Page 18 of Bargains with Benefits
I didn’t hesitate, throwing myself into the softly crashing waves of the sea. We played for what felt like hours beneath the moon. If only the memory ended there, I could have filed it away as a happy one, but as we lost track of time, the tides changed. The current strengthened, and before I knew what was happening, my next dive into the waves had me pulled away by a strong current.
I thrashed to the surface, gasping for air. Another wave crashed, pushing me back under. Up and down had no meaning. Water surrounded me, beating me back. I surfaced again, unable to open my eyes—to find Mom—before I was pulled back under.
Her screams reached my ears, though.
I was sure it had only been seconds, but it felt like so much longer. Mom couldn’t get to me, to the cove around the cliff where the current dragged. I was sure she tried her best, sure she tried everything she could to get to me, but it wasn’t enough.
I should have drowned.
The next thing I knew, I was sinking. No more breaking through the surf, no more moments of breath. My body fell like a stone beneath the waves. I rolled myself into a compact ball and lay against the sea floor. Water surrounded me, but I was sure it also poured from my eyes.
And then I could breathe.
I’d never understand what happened or how he was there, but the next thing I knew, Darius was pulling me from a whirlpool in the sea. I was in its eye, curled like a cat on the seabed. The water that previously tried to drown me was pushed back on all sides, giving me access to fresh air. I didn’t know how long I’d lain there before he found me. The scent of moonflower and juniper surrounded me—an unfortunately comforting scent for his magic. He pulled me from the center of the storm, dried me, wrapped me in warmth, and told me everything would be alright.
I remembered waking up in a room at the inn later with Mom tucked next to me. We’d stormed out shortly after.
It was hard to admit, even to myself, but I’d clung to Darius like a life raft in a storm. In that moment, he had been one. His magic had dried me as he carried me from the beach. It had flooded me with a familiarity I’d been too young to know was false.
I pulled my hand from the dough again, testing it. That round of kneading had done the trick. The memory had swept me away, and the bread benefited. Many would consider the experience of near-drowning traumatic on its own, but for me, it was the experience of Darius saving me that stuck.
The look of concern on his face as he pulled me from the sea was haunting. I would have sworn he cared. And if he cared that much, why did he ignore me for the rest of my life? How could someone turn their emotions on and off like that?
It was all too similar to what Vincent had done when he’d arrived at the inn to strike our bargain. Maybe that was a trait of the old fae. Another reason I’d never count myself as one of them. My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the cottage door.
“Come in,” I called, picking the remaining dough from my hand. I moved to rinse them under hot water as my friends entered. Seraphina had a mop in one hand and a bucket filled with bottles of cleaning liquids in the other. Evelyn had a broom, a feather duster, and many rags tucked into an overly large belt.
“What are you two...” I trailed off, realizing why they were here.
“We’re here to help clean. I assume you haven’t heard from the fae yet?” Seraphina said.
I’d seen them shortly after my bargain with Vincent, giving them most of the details and listing everything I had to do. “Not yet. He said he needed to create a plan.”
Seraphina pressed her lips together in a thin line, telling me all I needed to know about her opinion of Vincent. “Did he at least take your input?”
“Yes. Though I told him I wanted no part in his plan to make me seem old fae. I did share the information I had about the other inns in the city.”
She looked like she’d say more when Evelyn cut in. “I think we should start in the library.” Her hair was pulled back in a smooth, low ponytail, and she had a look of determination that I didn't understand.
“Is something not going well with your research project?” I asked. She worked part-time at the tavern and spent the rest ofher time in the Vesten Library. Though she was half-Vesten, her scholarly achievements were unmatched and had earned her the position.
“You could say that,” she said, not making eye contact. “I’d like to clean, though. I think that will help.”
I smiled, very in tune with that feeling.
“Looks like Luna was already working through something with her bread dough here,” Seraphina said. “We didn’t mean to interrupt. I knew you needed help, and this was our only free afternoon.”
“You’re never interrupting.” I waved her worry off. “This has to rise, and if you’re offering to help clean, I am accepting. Let’s get started.”
Evelyn’s suggestion won,and we started in the library. This would ease us into the cleaning process. It was by far the best-kept room, probably because before Byrd had banned me from the inn, it was where I’d sneak in to read with the view of the sea. By nature of having been used the most, it looked less sad.
“This is truly a stunning view.” Evelyn removed books to dust the shelves. She held them reverently, then placed each back where she found it. “I can’t believe people aren’t flocking to stay here.”
“It never made sense.” Seraphina swept the floor. “This is by far the best view in town, and back in its heyday, it also had the most charming rooms for the best rate. I can’t figure out what happened.”
“The rooms are decidedly less charming now,” I warned. “Byrd stopped any general upkeep. There was a leak in the northernmost room.”
Seraphina scratched the back of her neck as she glanced ather supplies. “We didn’t bring anything for patching or repair, but I’m sure we can get that taken care of in the next week.”
