Page 37 of For the Strange and Surprising

Ecaeris strides in, straightening his shirt. He leans down to kiss Isolde’s cheek as he apologizes. “I’m sorry I was late. I had an… issue that needed my attention.”

I don’t look up from the glass of water that Isolde used to show me her power. I see him staring at me from my peripheral, but I pay him no attention.

Why I’m here still lingers in my mind, playing in the stream of doubts and lies that I carry with me. Did Spiran know I’d taken a life before she brought me here?

“Ada?” Isolde calls. “Are you okay?”

“Yes. No.” I tip my head back, staring at the wooden ceiling. “I’m processing.”

Ecaeris snorts. “Are you going to pass out?”

I ignore his snide tone, quietly answering, “That’s a possibility.”

Cold water hits my face, pooling in my lap. I glance down then to my full glass, blinking like that will make everything suddenly make sense.

It doesn’t.

“Ecaeris,” the queen scolds, and the liquid slowly recedes from the front of my dress. “I can’t believe you would do that to my guest.”

“It helped her last time.” He shrugs before smirking at me. “Feeling better, or do you need another distraction?”

“Was that neces—Holy shi—That’s the…” I slap my hand over my mouth, wanting to cuss Ecaeris out.

I’m too shocked to form a complete sentence, but my brain eventually aligns with my mouth.

“That’s the second time you’ve done that.” There’s no question about it.

He nods in agreement. “It is.”

I bite my tongue long enough to gather my wits, and then I smile at Ecaeris. My expression is honey, a sticky trap to study his reply, but everything I say is honest.

“It’s very thoughtful of you to remember what kind of distractions kept me from passing out. I was feeling overwhelmed by all the information, and I appreciate you being so prepared to help me.”

His face goes slack before he snaps out of his stupor. He wears the mask of regal and polite well, but so far, his speech hasn’t lived up to princely expectations.

“It wasn’t a problem. I’m sure it’s difficult to comprehend the water element with all that fire thrumming through your veins.”

Isolde laughs as she stands. She rolls a cart to the edge of the table and begins setting plates in front of us. When she returns to her seat, she pats the back of my hand as she speaks to Ecaeris.

“Fire may thrum through her veins, son, but it doesn’t come from an element or the Shades. I do hope you’ve enjoyed being blissfully ignorant.”

12

Adelaide

Breakfast is amazingly awkward.

There’s no other way to label it.

Every time Ecaeris has tried to make a snide comment to me, Isolde has shut him down with a grin on her face. He and I have both been equally stunned by her stout defense of me, though he seems amused by her witty comebacks.

I don’t say a word, choosing to eat the unknown food in silence as I dare the water in my glass to dance again.

Once we’re through with our meal, Isolde asks me to join her for another stroll. Ecaeris is quick to interrupt. Too fast, in my opinion. It feels like a trap.

“If you don’t mind, Mother, I’d like to show Ada around the village.”

I mind. I mind a whole fucking lot.