The sound was slow and rhythmic. Footsteps.
“Someone’s coming.” Cora reflexively reached for her bow, but it was too far.
“Relax, Cora,” Gisele said, looking completely unflustered as she took a deep drink of wine.
Cora narrowed her eyes at her friend, suspicion crawling up her spine. The steps drew nearer and nearer.
Gisele’s lips curled into a guilty smile. “Don’t worry, he’s harmless.”
“He?” Cora and Maiya said in unison as they both dipped deeper into the waters. “Who the hell ishe?” Cora said through her teeth.
There was no time for Gisele to reply, for the male figure striding into the cave was answer enough. The bioluminescent glow revealed an unfamiliar man a few years older than Cora. His hair was blond, his face handsome with a short beard covering his jaw. He was dressed in leather trousers, tall boots, and a travel-worn greatcoat.
“Gisele,” he said, smiling when his eyes landed on her. “You came.”
She batted her lashes. “I said I would.”
His gaze briefly darted toward Maiya and Cora. “I wasn’t aware you’d be bringing company.”
“Neither were we,” Cora said, not bothering to hide the bite in her tone.
He paused several feet from the pool, posture hesitant as his eyes strayed from Gisele to the pool’s two extra occupants. “Should I…”
“Meet me in that pool,” Gisele said, pointing to one of the smaller ones nearby.
His shoulders relaxed a bit as he gave her a nod, then made his way to the pool she’d indicated.
Gisele whirled back to her friends with a grimace. “Don’t be mad.”
“I’m not mad, I’m seething,” Cora said. “I thought you said you wanted nothing to do with boys tonight.”
“He isn’t a boy,” Gisele said, expression all innocence. “He’s a man.”
“Who is he?”
“His name is James. He’s a hunter camped out close by. I met him yesterday when I was foraging for Mother. I promised to meet him here tonight, but I didn’t want to meet him alone. He could be a murderer for all I know.”
“That isn’t comforting,” Cora said through her teeth.
Gisele nodded. “Tell me about it.”
“You said he was harmless,” Maiya said, her tone far gentler than Cora’s.
“I’m pretty sure he is.”
Cora turned and started to get out of the pool, modesty be damned.
“Please don’t leave,” Gisele rushed to say.
Maiya tugged her arm before she could heft herself onto the ledge. “We can’t leave her with him,” she whispered.
Cora clenched her jaw. Of course Maiya would put her own discomfort beneath the safety of others. And if Maiya was staying…
“Fine,” she bit out and settled back into the pool, “but you owe me.”
“Always. Forever.” Gisele’s tone was more desperate than convincing. Without another word, she climbed from the pool and hurried to the one the man waited in.
“We should have known better,” Maiya said with a sheepish grin.
