Page 16

The Fae King gave me an indulgent smile. "Go on. Give her a pat if you like. Selkies are peaceful, affectionate, and incredibly loyal."

I quickly withdrew my hand. Selkies were not ordinary seals. They were fae who could transform, and I had never heard them described so favorably.

He scowled at me, then turned his attention to the selkies. "Would you mind carrying us to the nearest entrance? My companion can’t walk on water."

With no further warning, the carriage took off, and I was pulled back against my bench seat. Soon, we were gliding across the waves at a steady clip. The selkies moved gracefully in and out of the waves.

The carriage stopped as abruptly as it had started, and the selkies vanished beneath the waves. There was only one problem. We had not reached the island. We were floating in the middle of the ocean. What in the twelve kingdoms was going on?

He turned to me and answered my unvoiced question. "We must swim the rest of the way."

I looked at the dark green ocean water below, glistening in the moonlight. Hesitancy rose in my gut. The currents near the isle were rumored to be fierce and often deadly. Was this one of their games? Did he wish to drown me?

He studied me before adding, "It is the only way that your kind may pass into our realm."

Of course, it wouldn’t be easy. I stood and shifted toward the carriage door.

This time, he stood and held out a hand, eyeing my heavy gown and laces. "Surely you don’t intend to dive into the water in that? You’ll drown."

Perhaps, he wished me to live, after all. Or perhaps–a dark thought flitted through my mind–he wished me to die in my underthings for his even greater amusement. Fae humor was often dark and malignant. They enjoyed tricks and disorder. They didn’t see value in human life. Perhaps because it was so much shorter than their own.

Still, his point was undeniable. I would certainly drown in my heavy garments. I frowned and began to work the laces. I struggled halfway down. Generally, my lady’s maid assisted me in and out of fine garments.

"Allow me," he offered.

What other choice did I have? I could not stay in this tiny boat. I could not swim in the garment. I narrowed my eyes, still unsure if this was a cruel game, but nodded.

He undid the laces skillfully–a little too skillfully, really–then tugged the gown from my body. Our eyes met for a brief moment, and I shivered in the warm breeze. This was nearly exactly how we had met.

Though the evening was hot, the ocean water was cool. It might have been refreshing if I weren’t so afraid. We swam leisurely for several minutes. I’m not a poor swimmer, but I could tell he was slowing his pace to match mine. I began to relax. Maybe this would be okay. Maybe it wasn’t a trick.

After several more minutes, I looked up at the shoreline. To my utter dismay, it was no closer. Perhaps this was a trick after all. Perhaps the isle wasn’t even really there. Maybe it was a mirage, like when foolish sailors ran low on provisions and drank sea water believing it to be ale.

Abruptly, he stopped swimming.

"What?" I asked, treading water.

"We’re here," he said.

I looked around. All I saw was miles of ocean in every direction. "Where?"

"We must swim down. Below us, there is a large stone archway. Once we pass through it, we’ll resurface. Only then will we see the island."

I looked around feeling anxious. "There’s no other way? You’re certain?"

"You could swim forever and never get any closer."

My heart clenched. I had often heard the stories of foolish men and women, trying to find their way to the island. No one ever made it… unless they wanted you to.

The question was… did he want me to?

I saw little other choice. I could not make it back to my shore from this great distance. I also couldn’t swim to the isle if that was not his will. I could float on my back here until I sunk beneath the waves, or I could follow him willingly.

I nodded.

He dove beneath the waves, and I followed, blinking back murky water. He led me down, down, down. Further than I believed I could go. My lungs screamed for air. My legs grew tired.

Then water sprites appeared in swirling shadows. They had algae green hair, barnacled little bodies, and black, malicious eyes. They pulled at my hair and scratched my legs, tugging me downward. I kicked out at them. I tried to dig my fingernails into their slimy flesh, but I couldn't stay down any longer. I needed to breathe.