Page 58 of The Dark, Dead, Deep

I nodded.

“Each of us holds a leadership position for our creed of Sídhe,” Shay told me, though I already knew. “I’m not sure how much information was available to you in Cruinn. How much does your uncle allow his people to know?”

“I know about the conflicts. The nymphs were neutral in the beginning.” I knitted my fingers together and stared at my hands. “I know what my uncle did to those selkie children.”

Shay continued as if I hadn’t spoken. “When it became apparent that the heart of the Lake was corrupted, we joined together to go against the undine,” he said. “Friendship was a natural consequence of time spent together.”

“I see,” I murmured.

“It looks like Rainn and Tormalugh are waking up.” Shay squinted as he looked over the fire to the tent where they slept. “We should meet Cormac on the other side of the chasm at noon.”

Rainn popped his head out of the tent and gave a cheery wave a moment later. Tormalugh appeared with his hair sticking up in all directions as he scratched the side of his face.

The kelpie was not a morning person, it seemed.

“When do we leave?” I asked Shay, but his attention was on the old lady racing toward us at break-neck speed.

Vidalia approached with her arm clasped around a young woman dressed in the most revealing outfit I had ever seen. The only thing I couldn’t see were her nipples, though the outfit seemed determined to change that. Shay stood up to greet her, and I followed his lead.

“I’m glad we caught you.” Vidalia gave Shay a toothy grin, urging the young woman at her side forward. “Ilra searched for you last night, but you didn’t come to her tent.”

“Vidalia—” Shay’s eyes flashed a warning. It was strange to see the flirtatious man acting as if he would rather be anywhere but inside of the beautiful woman in front of him.

Ilra…Ilra… It took a moment to place the name, but Vidalia had mentioned her the night before at the fire along with the subject of marriage.

I hated the slight flutter of joy from knowing that Shay had not gone to her tent.

Ilra’s deep blue eyes flicked to mine. “Who’s this, Shay?” she asked, blinking slowly.

I wanted to introduce myself to Ilra as much as I wanted scale-rot, but I forced a smile on my lips. “Maeve,” I said before my smile dropped too quickly.

Ilra squinted before turning to Shay. “I don’t understand.”

Shay pinched the bridge of his nose—borrowing Tormalugh’s favorite gesture. “I didn’t want to do this here.”

“This is your home,” Vidalia warned. “You spend too much time in the water. You’ve forgotten that you are a nymph.”

“The gods gave me the ability to breathe under the waves. They would be mad if they didn’t expect me to use it.” Shay crossed his arms over his chest.

“There you go again, pretending to know the gods’ will.” Vidalia jabbed her finger towards him.

I didn’t know what came over me, but I gripped her hand before she made contact. Vidalia inhaled sharply.

“Youdare.” She snapped her teeth. “I don’t know who you think you are—”

“She’s. Mine,” Shay growled, gripping me by the bicep and tugging me to his side. “Do not think for a second that I will tolerate nastiness towards Maeve.”

“She’s just some gilded slut,” Ilra pouted. “An undine. Everyone knows they only care about pretty things. She’ll lose interest when she realizes you’re as poor as this village.”

Shay’s nostrils flared, tugging me away from the fire and towards the edge of camp.

“What was that about?” I demanded, more confused than angry.

Shay’s jaw hardened as he glanced back the way we had come. A moment later, Rainn and Tormalugh appeared through a break in the tents.

“I’d like to know as well,” Rainn said, adding to my question. Rainn looked uncharacteristically angry.

The kelpie smirked; his dark eyes flashed. “I think the spider has caught another fly for her nest.”

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