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“Little brother, show some respect.”

I smiled. “Why would he start now?”

Skadi had moved away. For some reason, Lusca was comforting him. Well, he was patting his back with a small tentacle, but in a comforting way.

“What happened to the Omegas?” I asked. “The children?”

“They all arrived safely on Menthera,” Kellin answered. “Their wounds were treated, and they had a few good meals.”

“Very good,” Lachlan cut in. “Lusca sent so many fish, you could practically walk to Starlak on their backs.”

Kellin moved closer, holding something that turned out to be a tin of honey cakes. He opened it and held one up. I snatched it, stuffing it into my mouth whole. “Lachlan escorted the Omegas and children to Starvale. Some of them needed a male around who wasn’t an Alpha. I stayed on Menthera with Mirrim while Rielle was in heat.”

“Rielle? Did she suffer through it alone?”

“No. She woke from the aqila haze, marched to the cove before the others left, and chose an Alpha to serve her through it. Luten.”

I gasped around a mouthful of crumbs. “The bard?” He was lovely, and one of the best poets in Starlak.

“They’re a perfect match. They left for Starvale on the same day Skadi came back for us.”

“The others, though—they’re all safe?”

“More than safe. The little sea witch?”

“Sea witch?”

I grinned when he went on casually. “According to Lusca, yes. The one called Adiah. She’s got Dustin wrapped around her little finger. The villagers in Starvale have opened their hearts, shops, and kitchens to them all. They’re staying together for now.”

“That’s wonderful. I wish I’d been there to help.”

“You were almost dead, brat,” Lachlan murmured, sneaking one of my cakes. “You look better now.”

I glanced down. All the wounds that I’d been given, the burn marks I remembered before… before… My mind went fuzzy, and I found myself staring at my arms. My arms were both smooth. In fact, none of the scars I’d earned since I was a child were there, except for the silvered marks from my mates.

And the burned one on my neck from Edan.

“What do you remember of your heat, Rada?” Kellin asked.

I ate a second small cake slowly as I tried to recall the last few weeks. “I remember Skadi and Lusca carrying me here. The nest was made of ice then. And tentacles, sort of.”

Lachlan sat up, preening. “I brought the more appropriate nesting materials. You were very appreciative. You almost wore me out thanking me.” He wiggled his eyebrows at me.

“I remember.” I thought about blushing and punched him instead. It was the weakest punch I’d ever thrown and hurt my hand more than his chest. “I remember you and Kellin arriving, and the four of you….”

“Obeying your commands?” Lusca teased. “You were born to be an Empress.”

“Or a queen,” Lachlan said. “Lusca crowned Kell here King of All the Seas, so that makes you a queen.”

“I was already a… Wait. Where’s Goran?” I asked suddenly. “Why isn’t he here?”

They all went quiet. Skadi held out a closed hand, and I opened mine. He dropped some of his tears on my open palm. “We cannot find him. Which means he is⁠—”

“He’s not dead,” I interrupted, pressing my hand to my wrist. I could feel him in the bond, though it was oddly muted.

“He’s in the maw,” Skadi said. “Or close enough to it that my brother’s power is shielding your warlord from the wind.”

“Why would he go back?” The center of my chest began to heat, and I snatched at the nautilus pendant. “When did I put this on?” That memory was hazier. “We were in the trench. I was dying. Lusca said something.”