Kaye woke at dusk to find Bryant dozing on the floor next to her and Celeste gone, a basket of half-bundled herbs on the floor where she had been. The cave was dark except for the constant fire in the hearth—small now that it hadn't been tended for so long. She got out of bed, tip-toed around Bryant, and began to build the fire up against the chill of the evening.

Bryant stirred and sat up. "Sleep well?"

"Did you?" She smiled at him, deeply aware of his presence. He was not who she expected to find when she woke.

He shrugged and it was clear something happened while she was asleep. She didn't want to ask right now. Maybe once she settled in.

"You don't have to build her fire up—Celeste won't be back until I leave."

Kaye turned back to the flame. "Just a little—to warm the cave." It grew until she could feel the heat coming off it, and she sat back and looked at him again. It was hard to believe she would be living with the Faye now.

"Are you feeling better?" The concern was clear on his face.

"Yes. I didn't realize how little I've slept lately. I guess I've been too worried in Gaerlom."

"For good reason."

She nodded absently. She thought she could have lived there a bit longer without being found out, if not for Pike. If Bryant hadn't come to find her in the first place, and Celeste hadn’t helped her regrow her wings, Kaye might have cut the remainders off and let Timin believe she was a silkie forever.

"Did you know Timin was Faye before he came here?" she asked.

Bryant looked up sharply, eyes narrowing as they always did when she spoke about Timin or his family. "Only by half," he said, voice stiff.

"That's Faye," she said. "His father is Faye."

"Who told you that?"

"Celeste."

Bryant looked away. "His father is Tarrin now."

"Did you know him?"

"No." Bryant said it too fast to be the truth.

"He asked if I knew you," Kaye said softly, watching his face. When it didn't move, she stopped pressing him. "He said you wouldn't remember him."

They sat in silence for a moment, Kaye wondering what she was supposed to do now that she was here, Bryant brooding on the other side of the fire. "I'm sorry," she said, "you can go. I'll be fine until Celeste returns."

He looked at her, and it was the same look he had given her at the South River when he'd asked her to go to the Festival of Aleda with him. "My cave has more room, if you'd like to stay there."

She reached across the fire for his hand and smiled. "Thank you, Bryant. I'll stay here tonight."

His shoulders sank slightly, and he nodded. "I'll leave then, so Celeste can return."

They stood and Kaye stopped him at the doorway. "Thank you for welcoming me back. I'm safe now. And happy."

"Are you really?" he whispered and touched her cheek. When she nodded, he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. "That makes me happy." Then he was out of the cave, leaving Kaye in the doorway with a pounding heart and a sore wing.