Chapter 36

That night I lay on my couch talking silently to my leviathan, who was curled up once more in his favorite spot, next to my ear, half-hidden by my hair.

Annalise says you and Bijou aren’t allowed to come to the wedding tomorrow, I told him. She wants you to wait in the sea.

He made a hiss of displeasure. I won’t make a single sound. I won’t cause any trouble.

That’s what I told Annalise, I said. I don’t want to stand there in that huge cathedral of people without you there.

What if something goes wrong, or someone tries to hurt you?

It’s a wedding, not a war, I said. People will be on their best behavior.

People, as a whole, don’t have any such thing as good behavior, he said, with a self-righteous sniff.

And you think they’re food, I said. You’re a fine one to talk.

You must come and fetch me as soon as the wedding is done, Mistress, he said. I’ll be miserable until you return.

Do you need me that badly? I asked. How did you manage all these years?

He shuddered. I don’t want to talk about it.

How could I not love something that devoted? I ran my finger down his soft back.

I made a promise to you this morning, leviathan.

I remember. I told you not to.

But I intend to keep my promise, and give you your name, I said.

Have you found a name?

I think so. Would you like to hear it?

He wriggled. Please!

It is the name of someone very dear to me. Someone I miss.

Oh?

Someone who taught me much, just as you have.

I had the sense he was working very hard to stay still and quiet.

It also means “clear,” “pale,” and “light,” all of which seem to fit you, my handsome boy.

He held his jewel-cut head a bit higher.

My beloved teacher back home, the one who inspired me to become a scholar, was called Sister Claire.

He tilted his head to one side.

If we take the “e” off the end—not that you need to worry about spellings—it can be a name for a man.

He blinked at me.

May I call you Clair?

He climbed up onto my neck, which tickled me, and slid over and around my charms and onto my breastbone.

Clair, he said. Clair.

I found myself holding my breath, waiting for his verdict.

His whiskers twitched, and his wise eyes looked into mine.

Thank you, Mistress. I will be Clair to you.

I felt shy using the new name, but I made myself try.

You’re welcome. Clair.