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“So, toward the end of the year, the same time passes as in the other kingdoms?”
“It’s why merchants travel during fall and spring.”
That made sense. Was that why the pirates had been in the city on the night of the Crows’ attack?
“I feel recovered enough to go back to the castle. We need to make sure Devon is alive and well at least,” Arkimedes said. “And then we can leave this place and not return until the king dies.”
44
NAVA
It had been a month since the big altercation with Leir in the forest, and life had settled into a peaceful routine. It turned out that the dukedom was in an uninhabitable state, so they couldn’t leave as easily as they’d dreamed. Still, they refused to stay in the castle again. There were too many bad memories there, not least of which the consorts attempting to kill Nava.
Only one of them was still alive—the blonde with the sweet voice who had seen Aristaeus that night. She avoided both Nava and Arkimedes as if her life depended on it, which, given how angry her soulmate had been when he’d learned of her actions, it probably did.
For a time, they rented a place by the sea, waiting for Devon to return. On their arrival at the castle, they had spoken to him briefly while Nava healed him—only for him to vanish into thin air without leaving a word behind as to his whereabouts. After her initial panic, Arkimedes managed to reassure her that he would show up again in no time. But then a day turned into a week and then a month. And then another.
Now they were set to leave the Copper City for their new home, the city of Milania in the Dukedom of Elara, and Devon was still missing. Where was he? Was he well? And if he was, how would he ever find them in their new home?
“I left a message with the castle’s staff yesterday. If Devon sends a letter there, they will forward it to Elara.” Arkimedes’s voice shook slightly when he mentioned his brother’s name. His hand tightened around hers as they walked along the seawall toward the ports. The streets were busy with vendors, and the heavy scent of freshly caught fish and seawater hung in the air. A hint of hope bloomed through their bond, and Nava had to swallow past the thick knot in her throat at Arkimedes’s emotions.
“Devon will find us, Ark,” she said with a tentative smile. “Just like he was able to track you to Grey Island.”
By the time they made it to port, the sun was setting behind the horizon. A gigantic ship, unlike anything she’d ever seen before, had docked an hour ago. It could easily transport a thousand people. However, instead of sails, a giant, elongated globe hovered above it.
“What’s that?” Nava asked, standing on tiptoes.
“It’s an Iron City ship. They call them blimps, and they’ve been circulating the world more as of late. They’re hybrids, so people can travel by both sea and air.” Arkimedes wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her toward him.
She sighed, enjoying the way her stomach fluttered at his warmth. A feeling she could only describe as utter delight burst through her chest. “Does it fly with magic?” The giant ball appeared to be made from canvas, and aged brass beams ran along its sides like metal ribs. It matched the ship’s circular windows.
“All I know is that magical crystals power them.” Arkimedes’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “Once, the Crows sent me to shut down a tinkerer’s workshop. Since they are powered by magic, the Society thought it entitled them to the blimps. The king canceled my mission after it caused an uproar with the citizens. Thankfully.”
“Of course they wanted first dibs.” Nava indicated the ship with her open palm, shaking her head.
She had received Cameron’s letter less than a week ago. Despite the difficult circumstances that had led to her contacting him, he had sounded excited to be reunited with her.
Would she spot him as he came down the ramp of the ship? Had his hair changed while they’d been apart? For her, four long months had passed.
“Are you nervous?” Arkimedes’s deep voice called her attention back to him.
“Am I that obvious?”
“You haven’t stopped fidgeting since we arrived here, so yes.”
“I haven’t seen him in so long,” she admitted. “Last time we spoke in person, we had a new home and Devon was our enemy. Then I went ahead and released him.” She drew a deep breath and rolled her shoulders to ease the tension building there. “I hope he can forgive me, that’s all…”
“I don’t think Cameron will have a hard time understanding why you did it.”
“Nava!” Cameron’s voice cut through the space. He stood at the very top of the ramp, energetically waving his arm over his head. His voice was deeper than she remembered it.
Raw emotion clogged her throat, and she moved toward him with a smile.
Cameron’s hair was a long mess of bright red curls. Even at this distance, his happiness was already contagious. The people ahead of him turned and smiled as her brother bounced on his feet, taking in the port with curiosity.
Nava practically ran to meet him at the bottom of the ramp, and his hug was tight enough to squeeze the air from her lungs. He smelled like the sea, like cinnamon and home.
“You won’t believe all the things I’ve seen!” His warm eyes studied her, a crinkle forming in between his brows. “Look at you, so elegant. It suits you.”
