Page 35 of The Deep End of Death (Twilight Lake #4)
“Problem solved then!” Rainn tried to clap, forgetting the oar was still in his hand. “We’ll drop it off at the Kraken’s lair and be on our way. Complete the bargain and return to the Siren stronghold before the week’s end.”
“With no solid information about what happened to Darragh Eoin.” Shay pointed out dryly.
I wanted to tell him my suspicions, but it hurt too much to speak.
“I have the feather.” Cormac flashed his teeth. “So I’m certain the Siren Queen will be happy with me, at least.”
“Cillian Lane gave that feather to all of us.” Shay quirked a brow.
Finally sensing that something was wrong, Rainn dropped his oar and inched closer to me. “Maeve?”
“Hurts,” I whispered. The back of my teeth tasted like blood.
“Fecking hell!” Cormac barked. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Give me the stone.” Rainn urged. “It’s hurting you.”
“Can’t.”
Shay took off his shirt, kneeling before me. He wrapped the fabric around my fist and pried my fingers loose. Securely covered and out of my grip, I could no longer hear the screaming. It was so quiet.
My body sagged. “Don’t touch that stone,” I warned, gasping as if I’d swam the entire length of the Dark Sea. “You’ll die if you do.”
“It would be faster to swim,” Cormac noted when it was his turn to row.
“How far will it take to cross the Dark Sea this way?” Rainn asked, ignoring Cormac’s complaint.
“From memory,” Shay rubbed his chin. “Our original journey would take us directly across the Dark Sea to Everfall Port. Murk wasn’t too far from the Siren’s cove, by water, not by land.”
“And the Kraken’s lair?” Rainn pressed, glancing at the stone. “From what I recall, it was in the middle of the Dark Sea. It could take us weeks to find.”
“So, we’re fecked.” Cormac groaned.
“Keep rowing.” Rainn shot the Mer a grin. “We’ll get there faster.”
Shay, still rowing, rolled his eyes. “Don’t listen to him. He’s a liar.”
I sat forward, glancing around the boat. Dark water, still as glass, extended as far as the eye could see. This far from land, the only light came from the moon and stars.
“Can anyone hear that?” My voice was hoarse; without the stone, I felt ill.
“No?” Rainn cocked his head to the side, trying to listen.
“I hear it.” Shay frowned. “Though I can’t place it.”
“The underwater river.” Cormac grumped.
“The Wash.” I rubbed my forehead. “The Merrow called it the Wash.”
Cormac agreed. “Didn’t he say something about Naiads? Water Sprites that guard the river?”
“An underground river has to be faster than a rowboat.” Rainn pointed out. “If I remember rightly, it will take us to the Siren’s cove. A stone’s throw from the Kraken’s lair.”
“Naiads.” Cormac pointed out again through gritted teeth.
“As long as it’s not the Thiggen.” Shay shuddered. “You can’t reason with those bastards.”
“Water-drakes.” Cormac interrupted again.
“Water-drakes!” I exclaimed. “The Naiad eat water-drakes!”
Cormac’s eyes flicked down my body as if he remembered more than just the dead fish on the deck of the Merrow’s boat. He rubbed his chin. “A trade, perhaps.”
“What’s a water-drake?” Rainn glanced between us.
“Nothing good.” Cormac tossed his oar to the side. “But hunting one of those beasts has got to be more interesting than rowing until our blisters break.”
“All this rowing is making him grumpy.” Rainn grinned.
“Poor little Illfinn.” Shay clucked his tongue, still rowing. “Hasn’t done a day’s work in his whole life.”
“Feck off!” Cormac growled.
Feck this. I thought in response but held my tongue.
I reached for the bottom of my dress, flexing my finger as I scored the fabric with my sharp nails.
There were layers and layers of thin, almost transparent fabric, building up to a deep midnight blue.
I sawed through layers, like the never-ending petals of a flower, leaving only the bodice and the silk underwear I’d been given.
If only those pirate ropes had been so easy to cut.
I kicked off the shoes, wincing at the blisters as I wiggled my toes.
The stone was swathed in fabric, abandoned on the deck of the rowboat. With the excess fabric of my dress, I wrapped it up like a present and fashioned a sling. I tied it over my shoulder and hip, cradling the stone to my chest like a newly-born.
Rainn, Shay, and even Cormac seemed to gather that I considered the conversation closed.
“I want to get rid of this stone as soon as possible.” I declared.
Shay eyed me, rubbing his chest. “Can you?” He asked delicately. “Even I felt its effects through our bond, though I wasn’t sure what it was.”
“Tor felt it, too,” Rainn added. “He told me it felt like darkness.”
Shay’s eyes flashed several colors, settling on a dull, muddy brown. I could only assume the color represented guilt based on the downturn of his lips and the pang of emotion that lit up my chest.
“I should have sensed it sooner.” Shay cursed, seemingly speaking to himself.
Cormac cleared his throat. “We’re all feeling the effects of Balor’s ministrations.” His gaze shuttered. “Perhaps we stop running and start fighting back?”
“More war?” Shay pinched his brow. “More death.”
“You don’t think Balor is going to kill more fae?” Cormac argued. “Balor raised Charybdis. How many more beasts does she have hidden under the lake, ready to lay waste to our cities? Our homes?”
My finger spasmed as I resisted the urge to touch the stone again, even with the layers of fabric protecting my skin.
We would need the High Throne to defeat Balor.
Cormac seemed to echo my thoughts. “How can we defeat Balor if we throw away such a powerful thing?” He flailed his hands in exasperation. “Maeve is the one person that can use its magic. We can protect the lake.”
It was a compelling argument.
I licked my dry lips. “I can’t touch it again,” I told him, closing my eyes and taking a breath. “We’ll find another way.”