me flinch as I withdrew from the hug. He took my arm. “Benkai, quick. Come take a look.”
It’s nothing.I hid my hands behind my back, away from my brothers’ inspection, but Benkai was firm.
“Let me see, Shiori.”
With great reluctance, I held out my palms, and Hasho and Benkai both inhaled sharply.
This morning, my hands had been those of a young girl. Callused from my hard work at Sparrow Inn, with some cooking burns that were still healing—but otherwise smooth and unblemished. Now my skin was raw, bubbling with silver and red veins that mirrored the starstroke’s leaves. The burning pain had subsided, but simply curling my fingers still hurt enough to make me clench my teeth.
It’ll pass,I gestured with a shrug.It’s already getting better.
Not believing me, Hasho ripped his sleeve and wrapped my hands. He held my shoulders, half smiling at me.
What is it?I mouthed.Do I have kelp in my hair?
“You look like her,” said Hasho, his eyes fierce and proud. “Mama.”
I did? My brothers had never said that.
“Only a little,” Reiji replied. “Mama was more beautiful. And infinitely less impulsive.”
I glared at him, but a slight smile—one that wasn’t unkind—spread across his face. “You’re yourself, Shiori. The knot that holds us together, whether we like it or not.”
Then he and my brothers did something they had never done before: they bowed, lowering their heads in respect.
Get up,I mouthed, ushering them to rise.Honestly—Kiki, can you tell them to get up?
My paper bird tilted her head to the side coyly.It’s not my place to tell the princes of Kiata what to do.
Only the princess?
Only the princess.
