“I’m sorry,” I blurted suddenly. He stared blankly at me, and I continued, “I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t give Razel the crows. But then when Shearen was going to kill Kiva, I just—” I couldn’t lose both of them, couldn’t lose everything. Not again.

He squeezed my hand. “I wasn’t telling you not to for show. I didn’t want…” He shook his head. “Not for me.”

I made my own attempt at a smile, but it failed as miserably as his. “I know. Thank you.”

Samra returned to escort us to our rooms. We’d barely stepped into the hallway when Luan emerged from the surgeon’s room. Her sleeves were stained with blood, her face set in a grim expression that wiped away every ounce of happiness that had welled up inside me.

I lurched forward. “What happened? Is Kiva all right?”

Luan paused. “Your friend is alive, and I’m mostly certain she’ll stay that way.” When I started forward, she held up a hand. “What she needs now is rest. Give her a few hours before you barge in.”

Anxiety twisted in my stomach, but I relented. Samra showed us to our rooms. The one I would share with Kiva was right beside the kitchen, and Res knew it too. He cooed softly, the cord between us humming stronger as the last of the drug faded away.

“Oh, now you’re fine because there’s food nearby,” I said, and he nudged my cheek with his beak. The room was small, with two bunks and a small washstand. The walls had hooks for clothes that I hung my bow on and a small circular window filled with endless ocean blue.

I sat on the bunk, Res bundled in my lap. My eyelids felt heavy, and sleep pulled at me. I fought it, wanting to be awake the moment I was allowed to see Kiva, but in the end, I succumbed.

Gentle hands roused me all too soon. Caylus stood over me. “Kiva’s awake.”

I nearly sprang to my feet before remembering Res in my lap. I prodded him, and he complained but rose with a ruffle of his feathers. The link felt back to normal, and he looked it too as he leapt to the ground and nipped at the feathers beneath his wing. He followed behind me as I slipped past Caylus and down the hallway to the infirmary.

Luan met me at the door. Her gaze dropped to Res, her lips parting, but she said nothing except “Five minutes” before striding out.

I stepped inside to find Kiva lying propped on a thin bed. She was snow-white and bare to the waist save for a band of cloth around her chest and the bandages encasing her shoulder. Her eyes were closed, but they opened as I sat down beside her.

“I was dreaming of punching Shearen in the face,” she murmured, licking her dry lips.