Though Tavin had tucked the tooth up a sleeve, it hummed yet in Fie’s mind, clear as a bell. She traced a path for the Birthright along Tavin’s face, fingers skimming a breath away from his skin. The nick on his brow vanished; the arch of his nose shallowed; the curl smoothed from his hair at the nape of his neck.

She tried not to think on the heat that grew beneath her fingertips, or whether it came from him or from her.

She also tried not to think on the fact that she’d have to do every bit of it again when the tooth burned out two nights hence.

Tavin watched her hand pass in quiet until she reached for his burn-scarred knuckles. Then he twitched back. “Leave it. Please. I’ll … cover it up.”

Startled, she only nodded.

“Is there anything else?” he asked.

Fie studied Jasimir’s face, then turned back to Tavin. Something was amiss. She frowned, searching for the flaw. “Aye. Hold on.”

Tavin exhaled. “We’ve never thanked you, have we? For any of this.”

“Crows don’t get thanked. We get paid. Sometimes.”

“I’m serious.” He’d stopped watching her weave the glamour, gazing dead-on at her now. “You could have taken Viimo’s deal. You could have had your family back. But you didn’t give us up. Thank you.”

Fie went still.

She scrabbled about her head for a scrap of wrath, anything to carve another line betwixt her and the Hawk. But all she could think of was Pa and Wretch and Swain and Madcap and every Crow she’d lost, and the hateful wisp of hope that she might find them again.

Fie’s own words failed her, and his still raced about her head, and to her dismay the knot in her throat broke open. The camp’s firelight blurred with tears.

“Oh—oh no. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry. Twelve hells, I’m bad at this.” Tavin fumbled his sleeve about his thumb and reached for her, then caught himself. “Er … may I?”

She managed a wordless nod. Hawks didn’t ask. Fie had no notion how to deal with one who did.

Tavin dabbed at her face. “I promise you, when Jas is safe, I’ll help you get them all back. I’d swear to the Covenant, but I suspect you’re getting tired of that.”

Fie gave him a weary look. “Don’t try to sell me pretty words, Hawk boy. We both know you’ll be nailed to the prince until one of you dies.”