Page 58 of Lore of the Tides

Lore gently pushed Finndryl’s hand from her thigh. He pulled it into his lap, clenching his fingers into a fist. Lips drawn in concern, he checked on her out of the corner of his eye, but she avoided his glance.

She didn’t want to worry him, or hurt him, but she knew that any contact between them would only make things harder in the long run. She wouldn’t lead him on. She wouldn’t let him touch her, kiss her, she wouldn’t do any of the things she wanted to do, because she was disastrous for him.

The queen smoothed wisps of silvery hair away from her face, though they floated right back, and gave one of those long-suffering sighs that only a married woman has mastered.

The queen stood up, and the rest of the table followed suit. Lore was about to ask what she’d missed when the queen announced, “I have decided against telling you all here in my sitting room. This will be most effective if I justshowyou.”

Chapter 19

Beyond the palace walls, the party descended a winding coral staircase that spiraled downward until they reached a network of underwater caverns where a sunken garden bloomed. Bioluminescent algae clinging to the cave glowed an eerie green, illuminating walls adorned with vibrant anemones and swaying kelp forests. Small purple and blue mushrooms grew out of the caverns’ walls, homes for tiny, quicksilver fish.

The queen and prince consort, flanked by their advisors and guards, led the way. Lore and Finn followed closely behind, Finndryl holding the spear, which as a show of trust the queen had bid be returned to him, while Syrelle and Coretha brought up the rear. The twisting, labyrinthine curves of the path and the muffled silence of the underwater world amplified Lore’s unease.

From the shadows, a touch sent a jolt through her, making her jump.

She whirled around, eyes narrowed. “What?”

“Lore,” Syrelle began, his voice barely a whisper above the gentle current, “I need to talk to you.”

“Take your hand off me, Syr—”

Before she could finish, Finndryl’s spear was poised with its sharp tip mere inches from Syrelle’s throat. Syrelle’s eyes tightened, but heraised his hands in a gesture of surrender. “Call off your guard dog, Lore,” he said, no hint of amusement in his voice. “We must speak.”

Lore laughed, though it was devoid of mirth. “Finndryl is his own person. He can do what he likes, and if he wishes to run you through with that spear he commandeered, who am I to stop him?”

“He can try all he likes. We all know that without magic of his own, he would never manage to successfully hurt me.”

Lore wasn’t worried. Finndryl was deadly without magic.

Finndryl looked bored. “I don’t require magic to end your miserable life.”

“I would like to see you try,clanless,” Coretha hissed from where she stood behind Syrelle.

“Call him that word again, viper, and I’ll carve your tongue from your head,” Lore said, fury raging in her chest.

Lore had been trying her best to pretend that Syrelle’s dreadful cousin wasn’t along on this escapade with them, but Coretha loved to open her mouth and let drivel escape, depriving Lore of her fantasy.

Syrelle rubbed a hand over his face. “Gods, Coretha, can you be any more abysmal? Why are you even here? None of this concerns you.”

“Syr, all of this concerns me. You act like I am not just as trapped down here as you!” she whined.

“Just go on ahead; you’re making things worse,” said Syrelle through gritted teeth.

“Fine, but you’d better be coming up with a fucking plan to get us out of here.” Coretha stalked down the path after the queen.

“Spit it out, Syrelle; I have half a mind to go on ahead with Coretha if it means I won’t have to talk to you.” Lore’s gaze bore into his, her chin raised, defiant. “I’ve nothing to say to you. I’ll never have anything to say to you again.”

“Don’t say anything, then. Just listen. Something is very wrong here. I visited a siren kingdom in my youth with the king, and it wasnothinglike this. I’m not sure what happened here, but you aren’tsafe. You need to attain the grimoire as soon as possible.” With a sharp movement he pulled up his sleeve and gestured to the Puallas Kiss on his arm. “I don’t trust these marks.” Lore despised that his marks were perfect replicas of hers and Finndryl’s, as if they had all decided to get matching tattoos. “I can’t guarantee my power will be enough to keep you safe. We need to devise a plan to acquireDeeping Lune. Now. I think—”

Lore held up her hands, cutting him off. “Keep me ‘safe’? The last thing I want is to find myself once more in your twisted version of ‘protection,’” Lore scoffed. “And do you think I haven’t noticed the throngs of displaced siren? Or that I’m just impervious to reason? It’s obvious that something isn’t right here. And I imagine if you would stop slowing us down and let us see what it is, all will become clear.”

“Fine,safewas a poor word choice, but I have done everything in my power to keep you alive, youknowthat.”

“When it comes to you, Syrelle, I don’tknowa damned thing. Now if you would kindly fuck off, I don’t want, nor need, your opinion on anything. Stay away from me.” She glanced at Finndryl, who stood scowling at her side. He looked as if he were carved from stone. “And for gods’ sakes, keep your bratty cousin away from the both of us.”

“The both of you, huh?” Syrelle’s eyes darkened. “So, it’s the two of you against everyone else, is it? You wouldn’t even know him if it weren’t forme.”

“What’s that have to do with anything?”

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