Madeleine’s cheeks turned red again for some reason. For a moment, she looked Hæra up and down. It had the oddest effect. Madeleine wasn’t touching her, but somehow, her eyes on Hæra felt like hands. And not in a displeasing way. Would Madeleine feel the same if Hæra looked at her like that? Would they both feel as if they were touching one another?

Hæra’s throat felt thick at the thought. She had to swallow hard as she let her eyes travel over Madeleine in turn, taking in her dark hair, her high cheekbones, and those incredible eyes. The slender throat, the shoulders, the⁠—

“Well then!” Jonathan stood up, and the abrupt movement snapped Hæra out of the haze that had taken her. He brushed his hands together and looked down at the table. “Hæra, why don’t you give our guest a proper tour of the farm?”

“What?” Madeleine looked as dazed as Hæra felt.

“Sorry to cut this conversation short, but damned if I didn’t just remember I’ve got to call the abattoir.” When Madeleine opened her mouth, as if to protest, Jonathan added, “We can, er, finish later.”

Now Madeleine looked lost. “But…”

“We’ll talk more. Cross my heart.” Jonathan’s expression softened. “I dunno if I’ve got anything to say that’ll give you the answers you want, though. I never saw an angel, fierce or otherwise. God’s truth.”

Madeleine dipped her head. Her shoulders slumped. Hæra had done this herself when she was very tired or sad, and the gesture made her human heart ache. Somehow, years ago, Sister Madeleine had called to Hæra through the fathoms, pleading for her protection. Hæra was fully prepared to shield her from any physical threat. But how could you protect a human from sadness?

Her body acted without her permission again. It acted, once again, to seize Madeleine. But not as it had before. This time, Hæra watched her own hand reach across the table to take hold of Madeleine’s where it sat next to her plate. Madeleine’s hand was smaller than her own, warm, and softer than any human skin Hæra had ever touched.

Now Hæra’s face was getting hot. Heat was, in fact, spreading through her whole body. How strange.

Madeleine stared at her, eyes wide.

“There’s no need for sorrow.” The words were whispers. Hæra’s voice inexplicably wanted to be as gentle as if she were coaxing a newborn lamb to its feet. “We’ll find the answers you seek. I swear it.”

Madeleine looked down toward their joined hands as if she’d never seen anything like them.

“Come with me,” Hæra urged. Since she couldn’t show Madeleine the sea—at least, not yet—the land would have to do. “The sun’s coming out for once. It’ll be a beautiful day.”