Forgotten Sea

“I’m fine. You can tel him so.”

“Tel him yourself. Come home with me.”

Home. A vision of Rockhaven rose in her mind, glossy and sharp as a photograph, the strong, stone wal s, the jewel ike windows, everything she’d once loved, everything that was permanent and safe.

She shook her head without speaking.

“Frankly, I’m relieved to find you alive,” Zayin said.

“This room stinks of demon. Demon and fish.”

F o r g o t t e n s e a 27 3

Shocked, she met his gaze.

“You do know he’s possessed,” Zayin said. “Aqua Boy.”

Lara sucked in her breath. “You knew?”

“I knew he was a danger to you.”

“Not anymore. Iestyn cast the demon out.”

Zayin stared at her, arrested. “He did.”

“We did.” The memory of it straightened her spine.

“Together.”

“Wel .” Zayin leaned back in the chair, his big body deliberately relaxed. “It appears we underestimated you.”

“So you see . . .” She exhaled. “You don’t have to worry about me. I can take care of myself.”

“Possibly. But then you have an obligation to protect others

. Scire, servare, obtemperare.” His smile was dark and joyless. “The only way to regain the perfection of Heaven is through the Rule.”

“Do you real y believe that?”

Black eyes flickered. “Simon does. And you are Simon’s disciple, are you not?”

Her chest felt tight. She didn’t know what she was anymore.

What she believed. “I can’t go back to the way things were.”

“No one would expect it. You’ve changed,” Zayin said, with an assessing look. “Other things can change. If you came back of your own volition, Simon would welcome you with an open heart and open arms. We need you, Lara.

What you have learned, you can teach to others.”

His words tore at her soul. More than physical safety, she craved emotional security. Simon’s praise and approval, a valued place at Rockhaven, were al she’d ever wanted.

The burden of freedom, the weight of fear, pressed on her heart. Her lips felt numb. She heard herself say, “What about Iestyn?”

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V i r g i n i a K a n t r a

“What of him?”

“I can’t just leave him.”

Zayin glanced around the empty room. “And yet he is not here.”

A flush heated her face. “He’l be back.”

“For how long?” Zayin asked.

She stared at him, stricken, seeing Iestyn’s face, alight with joy. Hearing Iestyn’s voice, bright with hope. “With her help, I can learn to Change . . . I can go back to sea again.”

Zayin pressed his advantage. “Let it go, Lara. Let him go.

He’s free to be with his own people now. And you can be safe with yours.”

“So you’re asking me to trade a chance at happiness for . .

. What? Security?”

“I’m tel ing you. Give up your infatuation with this boy for a guaranteed future.”

But there were no guarantees outside of Heaven. Iestyn had said that. The only thing certain was change.

Lara gnawed the inside of her cheek. She had changed.

She was more confident now, more sure of herself and what she wanted. She didn’t need to look to Simon for approval anymore or to the nephilim for safety and acceptance.

She had to trust herself. She trusted Iestyn. She wanted him, wanted what they could be together.

Zayin stood, big and dark and alien in the charming white room. Despite herself, Lara’s heart gave a little