“All right. I won’t hide anything from you again, for as long as I live.”

Alek smiled, and let his eyes finally drift closed. That was all he’d wanted, really, for his allies to trust him with the truth. Was it so much to ask?

Then a warmth pressed against his mouth, lips touching his. Soft at first, then harder, trembling with an intensity that lofted above the storm. A quiver went through him, like the shudder of a dream-fall pulling him from the edge of sleep. He opened his eyes and was staring into Deryn’s face. She pulled away a little.

“Wake up, you daft prince.”

He blinked. “Did you just . . .”

“Aye. I did. No secrets, remember?”

“I see,” Alek said, and another shiver went through him, not from the cold. His head was clear now, and the rain chattered in the silence between them. “You know I can’t . . .”

“You’re a prince, and I’m a commoner.” She shrugged. “But this is what no secrets means.” He nodded slowly, wondering at the warmth of her secret still on his lips.

“Well, I’m certainly awake now.”

“So it works on sleeping princes, too?”

Excerpt From Goliath