His heartbeat thundered through the silence, as loud as a gong to my draken ears. At least I had been a teenager when I first thought I was going to die. I don’t know why I felt compelled to make him feel better, to let him know that I understood, but my mouth started moving before I could stop it.

“Crullfed threw me into the pond out back once. He was angry, I don’t remember why, and he was frustrated I didn’t react anymore when he beat me. I don’t know how old I was. I couldn’t swim. I still can’t.”

I shivered, and he unconsciously clutched me closer to his chest.

“One of the customers, a man, pulled me out. Then he demanded payment. It—” I choked, unable to continue. Thad’s hand on my back ran up and down my spine in a soothing motion. I took a deep breath.

“Ever since then . . . I just . . . We escaped into the river before we came to Cantrada. We all would have drowned if the sea witches hadn't been there. I thought I was okay around water, but after that, I guess I’m not,” I whispered.

Thad let out a long, sad sigh. His voice was low, yet soothing as it rumbled against me. “What was the payment?”

I hadn’t thought of it since it happened. I had distanced myself so thoroughly it was as if it happened to someone else. Maybe it would help to dig out the guilt, the shame. “Nothing happened to me. He took it from one of the older girls who stepped in, who insisted on saving me. She said I was too young. She died in childbirth that spring. Because of me.” The silence threatened to swallow both of us whole.

Thad shifted in the water, sending ripples dancing across the surface, disappearing in the darkness. “It wasn’t your fault.”

I dug my claws into his shoulder, squeezing. Thad didn’t so much as blink. He stared me down, neither of us backing away from our truth.

After a moment he huffed and looked away. “You are too old to not be able to swim.”

I snorted, ecstatic for a change in subject. “Says the shadow demon man who’s afraid of the dark.”

Thad’s fingers tightened around the undersides of my knees. “Let’s compromise. I will work on my darkness thing, and you will work on your water thing.”

Thad’s eyes bore into mine, and then every candle in the room extinguished, plunging us into utter darkness. He tensed around me, then took a few deep breaths. Slowly, his muscles relaxed, and then he lowered his arms into the water. With me still in them.

“Thad!”

“Aren’t you supposed to be a queen?” He taunted. I growled but didn’t complain again as the water lapped at my body. He lowered me until my bottom and my waist were submerged, my upper body and feet still above the water. I was likely gripping onto him tightly enough to draw blood, but he didn’t complain.