Page 2 of The Dark, Dead, Deep

Moira.

Or, to address her by her full title, Lady Moira-Cora Fen of the esteemed Fen family of the Undine Court. My best friend.

The moment our eyes connected, she relaxed before waving over her shoulder.

A moment later, a male head appeared—dark hair and scales of fiery red around his eyes like the fins of a fish. Liam glanced around the room, his face a mask of impassive disinterest as he kept his hands tucked behind his back.

It was hard to quantify my relationship with Liam. He was my uncle’s stepson but also my friend. As much as I was reminded that I did not belong to their family unit, Liam felt like family to me.

“You shouldn’t lift your voice around the silvers,” Liam chided, slanting Moira an annoyed look. “You never know what kind of creature might hear you.”

“You don’t warn Maeve of such things.” Moira slanted a look his way.

Liam rolled his eyes. “Maeve is different.”

“You mean that Maeve is as mad as a mantis shrimp,” Moira retorted, crossing her arms over her chest. Liam’s cheeks turned pink, and he glanced at me to check if I had heard.

Moira followed his gaze to meet mine. “Apologies…” she winced.

I waved away her concern. “I prefer the term ‘devoid of sanity and plagued by insatiable blood lust.” I grinned.

Moira’s eyes widened as she ushered Liam further into the room. “Don’t tell me that one of your uncle’s harem has been gossiping?” she asked in horror. “Whoever used such words to describe you?”

My grin widened. “Me.”

Moira glared at me, though her ire diminished as the mirror closest to her began to coo like a child. Her lip curled as her entire body went rigid before she swam closer to me.

“I don’t know how you can spend so much time here.” Moira shivered. “Don’t they frighten you?” She gestured over her shoulder.

I shrugged. “It’s no different than being around the Undine Court. Besides, all of the mirrors in my room were removed when my uncle became convinced that I would use the glass for nefarious purposes.”

“How dreadful.” Moira’s eyes widened. “Mirrors are useful. I couldn’t imagine using one for anything other than its intended purpose.”

I didn’t point out that we were standing in a hallway of enchanted mirrors that could spirit a person halfway across the world with only a step.

Liam rolled his eyes behind her back. “I don’t think you would survive without a mirror, Moira. You spend so much time in front of one.”

“Have you ever had a thought you haven’t voiced, Liam?” Moira fluttered her eyelashes.

Liam gave her a dry look.

I stifled a giggle. “Do you like my hair?” I flicked the braid, smiling at Moira. “I found those beads that you left on my bedside cabinet. They’re beautiful.”

Confusion creased her brow for a second. “Beads?”

I gestured to the beads woven into my braid like a strand of pearls to match my scales.

Moira’s eyes flicked to Liam’s. “Oh. Yes. Those beads. Aren’t they wonderful?”

I nodded enthusiastically. “Where did you get them?”

Liam cleared his throat. “The Guppie Market on the edge of the city.” His smile was tight. “Moira and I went at the weekend when your King Irvine insisted that you hadlessons.”

I ignored whatever Liam implied, knowing it came from a place of jealousy. Elaine, the ’king’s consort, wanted Liam to be trained for the throne, regardless of the impossibility of the notion.

If Liam had any idea what my uncle’s lessons entailed, his envy would quickly turn to horror.

“Oh.” I deflated just a little. “That sounds like fun.” Cruinn City surrounded the castle. A beautiful place I could see through my bedroom window but rarely got to visit.

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