“I wouldn’t let you,” she said before he could finish. “My time on this wheel is done—yours isn’t. But if you want to honour me, then choose to add to the Grace, not degrade her gifts.”

I don’t know that I’m brave enough to be as good as you. I don’t know that I could ever find the courage.

“You might surprise yourself,” she told him. “But I won’t leave you alone.”

You’ll stay to teach me?

She gave him a sad smile. “No. I told you. My time is done. But a friend has promised to help you. I think you’ll like him. He’s part crow, but part dog, too.”

Rabedy began to get a bad feeling. If this was who he thought it was, every Unseelie fairy did their very best to not attract his attention.

What’s his name?

“People just call him Joe.”

Do you mean Joe Crazy Dog?

She nodded. “Do you know him?”

Everybody knows of him. He’s . . . How to put this diplomatically? He’s not exactly patient with the likes of me. And if he was to find out that I was a part of your death . . .

“He already knows,” Anwatan said. “And he’s promised to help you. But now it’s up to you.”

Up to me to what?

“To prove that I haven’t made a mistake in hiding you from the corbae’s too-fierce justice.”

But . . .

“I have to go now, Rabedy Collins. I won’t ask you to promise to be the best you can be. I only ask you to promise that you will try.”

I . . .

She ruffled the fur on his head again.

“Don’t worry so much. There is a reason for everything. Perhaps the reason for this was for you to claim the chance to truly be yourself.”

It’s too dear a price.

“Then perhaps it was to stop Minisino before he did any real harm. I don’t pretend to understand fate’s plans.”

She bent down and kissed the top of his head.

“Wait here for Joe. He won’t be long.”

I will. I . . .

She went down on one knee so that she could look him in the eye.

“What are you trying to say, Rabedy Collins?”

It’s just . . . thank you for believing in me. No one’s ever done that before.

She shook her head. “Knowing how we can treat each other—that’s not something I’ll miss from this world.”

She stood up.

“Goodbye, Rabedy Collins. Perhaps we’ll meet again in the world beyond.”

She stepped away before Rabedy could reply.

Rabedy studied the beach, looking one way, then the other, before returning to the hidey-hole he’d found under the overhang.

Joe Crazy Dog was coming for him.

He only hoped that the crow dog cousin would keep his faith with Anwatan.

And if he didn’t?