Page 30 of The Dark, Dead, Deep

“I’m so tired, Maeve.” Moira rubbed her eye, flinching when her finger caught one of the frozen lashes. “I’m afraid that if I fall asleep, I won’t wake up.”

“Because someone might find us? Or because it’s so cold?” I questioned, inhaling sharply as we began our descent down the narrow path of the hill. Glancing back at the brittle and barren forest as we sought shelter.

“Both?” She laughed without humor. “These were people we went to school with. People that I saw every day. I can’t believe they’re all gone. How do you think they found us?”

My stomach sank and I didn’t know why. “I don’t know.” A sharp pain blossomed behind my eyes, so sudden that it stole my breath.

“Only one of the undine could have led them here,” Moira continued. “It’s part of the magic that protects the lagoon.”

My lips pursed. “Not one of our kin would betray us like that.”

She nodded. “I agree, but it just doesn’t make sense.”

We stumbled into the cave, and I sagged against the wall the moment we were hidden from sight. I didn’t cry—I hadn’t cried in years—but that didn’t stop me from shaking until my teeth chattered, and I worried that I would never be able to stop.

Moira wasn’t stilted as I was and immediately dissolved into wet, shivering sobs. I wanted to comfort her but couldn’t find the words.

I rubbed her back but hated that I couldn’t assure her everything would be fine.

Wehadto get back to the lake.

Wehadto get back to Cruinn.

I shook my head—my ears ringing at the thought of returning to the city and the castle. My memory was fog, insubstantial, obscured.

For some reason, thinking about the castle, Cruinn, and my uncle gave me a headache.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep,” I told Moira. “You should rest. I’ll take the first watch.”

Moira didn’t need me to tell her twice. She slumped against the cave wall and promptly fell asleep.

I found a jagged rock on the floor and turned to face the entrance, ready for the morning to come.

I didn’t know when I fell asleep, but I jolted awake when a hand slammed down on my mouth and carted me backward into the cold. My legs kicked out, hitting the stone cave wall as I tried to escape whoever had grabbed me.

Moira’s scream cut off abruptly, and I threw my head back as I tried to face my captor unsuccessfully. The jagged rock I had chosen earlier as a weapon tumbled from my numb fingers without resistance.

“Moira!” I called out.

She didn’t reply.

“This one has to come back alive. King’s orders.” My captor grunted as my elbow jabbed into his stomach.

“What about the other one?” his comrade asked.

“You son of a sea snake!” I squirmed against the iron grip of whatever male held me. “Let me go!” My vision turned back as I was blindfolded and lifted from the ground.

“Moira!” I screamed again, listening to any sound that my best friend hadn’t been murdered while I had fallen asleep on watch.

If Moira made a sound, I didn’t hear it as I was carried away from the cave.

Chapter 6

I was uncomfortable, trussed up like a stuffed pig and propped on someone’s shoulder as I was carried back through the forest. The branches whipped my skin as my captor grew careless about avoiding the trees as we headed back towards the beach.

I felt a tug in the pit of my belly as the lake sang through my blood the moment I saw the water. The air was thick with fire, blood, and salt.

The skirmish on the beach was over, judging by the dull roar of fae chattering over the bonfires.

---