There’s a grudging note in his voice, like he’s trying to convince himself of what he’s saying. Then he sighs.

“It’s my fault. It falls to me to make sure.”

“Not Brian?”

“He tried, I’m sure, but at the end of the day, we are the island.”

He sounds less proud than he does exhausted.

A chill runs down my bare arms like a sweater sliding off. No wonder they were deferring to me out there. Lady Treadway. Centuries ago, such titles mattered, and on days like this, they do again.

I should have seen the boat off to Sunnan. I didn’t get it.

You’ll understand when the Day is done.

Hugh starts away, but I grab him gently. “It wasn’t just the hikers. John. John Ashf—”

My voice hitches.

Hugh leans down to peer into my eyes. “You saw it. Oh, darling.”

“I didn’t see it happen. I found him, though.” And I was the only reason he was there.

He holds me closer. I shut my eyes and breathe into his shoulder. Aftershave and detergent. He smells like every ordinary day.

“This is why I didn’t want you out there,” he murmurs into my hair. “You shouldn’t have to face these things, Nina. You should be sheltered from them.”

“Sheltered.” I lean back to peer at him. “I know you mean well, but people have died in my life, Hugh. This isn’t—”

“Had you ever seen a dead body before?”

His voice isn’t accusatory, just curious. It’s funny how in seven years of marriage, this one specific question has never popped up.

Had I seen a corpse before today? I wasn’t much more than an infant when my father died, too young to remember his face, let alone his funeral. I wouldn’t be surprised if I learned that Mom did, in fact, shove me in front of his dead body, given how much she blamed the demon in me for killing him.

Gran’s service was open casket, but I wasn’t there. I wasn’t there for the funeral, I wasn’t there in the month before she passed, even when she was asking for me every day. Even Becca felt compelled to call and ask me to fly back. The war hadn’t started yet, so there were still plenty of flights, but I was eight months’ pregnant with Charlie. The doctor said it was too risky to travel. But the truth was that I hadn’t wanted to leave my bubble. I was safe here. Liked and loved. I hadn’t wanted to see Becca or Mom. I hadn’t wanted to see Gran like that, diminished, confused, under their control, so she died without seeing me one last time.

You’re a curse, Nina, a leech. All you were born to do is take.

“Hey.”

I look up, at him, my husband. “I’m sorry.”