Page 27 of The Dark, Dead, Deep

“Merry met, Lady Cruinn. Maybe in another life, we’ll see each other again.” Rainn stepped away from the water’s edge. “And many apologies for the monster war makes of us all.”

Chapter 5

The lake cooed as I stepped into the water, wading through lashing waves until the water reached my thighs. It wasn’t until I reached the bridge, where the shore dropped into darkness, that I felt my legs tingle and my breath frost in my lungs.

I dived forward, holding my hands above my head as I sliced into the water. My eyes stung for a moment before blinking, and the darkness receded. I took a breath, and the familiar rush of water through the ridges of my throat was comforting as I returned to my water form.

Bending and rolling my legs, my webbed feet propelling me forward, I saw the rocks in the distance. The Skala Islands, jagged and deep in the distance, bright with coral and deadly to trespassers. The water was still, though I caught a glimpse of silver as it caught the light. A seal broke the surface before diving under to catch a fish.

The Skala Beach. My mother had told me stories of the selkie, but I couldn’t believe I had seen it for myself.

I urged my body away from the shore. The water felt thicker somehow, but I wasn’t sure if it was because I was exhausted and without food. Shaking my head, I soldiered on until the jagged rocks were no longer in sight, and the lakebed below had been swallowed by darkness.

Go back to them,a voice in my mind urged, but I wasn’t sure if it was just my imagination. Even so, I had no plans to return to the Skala Beach. It had been a miracle that Cormac Illfin hadn’t killed me for being undine, let alone the niece of the King that killed his father.

I kept swimming, even when my head grew fuzzy and the chill of an unseen enchantment rolled through me.

Swimming.

Swimming.

Where was I going?The migration, a voice inside my mind supplied helpfully.The Frosted Sands.

I squinted as I searched for the faelight to illuminate my path but only found open water.

I tried to look behind me but found that I couldn’t.

Had I gotten lost?

This way, the water urged.

Don’t look behind you, another voice sang.

I recognized the water. The song of the lake. I didn’t recognize the other voice. Male, husky, and filled with compelling magic. When I focused on the voice, my attention wriggled away like an eel.

Desperation. I had to reach the Frosted Sands before the moon reached its apex.

How had I fallen so far behind?

I had been swimming long enough for my thighs to burn and my head to droop when I caught a glimpse of fading light bobbing on the current. A faelight marking the path of migration.

For some reason, the light did not fill me with excitement, but dread, as I passed it before spotting another on the edge of my vision.

Beacon by beacon, I carved my path through the lake on an empty stomach and an exhausted mind. The water darkened as the sun set, and my swimming grew feverish as I raced towards the surface. When the waves washed me onto the shore, the frozen sand was harsh enough to rub the skin of my face from the bone. I couldn’t even lift my head. Exhausted.

The sounds of revelry rose, and the crackling sound of a fire, combined with the scent of wood smoke, was all I could smell.

“Maeve!” a female voice cried out, part excitement and part horror. I felt someone grip my shoulders and lift my face from the sand. “You made it. I thought something terrible had happened to you. Atlana said she saw you fall to the lake bed, but I knew she was lying.”

I cocked my head to the side, confused.

Moira’s golden eyes greeted mine. “Your crescent freckle is gone,” she said by way of greeting.

My hand rose up to brush my cheek. “I can’t remember…” My voice was hoarse.

The last thing I could recall was pushing off into the Abyss and swimming for hours. There was nothing in between. Why did my cheek hurt? Why was my heart so heavy?

“Save your strength,” she urged, pulling my body against hers as she encouraged me to lean against her shoulder. “Blood wine, a full moon, and this blasted migration will be behind us.” She brushed my braid out of my face.

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