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AS SOON AS MY BODY was fully submerged, I started to float onto my back. A surprised yelp broke the seriousness of my whisper as I flapped my arms to set me upright.
Koen was there in an instant, taking my hands to pull me forward so I could plant my feet on the surprisingly smooth pool floor. Luckily, I was still entirely under the water. Even though I was wearing underthings, I felt naked and was suddenly self-conscious with someone so close. I didn’t dare admit to myself that I was flustered by Koen’s proximity.
“I got you,” he murmured, his expression gentle, his smile small. It wasn’t amused or cocky, and I couldn’t find the energy to lash out to hide my embarrassment. “You can hold on to me.”
Resolving not to let my pride deny much-needed help, I gripped his forearms. If I was holding too tightly, he didn’t say anything.
“You can come closer.”
Koen’s voice was so soft, lulling. Water reflections danced on his face. His jaw had grown a faint shadow of stubble, and his hair was greasy and sandy. The typical wry aura I knew had transformed into a presence worthy of lowering guards and entrusting secrets.
Aspen revealed what I’d hidden so carefully for the past five months. I was mad at him, but he made it hard to stay that way. He had done what we humans considered impossible: He’d apologized. He’d recognized his wrong and wanted to make up for it. And that made me want to forgive him.
Besides, what were Koen and Sloan going to do? Tattle on me? They didn’t even seem mad that I’d kept it to myself.
As long as no one knew—and it seemed no one seemed inclined to ask—who the father was.
Did I want to come closer? My stomach would only let me get so far. But I knew Koen, still the charmer, wanted me flush against him. I still didn’t understand why he liked me so much. What had I ever done for him? I was selfish and uninclined even to be nice. I hadn’t done anything to repay his kindnesses. He and Sloan left their lives behind for me.
I didn’t deserve him in any way. I didn’t deserve freedom. I didn’t deserve any of this.
I started to cry.
Koen panicked but didn’t let go. “What’s wrong?”
Suddenly I had no idea who I was. I wasn’t Moros anymore; I wasn’t a Gladiator. I was just a scared pregnant girl whose only future was running and hiding until she gave birth, which might or might not kill her.
Hiccupping and gasping, I told Koen as much. When I finished, he pulled me into an embrace. Surprise made my tearful fit stop.
Against my hair, he murmured, “Those are the reasons you do deserve all of this. You deserve freedom and kindness.” He squeezed me tighter like if he let go, I would disappear. “It’s okay if you don’t know how to reciprocate anything. Just having you next to me, safe, is all I need.”
I didn’t know what to do with my arms. How pathetic you are, Maer Whisler, I thought bitterly, that you don’t know how to hug someone back. Awkwardly I wrapped my arms around Koen, though his broadness kept me from clasping hands. “But you like me,” I croaked. “What if I don’t like you back?”
Koen pulled away to quirk his mouth to one side. It wasn’t exactly hurt, but it was close. “That’s okay.”
“But it’s not—” I began, but Aspen cleared his throat.
“Sloan and I can go into one of the other pools,” he said, wading out with Sloan behind him. She didn’t look our way.
I felt bad, but only a little. As soon as they were gone, my mouth suddenly ran itself as a dam broke within me.
“The pregnancy wasn’t planned. It’s why I haven’t been fighting well. It’s why I’ve been weak and emotional and mean. It’s why I wanted to leave Sanlow—to have the kid in vampire-free land. I’m selfish and scared and useless. I don’t know what it is about you that—I mean, you annoy me because I can’t figure out what—”
“Maer.”
I took in a shuddering breath. “Yeah?”
“Swim with me.”
I hesitated, looking out at the rest of the pool and its mesmerizing lure. Something tickled at the back of my memory. I met Koen’s molten gaze. “You saw Galen, right?”
His face fell in disappointment. “Yes. And the blue light.”
So I’m not crazy. I wanted to pursue the topic just to get it off my chest—I was definitely stalling—but I was beginning to succumb to the peace and quiet, not just of the pool, but to Koen’s. Alone for the first time without the threat of peril, I realized I had the chance to breathe. I was safe, something I had never been before. I didn’t feel eyes on my back and teeth at my throat. I didn’t feel the need to have a weapon in my hand and a shield over my heart.
Koen did that. Koen had saved my life in more ways than I could appreciate.
I quirked a smile. “I’ll swim with you.”
He brightened immediately, pulling me gently toward the center. I stifled my squeak of fear. I’m not going to sink and drown. “I’ll float with you,” he offered, letting himself go weightless onto his back.
I hesitated. My stomach would protrude if I did that. Surely Koen would gape and judge. Then I realized he wasn’t the type. Gathering courage, I released my inhibitions and went weightless. I closed my eyes and felt myself smile.
“Enchanted.” Koen’s voice was an awed whisper. It was what Galen had said before she made my vision flare blue.
As if the word triggered something, every negative emotion and feeling, all of my aches and pains, every niche of sand and grain dissolving—it all went away, leaving me invigorated and clean and healed.
Koen and I gasped in tandem, jerking upright to stare at each other. Every bit of grime on him was gone. He lifted his hands out of the water—it was as if he never had the raw cuts from the manacles. Mine had healed too.
