Page 67 of The Dark, Dead, Deep

“Yes,” I agreed on a breath. “They must have.”

Tormalugh and Shay had wasted no time rushing through the broken barrier as Rainn and I raced back to where we had parted. Cormac Illfin’s unconscious form bounced on the back of the kelpie as their figures grew smaller leading up to Tarsainn.

The city sat, jagged and strange, like stalagmites reaching for the water’s surface, made of shadows, coral, and stone. Tarsainn was a fortress, and we soon reached a physical wall with guard towers once we got closer to the city and the castle at its center.

Though Cruinn and Tarsainn shared the lake, the two cities couldn’t have been more different, down to the style of buildings and the plant life growing between the stone grooves. The coral glowed, pulsating like a heartbeat.

Rainn and I reached the others as the drawbridge was lowered, and a mass of guards greeted us at the gate. Dressed in armor from top to tail and holding tridents in their hands, they swam in a formation that came from years of practice.

The crowd of guards parted as a mermaid in a flowing red cloak rushed forward, her hair woven with colored ribbons. I watched myriad emotions cross her face as she took in each of the princelings before finally settling on Cormac’s unconscious form.

“Lady Bloodtide.” Rainn stepped forward and dipped her head, taking her arm as if they were old friends. “King Illfin needs the help of the healers immediately.”

I tried my hardest not to let my jealousy at Rainn’s easy affection twist my facial features with nausea.

“He has taken ill?” Lady Bloodtide’s lip twitched in confusion.

“The Undine King’s magic,” Rainn said simply.

Lady Bloodtide gasped and rushed forward, pushing the sleeves of her cloak to her elbows as she swam to Cormac’s side. She placed her hand on his forehead with cold efficacy. “Poison?” she demanded.

Tormalugh shook his head and exhaled.

Lady Bloodtide nodded. “Yes, of course. I’ll get the stretcher. You won’t have to carry him much longer, Prince Tormalugh.”

I pulled my lip between my teeth as I studied the scene. It was a wholly irrational situation to be upset that the princelings had lived a life before even meeting me. That life involved women that greeted them with familiarity.

Just as Lady Bloodtide said, a stretcher was produced, and Cormac’s limp form was loaded onto it as he was carried away.

My emotions regarding Cormac’s state were too complex to attribute to guilt. I felt angry at the merman. I had told him not to go through the pass, and he hadn’t believed me.

Granted, I could have revealed how I knew that his path was not a wise one to take, but I doubted that Cormac Illfin or any of the other princelings shared their thoughts and feelings with me beyond what was essential to get me to do their bidding.

Tormalugh, relieved of his burden, shifted back to his two-legged form and began to massage the muscles in his arms. His eyes were ringed with dark circles that hadn’t been there the day before. I hadn’t realized that carrying a rider was a burden, but perhaps it was something else.

“Do kelpie need to feed in a certain way?” I whispered once Rainn returned to my side.

The selkie gave me a strange look. “Are you feeling well?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Do you ask because this is something I should know? Or because the question was random?”

“It’s concerning that you read me so well,” Rainn told me, eying Tormalugh as I spoke.

“Perhaps you should be asking Prince Tormalugh if he is feeling well?” I snarked.

Rainn considered my words before putting his fingers to his lips and whistling. “Oi, Tor!”

I hissed and slapped his shoulder, but he ignored me. Tormalugh swam over, though his movements were subdued and his face impassive—though I couldn’t tell if that was because of fatigue.

Rainn nudged me. “Miss Maeve wishes to know how kelpie feed.”

I glared at him. “I know they feed onfear.”

Tor arched a brow. “Are you well?” he asked Rainn.

I rolled my eyes and inhaled deeply as if searching for patience.

“I don’t think that undine know much about other creeds.” Rainn’s eyes sparkled with mischief.

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