A mountain of cushions and blankets was nestled in a shadowy corner where the sunlight was blocked by dense foliage pressed against the glass walls.
“Have a seat. Do you want tea?” Cass wrung her hands and let out a pained laugh. “Listen to me, offering you tea when a few minutes ago, I thought you were dead.” She paused for a breath. “But seriously, do you want tea?”
“Do you have anything stronger?”
“Absolutely!” she said, appearing grateful I’d asked. “I make my own wine. It’s infused with elderberries. You’ll love it… I think.” Her eyebrows drew together as if she wasn’t certain she knew anything anymore.
I offered her a strained smile. “I’ll love it.”
She hurried toward a sideboard that was set with glasses and a pitcher of burgundy liquid.
“I didn't expect to find you here,” I said as she poured us each a glass. “You’re supposed to be traveling the kingdoms, not living at your brother’s estate.”
Cass dropped a handful of fresh berries into our glasses, then tipped her head back with a sigh. “A lot’s happened since… well, since you died. But I like it here. I have my own space where I never cross paths with my degenerate brother. And this place is completely self-sufficient. I grow my own food, sell exotic flowers to collectors, and I get to work on my mixtures.”
I accepted the glass she handed me and gently sniffed the fragrant wine. “They say you’re a witch.”
Cass collapsed onto a cushion, holding her wine up so it wouldn’t spill. “A budding witch! Pun intended. It’s because of my botanical potions.”
She gestured to the swaths of ivy draped along the walls. A few of the vines even hung by our cushions, creeping and crawling across the floor.
“This is still a secret project, but I’ve developed an infusion that allows plants to absorb and store natural elements for later use. Take sunlight, for example, when my mixture is poured into the soil, it seals the light inside the leaves. After dark, if you run your fingers over the ivy, the leaves glow with the captured sunlight.”
“That’s amazing, Cass. I'm so proud of you.”
Cass flushed and sipped her wine. “I’ve had a lot of time on my hands. But enough about me.” Her tone sharpened. “We thought you were dead, Marin. We mourned you. Where have you been?”
I took a deep drink from my glass, stalling another moment. Closing my eyes, I savored the burst of flavor on my tongue, sweet and tangy. I hadn't tasted anything beyond bitter seaweed in years.
“It’s a long story, and it doesn’t start on the ship or after I fell, but years ago, before I met any of you. It began with a witch, the evil kind, not the budding kind.”
Cass stifled a smile and let me tell my story. Three full glasses of wine later, she deflated against the cushions and made a shocked noise inside her throat.
“An underwater prison? Mermaids? I can't believe it. And you think Gavin betrayed you?”
”Iknowhe did. I saw his note. It was in his handwriting, Cass. He was the only other person who knew about the comb, and he conspired with the witch. We all know he spent the evening with her, and probably the night too. He stumbled back to the inn the next morning, covered in that map.”
Cass chewed the corner of her lip, the lines in her forehead deepening. “I remember. But he paid her for the map. We all pooled our money together, so we had enough for her fee.”
I scoffed. “And in the end, the witch got her money’s worth and then some.”
She rolled onto her side, tipsy from the wine. “I can’t imagine what you’ve been through, and to be honest, I haven’t seen anyone from our crew in years. After that last hunt…” She laughed bitterly. “Things were said—stuff we couldn't take back. We all walked away. Bowen went full recluse, Gavin dropped off the map, and the only one I know about is Reid. And that's because he writes for the Gazette now, and I steal the paper from my brother.”
Her gaze softened. “But Marin, even though we all drifted apart, Gavin—he never would have—”
“It doesn’t matter! What’s done is done, and I’m not interested in playing detective where Gavin is concerned. I only have a few weeks to find the shard and break my curse. I’ll die if I don’t, and I won’t go back.” A breath shuddered in my lungs. “I can’t.”
Cass reached for my hand, but I jerked it away. Red liquid sloshed from my glass and spilled onto the floor. Sympathy pooled in her eyes, and I dropped my gaze.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to stain your cushions.”
“It’s okay, Marin. I shouldn’t have pressed you. We won’t mention what happened in the past. We’ll only focus on the future. I promise.” Cass crawled out of the mound of pillows and stumbled to her feet. “You said you’re looking for magical seeds? Well, you came to the right greenhouse.” She flung her arms out to encompass the vast array of plants.
“You have them here?” I breathed, excitement threading my tone.
“Oh.” Cass frowned. “No, I don’t. I can see how you thought that, though. We should have gone easier on the wine. Paired with your sudden arrival, it’s really messing with my head.”
She wasn’t wrong. I’d only had my legs back for a few hours, and I could hardly use them. My eyelids felt heavy, and while the wine had helped with the throbbing aches in my muscles, it made my mind groggy.
