Page 4 of The Dark, Dead, Deep

We skidded to the left and took off down the stairs, with Liam silently hunting us. I knew he would catch us, he always did, but I was determined to give him a run for his money.

Moira and I got further than expected. We reached the courtyard outside before Liam sliced through the water and wrapped his arms around the first person he caught—Moira.

The momentum spun them in place, and Moira’s hair slipped out of its fastening and floated like a school of beautiful red fish. Liam spat out her hair before letting go of Moira as if she was diseased.

I gave her a look, which she returned. We needed to talk about Liam’s newfound weirdness later.

I drifted back to where my two friends were tangled together. Liam sprung up, kicking his legs until he was upright.

I crossed my arms over my chest. “I want to see the horses,” I told Liam sternly.

He opened his mouth to argue.

I held up a finger.

“Are you my friend or not?” I pressed.

Liam glanced back at the castle. “We have to be quick,” he said, giving in. “Quick,” Liam reiterated before he marched past us both.

Moira took longer to stand, and I saw the bruise forming on her jaw.

“Are you alright?” I whispered.

Moira was too busy focusing on Liam’s retreating form to look at me. “I’m fine.”

“Maybe he’s nervous about the summoning?” I half-heartedly suggested, though Moira and I knew that Liam was waiting for his magical majority with an obsessive fervor.

All fae were fae, but not all were Sídhe, only those that had reached their magical majority and been summoned by the gods to receive their magic got the title of Sídhe.

Every species of fae was different, but all undine underwent their magical majority in groups, like schools of fish. Tomorrow evening, when the moon was full but eclipsed with the sun shining behind it in the night sky, we’d migrate to the Frosted Sands, and we would emerge as adults.

Moira worried her bottom lip. “Perhaps he is nervous,” she agreed. “I can’t wait until this summoning business is over, to be honest.”

My brow furrowed. “Really? I thought you were excited too?”

Moira shrugged. “What if the gods don’t choose me. What if I don’t have a magical gift?”

“Moira…” I reached out to pat her shoulder, and she placed her hand over mine.

“Liam has such skill with a spear.” Moira sighed. “He was born to be a soldier. ATroid Sídhe.”

Troid Sídhe were fae that had an affinity for battle—they were invaluable on the front line.

“Elaine wouldn’t be pleased to hear that.” I winced.

Moira nodded in agreement. “Though I think Liam has always preferred the life of a soldier over one of a courtier.”

“Youdon’t want to be a Troid Sídhe.” My nose wrinkled. “Besides, I don’t have a talent either. Perhaps we’ll be talentless Sídhe together.”

“If we even become Sídhe at all,” she muttered as she puffed out an exasperated breath.

I ignored her. “Come on,” I urged. “I can’t use the stables as an excuse not to see my uncle if we never actually go.”

Moira rolled her eyes, but we kicked our webbed feet and hurried after Liam.

The bridge from Cruinn to the castle led directly to the stone courtyard. With glowing coral and statues made of seagrass of all colors—casting the stone floor in a rainbow whenever the sun overhead managed to penetrate the depths of the lake.

The stables were located next to the courtyard, but the main path was too visible for my liking.

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