Page 68 of The Hopeless Romantic’s Guide to Enchantment

It was still a cage.

“You won’t have to stay there, Korvi,” she reassured him. The raven cawed, casting her a knowing look. Cera understood, and smirked. “If they try, show them what an uninhibited warbird can accomplish.”

Korvi clacked his beak in approval.

The duke’s palace was almost as impressive as the aviary. It was built with that same white stone, each brick tower laid carefully and adorned with iron accents. The owl landed in a courtyard framed by three massive buildings and a stunning garden. Korvi followed, far less graceful.

Another whistle from the duke’s instrument, and his owl bent over to allow him easier disembarkation. As he dusted himself off on the ground, a few servants hustled over to remove the saddle. The snowy owl stared at them with wide, unblinking eyes, and they hesitated.

“Aciet,” the duke said in a language Cera didn’t recognize, and the owl reluctantly spread its wings to allow the servants access.

“She prefers me,” the duke said, removing his hooded cowl and unhooking his cloak. Another servant whisked those away, and he offered a hand to Cera.

Korvi bent forward and extended his wing, allowing her a slide, of sorts, to the ground. As Cera’s boots thumped on the stone, the duke raised an eyebrow, but stayed silent. He retracted his hand, standing amicably as Tasi followed with their bags.

“I don’t believe we’ve been introduced,” the duke said to Tasi. Meanwhile, Korvi straightened, casting a suspicious glance at the servants and the snowy owl.

Tasi offered a demure bow. “My liege.”

“This is Tasi, my lady-in-waiting,” Cera said. “She’s currently mad at me.”

Tasi rolled her eyes. “I will deposit your things in your quarters, duchess.” Back to titles. Cera grimaced, and Tasi’s lips tilted. She shouldered the bags, bowed again to the duke, and followed as he gestured to a servant waiting to lead her inside. As she passed Cera, she said, “Don’t fall for him.”

“I thought that was the point,” Cera whispered back.

Tasi snorted, and vanished through the palace’s double doors.

It left Cera with the duke. Now that he wasn’t wearing the hooded cowl or cloak, she could see him properly. And damn it all, he was gorgeous. She stared longer than necessary at his ivory skin, his sharp blue eyes.

“Just us, then,” the duke said with a laugh. “Anyway. I’m Raiden. Your bird is stunning. A raven?”

“Certainly not a crow,” Cera replied slyly. “And be glad for it – they travel in murders. Can’t have that while visiting a foreign dignitary.”

He laughed again, brightly, and tension slid from his shoulders. It was wholly possible he was just as nervous to meet her as she’d been about this trip. “Of course not. What’s his name?”

“Korvi,” Cera said.

“Korvi… the Corvus.”

“It’s spelled with a K.”

“Naturally.”

They smirked at each other, and Cera’s heart squeezed. Don’t fall for him. What a joke.

“And who’s yours?” The saddle had been removed from the snowy owl, and Cera stepped over to her. The owl eyed her curiously, with none of the derision of the servants. It bent down, feathers fluffing, and she reached for its massive beak—

—and a quiet, hollow note arose from the instrument around Raiden’s neck.

Instantly, the owl’s sharp eyes dulled, and it obediently lifted its head out of her reach.

“Careful,” Raiden said, panic edging his voice. “She’s bitten people before. Her name is Pinske. She’s… ah, spirited.”

She didn’t seem spirited. If anything, she seemed chained.

Cera forced a chuckle, stepping away from Pinske. “Apologies. In Raliana, the warbirds are all very friendly. Leftover essence of the Shining Eagle, I suppose.”

“Maybe you can help me train her. But… carefully, please. For my sake.” Raiden rubbed the back of his neck, letting the musical instrument fall to his chest again. Up close, Cera could see it clearly: a clay ocarina, clearly well-loved.