Deirdre floated in the water, and I reached out, looping my arm under her shoulders. Kicking my feet, I pushed to the surface, my chest burning from the lack of air.
Immortal, and yet habits like breathing still mattered.
Breaching the water, I gasped for air, letting the thick humid heat fill my lungs. “She doesn't look like she's breathing!” Anna fluttered over by us.
“Hard to tell when I'm in the pond.” With the human wrapped under my arm, I swam over to the edge and hauled her out, rolling her on the grass before I kneeled beside her.
Anna flew and landed on the ground in front of the human, putting her ear to her mouth. “I don't hear any breath. Kane, do something!”
“All right. All right,” I said, getting annoyed. I rolled the human on her side and hit the back of her body hard three times. “Anything?”
Anna shook her head no. “Wait. There’s something in her mouth!”
“Well, get it out.”
“My hands aren't big enough!”
Shaking my head, I pulled the human onto my lap, holding her upright. Her eyes were closed, her skin paler than I remembered. Taking two of my fingers, I opened her mouth to find a wad of slimy algae. I grabbed the piece of vegetation, sticking my hand farther in, grabbing it all and yanking it out. When I did, water dribbled out of her open mouth. Adjusting her in my arms, I whacked her back a few more times, releasing more water.
Anna leaned over, listening for breath. “She's breathing now.”
“Why does she look half-dead?” Olivia asked as she plopped on my shoulder.
“The bogey’s gas paralyzed her. She won't be able to move any muscles, but she’ll live.”
Brushing the swamp water off her face, I grazed the star-shaped birthmark over her right eye. The light strawberry coloring contrasted against her pale skin.
This symbol designated her as mine.
My chest tightened at the thought.
It didn’t matter. Prophecy or not, a human and I could never be together. “We must take her inside and have her handmaiden examine her.” Anna gazed at me with those big, sad eyes.
“Fine.” Lifting the human who felt strangely light in my arms, I began walking back toward the castle.
Her long ebony hair fell across her face, covering the birthmark, and the tiny hairs around her forehead plastered to her skin.
“Poor thing,” Ella said as she fluttered just above the unconscious human. “This must be so terrifying for her.”
I admit it had been a strenuous day. “She'll be fine.”
“What's wrong with her face?” Olivia stuck her nose up in disgust. “It looks like the mark humans do to their cattle.”
“That is the mark of prophecy, and it is strangely endearing.”
The three pixies gaped at me, and Anna gasped, like they thought I was unable to give a compliment.
“What? I can admit when something’s… unique.”
Beautiful had wanted to slip out of my mouth, but I would not give my pixies any reason to tease me.
As we neared the castle entrance, whispers from my court surrounded us, but my people found I didn't do well with questioning and there would be a lot of questions. And so they would whisper and gossip until I made an official announcement about why I was bringing a human into the palace when humans had been exiled for the past two hundred years.
My bothersome cousin, Gideon, leaned against the stone wall, eating an apple. “Interesting afternoon, Your Majesty.”
“Not now.” I ignored him as I walked past.
He pushed back his silver hair, almost the same color as my mother's, though where hers had hints of blue, Gideon’s had golden highlights. A moon fae from my mother's side. Their characteristics were clearly visible, with their matching skin, silvery hair, and light eyes.
