Page 41 of The Dark, Dead, Deep

I half expected to be led to the dungeons and shackled to a wall without food, but the kelpie were much more hospitable than the undine would have been in similar circumstances.

Our convoy were led through the most giant doors I had ever seen into the city, which was made up of interconnecting caves.

Once we were funneled through a narrow path for a dozen heartbeats, the cavern opened to a courtyard filled with people.

My heart stuttered as I noticed children playing on the streets and people enjoying food outside market stalls. I thought of all the times that Moira and Liam snuck off to Cruinn without me and wondered how the Reeds compared to the undine city—before sadness shrouded me as realization set in.

Tormalugh and Elsbeth strode ahead, almost twins, though Elsbeth appeared younger. People on the street greeted them, waving or running up to welcome Tor back to the city.

I had never seen my uncle interact with his subjects, except for his pompous speeches over wine and caviar.

The sights and the sounds of the Reeds were almost too much. I wrapped my arms around my chest, stepping away from the crowd that had formed at the edge of our path. Someone behind me cleared their throat. Rainn, the selkie. Better his feet than stepping on Cormac’s toes (though he was a merman and didn’t have toes underwater).

“Maeve?” The selkie nudged me. “Rather beautiful, don’t you think?”

“Is this where you make a pointed statement about the undine?” I couldn’t even summon the fire to sound anything but tired.

Rainn gave me a look. “Defensive?”

I returned his look. “I’m waiting to be led to the public square to be drawn and quartered.”

“Truly?” His sky-blue eyes rounded. “How threatening we must be, with our offer of food and safety as we travel.”

“And the rest,” I seethed. “You can pretend what happened at the Frosted Sands didn’t happen, but that doesn’t make it so. Until you tell me why I’m here and what you intend to do to me, I’ll keep my wits about me, if that’s alright with you?”

“Oh yes.” Rainn nodded sagely. “When the undine stole the coats of a dozen youngling selkie pups and forced the juveniles to fight their kin on the battlefield, that was right and proper.” His sarcasm was so heavy that it dripped like syrup.

“They enslaved them?” I blinked, unable to process what he had told me. The words were barely audible.

“To take a selkie’s coat is to take their freedom.” Rainn turned away, facing the front of our convey.

I gestured to the chained skin on his belt. “So you keep yours locked away?” Of all the males, it seemed that Rainn understood what it was to be vulnerable.

“Tradition once was that a selkie would trade coats with their mate,” Rainn said without inflection. “Now, our coats are a tool of war. I don’t know if you noticed at the Skala Isles; not many selkie are willing to walk on two legs if it means risking someone taking their coat and using it to control them.”

“I’ve never been to the Skala Isles.” I rubbed the creased skin between my brows, where my head began to ache. “Though I’ve heard that it’s lovely.” I had the feeling I was missing something important.

“Yes.” Rainn frowned. “It is.”

Elsbeth turned at the waist and waved me over. I gave Rainn one last glance before I swam forward. I dipped my head as a sign of respect but said nothing.

“Tor said that you’ve had a long night.” Elsbeth worried her bottom lip.

“You have as well.” I tried to smile. “I can’t imagine the journey from Cruinn to the Reeds alone was easy.”

Elsbeth laughed. “Well, I have four legs in my other form. They do help.” She waved her brother over. “Tormalugh, can you show Maeve to one of the guest chambers? Dinner won’t be for another hour, and she might like some time alone.”

I would have argued that I could express my desires, but I was used to how courtiers tended to act. Royalty especially.

Tor’s face did not move, but his eyes blazed. “Anything for you, sister.”

Elsbeth preened and turned to me as if sharing a secret. “He fully plans to scold me in private, so I am taking advantage of the joyous emotion he feels at my return.”

“If I were you, I’d be equally joyous at escaping my fate as a war horse in the undine army,” I said dryly, unable to reel the words back once they escaped my lips.

Elsbeth didn’t take offense. Instead, her lips parted in horror. “Truly?”

I shrugged.

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