“You haven’t mentioned him in a while,” Madgala said.
“No one wants to hear me mourn day and night.”
Magdala turned her head, and her nose brushed his scratchy cheek. “You’re allowed to take up space,” she said. “You’re allowed to inconvenience people.”
He let out a short huff. “You’re right about me. I can’t be king. If it weren’t for all the promises I made to my brother, I would fake my own death and run away to the Wildlands and hide.”
“Zephyr and I will help you rule. Maybe you’re exactly what Allagesh needs.”
“That’s what he always said.”
As they watched for shooting stars, Magdala could have apologized for the amenite, and the lies, and the hundred little ways she’d failed in the days past, and perhaps she should have. But Asherton’s arm tightened around her, he touched his cheek to hers, and they floated together for a long time without a word. And whatever gash had torn between them mended in silence.
The rock hulked nearer, and Asherton said softly, “There’s a passage in the rock, just below the surface. We have to dive under. I need you to trust me.”
Magdala stiffened. “I can’t swim.”
“Trust me.”
“What if you drown and then I drown!”
He snorted. “I’mnot going to drown.Icanswim. All you have to do is hang on to me.”
Magdala nodded. She was a royal guard, rigorously trained. She could stay calm for a few seconds. Or, at least, she hoped she could. But from the frantic beating of her heart, she wasn’t sure.
Magdala slipped her hands to his shoulders and kicked her feet, hoping she was helping and not hindering, as they swam down into the pressing dark under the jagged rock. Asherton was stronger than she’d realized, easily pulling her weight through the tunnel. She fought back the overwhelming urge to fight her way out of the narrow space.
Just when she thought her lungs would burst, Asherton’s body angled up and light shone down on his hair. A moment later, they burst into cold, damp air.
Magdala gasped.
They had surfaced in the center of a colossal cavern. Stalactites hung from the cathedral ceiling, some as long and wide as oak trees. They glowed a brilliant reef blue, and their light slicked the dripping walls.
A crystal waterfall fell from such a dizzying height, it turned to mist before it reached the pool.
Magdala’s feet touched stone. She released Asherton, her hands burning, and scrambled up the sloping bank. When she’d reached shallow water, she dropped onto her back. Asherton flopped beside her.
“Can he reach us here?” she asked.
Asherton shook his head. Then he laughed.
She splashed him. “What are you laughing about?”
“That was fun.”
“No, it wasn’t!” she cried, indignant.
But he laughed and laughed until it caught like a cough, and Magdala found she was laughing, too, her eyes streaming. It wasn’t funny. She didn’t understand what had comeover her, but she was giddy with adrenaline and relief and the joy of being close to him again.
When they’d wrung themselves out, Asherton sat up. “I’ve never seen you like this. You’re not even scowling.”
Magdala fought her mouth into a frown.
“Don’t hurt yourself.” He smiled.
Shaking her head, Magdala got up and waded into the center of the pool. The water closed over her shoulders—warm and silky. She should have been terrified, but this cavern was alive with magic, and Asherton was so painfully beautiful. More than ever before.
“Come on,” she said, waving for him to join her.
