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CHAPTER XLI

AISLING

Silence cradled the sorceress and the Sidhe king as they descended.

Lir carried her deep beneath the waves till the surface glittered distantly above. He met her eyes, squeezing her more tightly. The Sidhe king tapped his throat, reminding Aisling to use her draiocht so she could breathe beneath the waves. He demonstrated quickly, blooming ellwyn — ellwyn . This time, the word—the flower––triggered something inside her she couldn’t quite describe. Ellwyn grew between her curls, tickling her cheeks when she smiled wider. An expression Lir stared at for a beat longer than anticipated.

With what strength remained, Aisling summoned her draiocht . She inhaled deeply, lungs hot.

This all felt so…familiar. Learning to breathe beneath the water through her draiocht , ellwyn , Lir. So, why couldn’t Aisling remember?

Lir pressed Aisling against his chest and closed his eyes.

The sea flipped upside down, stretching like sap between a bear’s paws. Aisling and Lir shot forward or backward; Aisling wasn’t certain. There was no up or down, left or right. Only forward and toward the destination Lir had in mind.