Unbound (The Griever's Mark series Book 3) Read Online Free Page B

ship hit, I—”
    “I’m fine , Logan.”
    A muscle feathers in his jaw, and I know what’s coming before he says it. “You scared me today. Don’t do that again.”
    My temper flares. “I did what was needful, as you did. Don’t tell me not to take risks when you take them.”
    An argument swirls through his eyes. He closes them and takes a calming breath. His body is rigid, as though he’s forcing himself to remain solid. I shiver at the memory of him dissolving—he didn’t even realize it was happening. My fingers itch to trace the lines of his body, to feel that he is really here. He turns at the sound of Heborian’s approach.
    “As I was saying, Logan.” Heborian sounds annoyed. “You felt nothing of the one Belos has Leashed?”
    Logan’s body tightens further at the word. “No.”
    “Can you communicate with them at all? Can you ask them—”
    “They’ve never spoken to me with words.”
    Heborian’s eyes narrow. “But they speak to you some other way?”
    Logan shifts uncomfortably. “It’s more of a feeling. They are...” Logan frowns, hunting for an explanation. He shakes it off, abandoning whatever he was going to say. “They weren’t attacking Tornelaine. The city just got caught in the ripple.”
    Heborian raises a dark eyebrow. “That was a ripple?”
    Logan jerks his chin toward the ocean, where the Floating Lands, ominously still, continue smoking. “Yes, that was a ripple.”
    Once the hold has been emptied and the ship allowed to sink to the bottom of the harbor, the day fills with slow work in the city. Heborian’s Drifters and soldiers check buildings and look out for any conflicts among the city’s inhabitants. Logan and I join the Earthmaker Wardens as they scout the refugee camps for the same.
    We enter the market square, where waxed canvas tents form neat rows. The crowding is less severe than it was initially. Many of the refugees have moved outside the city gates. I don’t know whether pride or fear motivated them, but given the danger of falling buildings within the city, they may be safer out there.
    Gaiana disappeared before Logan and I left the harbor, vanishing with Logan’s shirt. I certainly don’t mind the view, but the muscles move tightly under Logan’s skin. He doesn’t like people to see his back.
    Aron catches sight of us from across the square. His step falters when he draws near. He shrugs off his overtunic and hands it to Logan. I’m not sure whether that was for Logan’s benefit or for Aron’s.
    We follow Aron to the edge of the encampment, where a neat row of tents dissolves into a mess of broken tent stakes, trampled canvas, and scattered goods.
    “Keldans?” I inquire.
    “They’re frightened. And they don’t want us here.”
    “Anyone hurt?”
    “Not badly. Feluvas and Korinna have seen to the injured.” Aron anticipates my next question. “On both sides.”
    “Good.”
    Aron sniffs disagreement. He looks across me to Logan. Questions show in Aron’s eyes, so I hold up a staying hand.
    Logan notices nothing. His eyes are fixed on the paving stones ahead. He has not dissolved again, but the effort to stay in his skin is obvious. I want to get him back to the castle. I need to talk to him, to know he’s all right.
    We help restore the damaged tents. The Earthmakers can do it themselves, but it’s important that everyone see cooperation.
    Apparently Heborian is of a similar mindset. Rood steps from the Drift, startling me as I shake dust from a blanket.
    He grins. “I’ve been wanting to do that.”
    “And I’ve been wanting to see how a prince folds a blanket.” I hand him the other end.
    He frowns but helps me fold. It feels odd doing something so ordinary with him.
    “Impressive,” I say as he raises his end to join mine.
    He rolls his eyes.
    I check on Logan, as I have been doing every few minutes. He’s setting up a cooking tripod for a mother with four children. There is no man in sight, and I wonder if the father is