Page 86 of The Dark, Dead, Deep

I froze, searching every inch of the room for a method to hide or escape, only to relax a moment later when Tormalugh’s dark head appeared.

The Kelpie Prince held a platter weighed down with different foods, from fruits from the surface with skins that allowed them to retain their shape to shellfish and woven seaweed. It looked delicious, and even though I had eaten back in Urma’s room, I couldn’t stop the ravenous desire to eat until my stomach hurt just in case I was thrust back into the dungeon at a moment’s notice.

Tormalugh’s eyes fluttered as he took in my presence on the bed at Cormac’s side. My back was propped against the headboard, and although I didn’t feel it, I tried to look relaxed and content as I wiggled my fingers in a wave.

Tormalugh’s unfathomable mask didn’t slip an inch as he blinked dumbly. “You’re here,” he stated plainly.

Rainn held his hands out for the platter, but Tormalugh’s didn move. He didn’t turn away as he continued to stare at me as if I was a ghost.

“I’m here.” I wiggled my fingers again.

“How?” Tor demanded.

My eyes flicked to Rainn’s and then to Shay’s as I debated what to tell them. I couldn’t think of any story that sounded plausible. I couldn’t tell them the truth—who would believe me if I told them I had left my body andbecomethe water. Such a thing wasn’t possible for undine. Not even to those that had reached their magical majority.

I had watched Tormalugh shift through the bars, but that was different. Kelpie shifting magic requires changing from one form to another—undine did not have an animal aspect. They only shifted from a water form to a land one once they reached the surface.

“I escaped.” I settled on the vaguest possible answer, wincing at how unbelievable it sounded.

Tormalugh looked as if he wanted to press me for answers, but he decided against it. He finally noticed that Rainn was trying to take the heavy platter of food from his hands. Tor handed it over, still staring at me as if he couldn’t believe I was real.

My stomach twisted as I remembered the argument that Tormalugh and I had when I was in the cells. I didn’t know what reception I would get, and Tor wasn’t giving me any clues to his inner emotional state as he continued to stare at me.

Shay cleared his throat. “We were just discussing how we might wake Cormac.”

Tor quirked a brow. “A subject that one would think has exhausted itself.”

Rainn bit back a smile.

Shay rolled his eyes. “Maeve was telling us about her uncle’s magic, but she didn’t mention what can break the weaving.”

My lips pressed together. “Usually, it’s time and distance from my uncle.”

“Unless King Irvine of the undine is currently in the latrine, I doubt that time and distance are a factor here.” Rainn lifted one of the crab claws and snapped it with his bare hands. Pausing only to suck the meat from the shell. When he caught me staring, Rainn winked.

I didn’t know whether to blush or glare, so I settled on both.

“Shay can heal Cormac if he were to have enough sexual energy,” Rainn pointed out innocently as he wiped his mouth on the back of his hand.

“Ah. Yes,” Shay replied dryly. “Let’s just fuck on top of Cormac’s lifeless body and hope he wakes up.”

Silence followed.

“That isn’t a bad plan.” Tormalugh reached for one of the seaweed rolls and took a thoughtful bite.

Shay’s eyes widened. “I would have expected such a suggestion fromRainn.”

The kelpie shrugged. “The idea has merit.”

“You could use your own magic to enchant his mind and draw Cormac back to himself,” Shay pointed out hotly.

Tor rolled his eyes. “I thought nymphs liked to fuck.”

Rainn snickered and grabbed another crabs leg.

Shay turned to me, almost pleading. “Maeve, what do you think?”

My brow creased. “Me?”

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