Madeleine stared up at her, apparently unable to think of a response to that. Her face was extremely close to Hæra’s. So close that Hæra could feel her breath, unsteady and warm, against her own mouth.

Her lips had been soft that night. They’d opened for Hæra, who’d found a warm place inside. They were opening now, in much the same way, as if…as if…

Madeleine turned her head away with a gasp. Had she realized what Hæra was thinking? Was she remembering⁠—?

“I-I understand why you must feel that way.” Madeleine’s voice shook. “After what happened to you. But I won’t swim. I’ll be careful. Now I need to go. Oh goodness, let me go⁠—”

If she wanted to be let go, why wasn’t she pushing Hæra away? Was that a human thing too? Hæra wasn’t experienced in holding people. She took a deep breath and forced her grip to loosen, making her human limbs obey her again. How strange, that Madeleine’s presence should wrench Hæra’s own body from her control so easily.

It was even stranger that their separation should cause a sense of loss that made Hæra feel as cold, as if the sun had never come out after all.

Just in case it was called for: “I’d apologize for that, too,” Hæra said, “if you asked.”

Madeleine stepped back, wrapping her arms around herself, not looking at Hæra. “Just don’t grab me again. Don’t go around grabbing people in general. It’s absolutely unacceptable.”

Jonathan had never taught Hæra that. He probably hadn’t realized he’d need to. “Oh. Then I won’t.”

Without a word, Madeleine turned and walked away. Hæra judged it best to wait behind, since she couldn’t trust herself to say sensible things, and the Great Mare forbid she slip in front of Jonathan. Besides, standing here gave her a chance to watch Madeleine walk—she hadn’t realized what a pleasing sight that would be.

It would be even more pleasing to watch her approach tomorrow. Hæra had learned from her experience tonight. She’d be ready to have a proper conversation, the sort she’d spent years studying for, ready to stand within reach of Madeleine once more.

Not reach, though. Not again. She’d just promised not to do that anymore.

As she watched Madeleine return to the house, with steps less measured than they’d been during her approach, Hæra hoped that was a promise she could keep.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Home safe.

As soon as Madeleine sent the text to Becca, she thought: everything about that is wrong. She wasn’t home, but sitting on a bed in a hotel where she’d had to dodge the nosy proprietor. And she was anything but safe.

Moments later, a green bubble appeared on the screen.