Page 55 of Beneath the Haunting Sea

His fingers found her neck, warm and smooth and wanting. “Talia—”

“Caiden?”

He quickly droppedhis hand, and Talia turned to see Blaive standing on the steps, light from the house pooling around her. She’d taken off the hat and looked smaller without it. Younger, too. She couldn’t be a day over eighteen.

Caiden stared at her, shock apparent on his face. “Bl—Blaive,” he stammered, gathering himself enough to offer her a bow. “When did you—how long have you—” He looked at her helplessly,one hand still loosely holding his gelding’s reins.

Talia stared, too. What had Blaive seen? What did she think had happened?

“I came to—I came to see you.” Blaive’s face was open, her chin trembling. “I’ve only just arrived.”

Caiden gulped, still staring uselessly. He stood up a little straighter. “Well, I am—I am of course very—”

Ahned stepped into the drive behind Talia, his face impassive.“Shall I take the horses, my lord?”

“I uh—that is—” Caiden clenched his jaw. “Yes, Ahned. Thank you.”

Caiden passed the reins over and Ahned led the horses away, shaking his head and muttering something under his breath about never having had such a full stable before.

For a moment, Caiden and Talia and Blaive just stood there, all looking at each other in abject confusion.

And then Caidenstrode into the house without another word to either girl.

Talia ran after him, catching his arm halfway up the stairs, pulling him around to look at her. All of her forgiveness had evaporated. “What’s going on? Who is she? What is she doing here?”

“Talia, not now.”

She glanced down to see Blaive watching them from the vestibule. Talia clenched her jaw, and yanked Caiden on up the stairs tothe first landing, out of Blaive’s sight.

“Talia—”

“Whoisshe?”

Caiden grimaced, rubbing at his eyes. “She’s an old family friend. We grew up together.”

“Are you engaged?”

“What?”

“Blaive says you’re engaged.”

“Talia, I haven’t seen her in two years.”

“Are you engaged?”she repeated, practically shouting at him. Caiden frowned. “No. No, of course not.”

Talia took a steadying breath,nodded. “Do you love her?” She knew one kiss and one almost-kiss didn’t give her any kind of claim on him, but she asked anyway.

Caiden shook his head, a frown pressed between his eyes. “I certainly thought I did, growing up. But I don’t now.” He smiled, a flash of white teeth against perfect lips. “Honestly, I haven’t thought about her in a long time. A banished Empress from Enduena distractedme.”

“Then you meant it.”

“Meant what?”

“Kissing me.”

He laughed. “Of course I meant it. I’m rather afraid I might be falling in love with you.”

Her stomach dropped into her toes. “But what about Wen?”

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