And the last ties I have to the world I came from.
Unfurling my fingers, I release the garment, watching as it begins to unravel like magical threads into the water. In a blink, it’s as though it never existed in the first place. The shorts are easier to let go of. Though, once they’re gone, I’m standing as naked as the day I was born.
“All right, I’m ready.”
Lucia swims over. She still seems a bit uncomfortable, but not too awkward with the nudity. For which I’m glad. I give her credit that most of her curious glances are concealed. I can only imagine I look as strange to her as a siren does to most humans.
“My crew was mostly women. Not all, but most,” I say, in an effort to make her feel a bit more at ease about the circumstances. “One of them could hardly keep her clothes on. Every time I turned around it seemed like she had stripped down for one reason or another.” I laugh softly, thinking of Geniveve. “Once in a while, when we sailed far to the south where the waters are as blue as your Eversea, I’d drop anchor and we’d all go swimming. Geniveve never had more than her small clothes on, if that.”
“It sounds like you were all fairly open with each other,” Lucia remarks as she sings swirling marks into existence between my shoulder blades.
“You have to be when you’re putting your life in someone else’s hands.”
“Perhaps that’s why I have always felt so comfortable with you—all of the Eversea is relying on you to quell Lord Krokan’s rage.”
“You feel comfortable with me?” I ask. Lucia hasn’t been unkind, but there has always been the barrier of etiquette and propriety between us.
“You wound me with how surprised you sound.” There’s a slight quirk to her lips, as if she’s fighting a grin.
“I always saw this as more of a professional relationship.” Though, it doesn’t feel professional to be hovering stark naked before her.
“It is…should be.” Lucia sighs softly as she swims behind me to begin the anointing. Her finger hovers low on my hip, by my rear. “I know what you are destined for. I saw in my father the toll the sacrifice will take on any who are too close. So I did not want to tempt the situation.”
“I understand that.” She’s protecting her heart, even from friendly compassion—something Ilryth should be doing.
Her finger draws up my side and pauses on my shoulder, hovering where I remember Ilryth biting and sucking last night. A tingle runs underneath my skin. Her silence is telling. Somehow, she knows. She can feel him on me.
“Did you hurt yourself?”
“Oh, I’m not sure,” I murmur. “I must have bumped into something. I’m still growing accustomed to swimming all the time.”
“Right.” Lucia leaves it at that. But warning bells are tolling in my mind.
She knows.
CHAPTER32
SeeingIlryth later immediately quells the relentless churning of my stomach following Lucia’s departure. I’d been on pins thinking she might have told Ventris of her discovery—or merely her suspicion, of Ilryth and me. The logical parts of my mind want to argue that there’s no way she could know for sure the bruise was from Ilryth, not really. But magic defies all logic I’ve ever known.
If she did know, and could prove it, would she turn her own brother in? Another thing I’d like to think not…but I can’t be sure. Lucia is loyal to the old ways and, if she were smart, she’d see telling Ventris as a way to protect her brother. To pull us apart before we could get too close.
Ilryth emerges from the shadow of the tunnel, flanked by two warriors. But they aren’t manhandling him. All seems well.
The moment I lay eyes on him my core turns molten. The mere sight of his hands makes me think of him tracing his fingers across every contour of my body, smoothing away years of aches and pains. Vivid fantasies return in full, but they are tainted by my interaction with Lucia—they seem more than dangerous now. Deadly.
“Good morning, Victoria,” he says politely.
“Good morning, Ilryth.” Awkwardness overcomes me and I smooth my hands over the wrapped fabrics Lucia brought to replace the clothes I lost. I’ve never been more aware of other people’s presence, namely the two warriors. If they weren’t here, how would he greet me?
“I trust you slept well?”
“I did,” I say. When what I mean is,I would’ve slept better if you’d stayed with me the entire night. “And you?”
“Of course. The comforts of the Duchy of Faith are unparalleled.” Does he mean it? Or is that a subtle reference to last night?
“Good, I’m glad.” I’ve never been very scholarly, but all I want to do right now is read too much into everything.
“Siren attire suits you.” Ilryth’s eyes drag over my body with obvious intent. I glance toward the warriors; they don’t seem to notice. “You look lovely.”
