Children of the Sea 03 - Sea Lord

child is a blessing,” he agreed. “We have had too few.”
    She shook her head impatiently. “I’m not talking about the selkie birthrate. I’m happy for them. Aren’t you happy for them?”
    He raised his eyebrows. “I am happy for us all.”
    She opened her mouth. Shut it. Maybe his lack of reaction was a selkie thing. Or a prince thing. Or a guy Page 105

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    thing.
    He met her gaze and smiled very faintly, with amusement and affection. Teasing her.
    Her heart somersaulted in her chest.
    “My lord Conn.” Griff paced across the courtyard from the keep. He sketched a bow to Lucy before turning to Conn, his eyes dark and serious in his broad face. “Ronat has discovered a new vent to the northwest.”
    Conn’s features froze. “He is here?”
    “In the hall, lord.”
    Conn released Lucy’s hands and stood. “I must see to this. Will you—”
    “I’m fine here,” she assured him. “I’ll . . . plant my rosebush or something while you’re gone.”
    His smile rewarded her for her understanding. “Get Iestyn to help you with the digging,” he tossed over his shoulder as they strode away.
    She watched them through the arch, their shadows stretching across the cobblestones of the outer bailey.
    The fountain gurgled and flowed. The pool reflected only the sky and the castle towers.
    Lucy sighed and tried to recall her family’s faces, to hold on to their memory in her heart and in her mind, to imagine their joy and their conversation. Did they miss her?
    But no, they had the corn maiden. Sitting there with Lucy’s family. With Lucy’s face. A little worm of jealousy uncoiled and gnawed at her heart.
    Taking a deep breath, she focused on the silver surface of the water. Think about babies. Think about nieces and nephews, a little girl with Dylan’s black eyes, a little boy with Caleb’s slow smile. She could almost see them, sturdy chubby legs and small grubby hands and skin smooth as an egg or the inside of a shell. Her heart was full and tender for them, these children who would always know their parents loved them.
    The water shimmered deep, deeper . . .
    “ How pretty. ” The voice— that voice —drove into her brain like an iron spike and ripped her throat.
    She opened her mouth, but no scream came out. “ How unfortunate they will not live to be born. ”
    Her stomach twisted. Her mind shrank. This couldn’t be happening. Gau shouldn’t be here. They had warded the springs.
    “ Oh, I am not here. ” Gau’s chuckle drew blood like the rusty edge of a saw. “ I am already on my way to World’s End to visit your family. Since you couldn’t take the time. ”
    She quivered, fear and guilt making her shrivel like a jellyfish left in the sun.
    “ Do you know what I’ll do to them when I get there? Your pathetic excuse of a father. Your big brave brothers and their bitches. ”
    The pool roiled and darkened.
    “ Perhaps I’ll let you watch . . . ”
    Her stomach churned like the waters of the fountain. She saw things, dark, horrible, vile things, wavering just below the surface, Dylan fighting and Regina screaming and Caleb covered in blood. Maggie, pale and torn, weeping as though her heart would break.
    “ No! ” Lucy shouted, or tried to shout, but she had no voice.
    Just like in her nightmares.
    “ Too bad about the babies, ” Gau said, and laughed while the water ran stained with blood.
    The scream built in her chest and in her head until her throat was raw, until her ears rang, until the pressure behind her eyeballs exploded.
    And she never made a sound.
    When the last echoes died away across the courtyard, she stood on trembling legs. Staggering to the corner by the fountain, she threw up on the cobblestones.
    After the freedom and relief of the sea, the stone keep closed around Conn like a prison.
    They all felt it, he saw, looking around at his wardens. They were used to the vast reaches of their own territories. Being on land, in human form and together, strained them as much as any demon threat.
    Morgan wore a perpetual sneer. Enya’s voice was as brittle as her smile. Even Griff’s normally impassive Page 106

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    face creased in worried lines.
    The weight of responsibility pressed on Conn’s neck and pounded in his temples. It fell to him to unite them, to direct them, to protect them all, however