“It’s like we drank vampire blood,” Koen breathed.
My mind struggled to wrap around what just happened. “More than that. I don’t hurt anywhere. My back and stomach—my feet—don’t hurt. Vampire blood only heals broken skin and bones...”
Koen looked as stunned as I felt. All the tenderness and calm had disappeared just as our mortal weariness. “Is the water—”
“Enchanted?” I had a sudden image of the bridges across the River Garnoc that led from neutral territory to each coven’s. The circle that was carved into the first right post on each bridge that glowed with orange light any time a non-member tried to cross.
No one knew what it was, who created it, or how it worked. Magic? A pureblood’s power somehow infused into the wood?
“We need to talk to Leysa,” I said.
Koen nodded. “I’ll get out first,” he offered, wading out of the pool to change into fresh clothes.
While he did, I stared at the water, expecting it to start doing something unnatural. But it looked like regular water. Galen, I thought desperately, what did you do? What were you trying to tell us?
Questions burned in my mind. I almost didn’t hear Koen give the all-clear.
I trudged out of the pool, waiting for pain to come rushing back, but—nothing. My center of gravity felt balanced. My whole body seemed as weightless on land as it had been in water.
“What’s happening?” I breathed. With his back to me, Koen handed me the clean clothes, similar to Leysa’s outfit—airy white silk pants and shirt with a wide hood I assumed was to shield from the harsh sun. I expected aches and pain, but again there was nothing. When I was fully clothed, I shoved Koen toward the exit archway. “We’re demanding answers.”
Koen scooped up the lantern. “Or we could ask them.”
“Same difference.”
“Tone makes the difference, Maer.”
He said that with amusement. I rolled my eyes and snorted. “You have a lot of snark for someone so humble.”
Koen glanced over his shoulder at me. “You think I’m humble?”
“I said snarky.” I scowled.
“You said both.”
“Hush.”
“Brother!”
We reached the clearing where all the half-bloods were still gathered. Sloan was weaving around them, Aspen on her heels. They wore the same clothes and were spotless from grime, blood, and exhaustion.
Sloan skidded to a stop in front of us with huge eyes. “You look—”
“Like nothing bad ever happened,” Aspen breathed in disbelief.
“You, too,” Koen said with furrowed brows as if he was trying to puzzle it out. “Now we really need to speak with Leysa.”
“Did I hear my name?” We all turned to see her standing in front of the center bonfire. Every other half-blood was sitting, watching us like hawks. “Come sit. I’ll explain everything.”
Hesitantly, we sat on the large tree log the leader offered. I was squished between Koen and Aspen as if I needed to be protected from something. Before I could get annoyed, plates stacked with meat and fruit were passed around. I ate ravenously; my companions barely said thank you before doing the same. Thankfully someone fed and watered the poor horses.
Leysa smiled wistfully as she sat beside Vidar on the other side of the bonfire. “Let’s start where we left off.
“The Cardinal Four covens were originally five, the fifth being Ophir, led by Farren Andraste. What’s known as the first migration was from their homelands to Dawnhaven, where they lived for a century before they were driven out. The journey to Sanlow is known as the second migration, which was initiated by Farren. It was a perilous pilgrimage that led to a separation. Each coven went their own way. But Elarian found the ruins of a town and immediately claimed it as their own. When the other covens caught up, it was agreed upon to once more live as neighbors.
“But,” Leysa continued, “Ophir always drew the short stick, getting the smallest sector with the least fruitful land. After only five years, she suggested a third move to find somewhere where all five could prosper. Long story short, it didn’t work, and Ophir left. They settled here for independence but to still be close if they needed resources from Sanlow.
“They weren’t bothered for decades.” Leysa’s voice darkened as she stared into the dancing flames. “Until—”
“Until Moros,” Vidar interrupted with fangs bared, “discovered that Farren had stolen something from them.”
My heart lurched.
“Cirillo Kaladin raided Ophir and wiped us out within an hour—his numbers were too sheer to defeat. I was saved by my mother by hiding in the River Jehona along with several others, including my five siblings.”
Five half-bloods briefly raised their hands in greeting.
“I hope,” Vidar growled, his poison-green eyes sweeping over me and my companions, “that none of you have any connection to that murderous—”
I thought my heart was going to burst out of my chest, it was beating so fast. Why did I feel guilty? It wasn’t my fault Ophir had been destroyed. It happened before I was born. Did I...feel bad for Ophir? Why?
“My love,” Leysa sighed, putting her hand over his, “they’re humans. How would they have a direct connection to Cirillo?” To us, she said kindly, “It doesn’t matter which coven you’re from. You’re free now. We’ve all forsaken our pasts in favor of a better future.”
It wasn’t just guilt I felt. It was fear. They hated Cirillo. I did have a connection to him. His spawn was growing within me. If any of these scorned half-bloods discovered that, there was no telling what they would do—Vidar especially. His mother and entire coven had been decimated. I would want revenge on Moros in any way I could, too.
I grumbled to myself, Just when I thought I wouldn’t have to hide my secret anymore.
