Her head swam. “What does that have to do with Kai?”
Mareda gave an exasperated sniff that might have been a scoff–it was hard to say with that lace handkerchief pressed to her face. “The Thaw began when the Merrow appeared.”
“Do you think we were casting spells beneath the ice?” Kai cocked his head to one side, affecting a painfully polite tone that only underlined his thinning patience. “If I had that ability, why under all of Adhlas would I have waited six centuries to Wield it?”
“Who can say how long you were working on your escape?” Mareda shot back in that same tone, dropping her handkerchief to her side and leaning into her crutch.
“You’re being ridiculous,” said Adeline.
“Or why you were imprisoned in the first place,” Edward added darkly.
Kai’s head snapped towards him.
“Oh, I think you of all people knowexactlywhy I was imprisoned.”
Edward bristled as the Merrow King took an imposing step towards him, and another, until he was close enough to lower his voice to a menacing hush.
“I know what you found, Commander. And I know what you did with it.”
The older man turned as pale and grey as the trampled snow around them. Silas breached the tense circle, hovering just beside the Commander and the King with a wary look on his face.
“What is he talking about?”
“I have no idea,” Edward said stiffly, and then spat at Kai; “IlovedSelma. Everyone knows I loved her.”
Adeline exchanged a frown with her father.
“Was that ever in question?” Silas said.
But the two men were locked in some battle of insinuation that made little sense to anyone around them. Kai’s shoulders were squared, Edward’s fists clenched and trembling.
Kai simply nodded, unreadable. When he spoke it was with a gentleness that almost seemed sincere. “I’m sure that’s why you did it, to begin with. But if you’re honest with yourself, Edward – you didn’tundoit for anything remotely close to love.”
The whistling of the wind had settled some time ago, but the silence seemed especially stark now; even the breeze held its breath.
Adeline felt Ger’s hand at her elbow and realised she had been swaying where she stood. She recalled her mother’s voice in her head, as clear and urgent as though she lingered on this plane still, whispering in her ear.
He had become this fearful, possessive stranger.
Edward’s jaw was working, his chest heaving as though he might be sick.
We did things we hadn’t believed each other capable of.
Adeline wasn’t feeling too well herself. Realisation was sweeping through her like hot, roiling nausea.
“Out of my sight,” Edward breathed hoarsely. Nobody moved. Then he bellowed; “GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!”
Iseult shrieked from somewhere nearby, and Silas yelled out a warning.
Adeline didn’t see him surge for the Merrow King until Kai staggered, knocking into her so hard that her feet slipped and shot out beneath her, landing her hard on her ass.
Commotion broke out, raised voices and skidding feet.
Ger and Kai hoisted Adeline to her feet, but no sooner had she scrambled upright than Kai swung around to brace for a second assault. Silas wrestled Edward back, Ger skidding over the ice to grab his other side, the three of them flailing on the slippery lake as they struggled in opposite directions, and Mareda screamed at them tolet him go, even as the Commander roared at the Merrow King again and again.
He was so incoherent with fear, and rage, and sorrow that Adeline could barely make out what he was saying.
At first.
