This Each-uisge was smaller than both Asgall and Hæra had been, but still bigger than any horse had a right to be. Its hide looked black at first, but when the flashlight passed over it, it showed itself dark green, like seaweed washed ashore. Its mane was dark as night, as were its eyes.

Its teeth, however, looked every bit like Hæra’s and Asgall’s. Long and sharp, which was easy to see, since they were bared.

The Each-uisge slowly approached, the tide lapping around its hooves. It looked at Madeleine, and then at Asgall and Jonathan. It made a low noise.

“My son,” it said.

Madeleine had known who it was. The Great Mare had said there was another member of Hæra’s family to fear. Madeleine just hadn’t expected to face her alone in the middle of the night.

Beathag turned her head toward Madeleine. “I have never been on land,” she said.

Madeleine hadn’t expected conversation instead of an attack. She managed, “Oh.”

“The human world holds no fascination for me, as it did for my children.” Beathag stepped forward. “As it did for my mate.” She stepped forward again.

“Your mate? Hæra’s father?”

“They got it from him, this curiosity. This obsession.” Beathag continued walking—prowling—and Madeleine stumbled backward. “You’ve taken them all from me.”

Madeleine’s stomach turned to water, as did her knees. “That’s not true. Your kind prey on us. We don’t take anything!”

“So it should be. It wasn’t so with them. I refused to lose my mate, but my children are gone.”

Refused to lose her mate? That implied he was still here. Hæra had said her father was dead. And moreover… “H-Hæra told me the reproductive cycle is terrible on females. She said the Each-uisge don’t know how to love. Are you really that sad?”

Beathag tossed her head back and whinnied a laugh, otherworldly and bitter. “I kept the thing I needed. Now I need more. Where is my daughter?”

Okay, that was one good thing: Beathag clearly hadn’t murdered Hæra. “I don’t know.”

“You are bound to her. Her chosen prey.”

“No—it’s—” It wouldn’t go over well to say that Hæra had pledged her love to Madeleine and sworn never to hurt her. “I don’t know where she is, I promise you!”

“I have no use for promises. Alban gave me many, and they’re worth even less from you.” Beathag bared her teeth. “Help me, human. Help me find her, and I’ll spare your life.”

Madeleine’s heart might break through her ribs. “Oh? And what will you do when you find her?”

Beathag gave her a level look. “I’ll finish what I started, and I will get what I need.”