Page 109 of In Violent Waves

She was unusual, not shallow as the other courtiers had been, but there was something about her, something powerful.

“Little Fish?” Lyra asked, cocking her head to the side and narrowing her eyes.

“It’s my nickname for you, mermaid. How has the land been treating you?”

Jordania stopped in front of Lyra, and that’s when she realized what she had felt. Jordania was a witch. A powerful one.

“I don’t like the nickname, and the land has been … unkind. But the people have been nice.”

Jordania gave Lyra a sweep of her eye and then grinned. “Nasty bite, those witch’s curse spiders.”

Lyra looked at Daisy for an explanation. “Lady Jordania is the healer here. Prince Wilder brought you to her after your spider bite and then again after your accident in training.”

“Then I guess a thank you is in order.”

Jordania brushed a thick lock of chestnut hair behind her ear. “There’s no need.”

Her ears were blunt, not pointed like the elves. Silence stretched taut between them, and Daisy shifted on her feet.

“As a witch, you’re not like the elves, are you?” Lyra asked.

“Very astute, Princess. No, I am not elvish, but I’m not human either. I’m something—in between.” Her voice changed when she said the last part. It was old and young, hers and many.

It made goosebumps rise on Lyra’s flesh.

“What was that?”

Jordania smiled. “Sometimes my magic slips through when it’s called.” The thread of gold in Lyra flared. “You’re almost ready, Little Fish. Use yours when it calls.”

Then Jordania was walking away, her sweeping charcoal gown flowing behind her like a trail of smoke.

“That was … strange,” Lyra said, her brow raising high.

Daisy shivered. “I know she’s nice and all, but goodness, she scares me.”

“Is she nice?” Lyra pursed her lips.

“Very. She’s been nothing but kind, but when her voice does that powerful thing, it startles me.”

Lyra tried not to let her shoulders droop.

What would Daisy think of her if she used her magic?

“Ready to check out the library?” Daisy asked.

Lyra nodded and followed her back through the winding pathway and into the library.

But Jordania’s words plagued her all day. “Use yours when it calls.” Would she recognize it when it did?

The following week passed in a blur. Training, reading, sleeping.

Lyra had read unbelievable things inThe Knight in Shining Armor. Intimacy and ecstasy, pain and rapture. She still couldn’t quite comprehend it all.

Actually, she wished there had been pictures so she could understand the positions. Sex in this body would differ greatly from the single position that her mermaid form allowed for.

A tail can’t split, and with the main organ in the front, there was really only one way to do it. Unless you got really creative, but being upside down for that long didn’t seem enjoyable.

As she and Maelys walked down to the grounds, she noticed a difference in her gait. Her legs felt stronger somehow, and her breathing came easier, even while keeping up with Maelys’ quick pace. The last two days had been scorching. It was changing seasons here. She hadn’t ever experienced that before.