House of Striking Oaths (The Kingdom of Crows, #3)

by Olivia Wildenstein

he squawks, just as my head crests the turbulent surface of Mareluce. And I do not bloody squawk.

My bottom lip begins to quiver at being called her daughter. I never imagined that I, a girl liked by so few, could one day be loved by so many.

“I came to paint your face, Behach Éan.”

his hands coming up to my face and clutching it as though it was the most precious thing in the world. It is, mo khrá. You are.

My tears slide around our mouths, slicken our skin, and salt our tongues. Instead of a truth, it pries emotion from my chest. I sob from relief and grief.

Sobbing rn

“It worked?” A smile teases the edges of his mouth. “Shift.” I do.

Oh my god im crying

My sorrow and exhaustion are so loud and ugly, they echo over the spray and buckle my knees, driving me down to the floor, where I curl in on myself like the shell around my throat.

I love you so much, Lore. I know I speak in Crow, because my voice crackles over the coarse syllables.

“I’ve still got lots to learn, Aoife. For example, flying. I’m terrible at that.” I stroke the beveled edges of my diamond, disbelieving that something so precious could belong to me and me alone. “Do you think you could teach me now that the war is over?” Her dark eyes sparkle. “It will be my honor, Fallon.”

talons open, and the silk flutters like a trail of wisteria petals, my father releases a heartrending caw that agitates my pulse and fills the hollow shafts of my feathers with frost. He tears away from his brother and streaks off toward the open sea. I want to go after him, but Lore says, Stay.

Crying