“Am I supposed to go with a tour group?” Madeleine waved a hand in the air. “‘And here, folks, is the most mysterious beach in Orkney. If you ever want to see an angel, this is the place!’”

“I doubt a tour guide would say that.”

“That’s my point. I can’t do this with anybody else looking at me and wondering what on earth I’m doing. Even Jonathan doesn’t know what happened.”

Hæra bit her lip. Her public relationship with Jonathan was built on lies. Now, thanks to her, he’d told another one. He didn’t like it, she knew, but what else was there to do?

“You shouldn’t go alone,” she said. “If there really is something supernatural at work, then you’d just be tempting fate. It’s dangerous.”

“Oh? I had no idea.”

“You don’t have to be sarcastic. I’m concerned for your safety. Just as you were concerned for mine before.” And how that had warmed Hæra, like the sun after she’d surfaced from the depths.

For some reason, Madeleine looked astonished yet again. No reason for it, though. Didn’t it make sense that such feelings should be reciprocated? “Why?” Madeleine said.

“What?”

“Why are you concerned for my safety? Why’s it such a big deal to you that I want to go walking on a beach in the middle of a sunny day when there are people around? You don’t know me.” Madeleine added sharply, “No matter how many intimate questions you’ve asked.”

“Er…” Madeleine had made a point about speaking bluntly. Now that the shells were on the other hoof, Hæra found herself at a loss. Yet again, she couldn’t tell the truth.

She could tell something like it, though. “As I understand it, people are meant to care for one another. Not to be alone in the world. Wouldn’t you want to keep someone from harm even if you didn’t know them?”

Madeleine’s breath caught. She looked down at the ground. Then she said, in a low voice, “You’re right. We’re put here to love our neighbors. It’s easy to forget that.” She sighed. “Thanks for reminding me.”

“You’re welcome,” Hæra said, since that was the appropriate response to thanks. “Must you see the beach today? You’re here for an entire month.”

“That’s true.” Madeleine looked toward the ocean again. Hæra followed her gaze. She really was pinpointing the exact location, beyond what a human should be able to see. Could it be true that the beach was calling to her? “I guess I don’t have to go charging all over the island in search of answers right this second.”

“Yes,” Hæra said in relief.