Page 141 of In Violent Waves

Wilder frowned, looking at his pole. “Why is that?”

“The turtles have eaten most of what was in this pond. That’s why there are no birds.”

“So now what?”

“I’ll catch us something from the ocean,” she offered.

Wilder followed her back to the seaside and watched as she held her dress up and waded into the surf. It was familiar to her, watching the ripples under the surface and then spearing a hand in.

It didn’t take her any time at all until she was walking back to the shore with two cods.

“Impressive,” he said with raised brows.

“I’m starving,” she replied with a grin.

“Let’s pick some vegetables and I’ll cook us dinner.”

She stared at him, and he stared back. “What?”

“You canreallycook?”

He laughed and took the fish from her. “Of course, can’t you?”

She shook her head. “We don’t ‘cook’ underwater.”

He laughed harder. “So, what can you do?”

Lyra shrugged. “I can put together a salad, I suppose.”

The garden was in complete disarray. Weeds and overgrown herbs, vegetables, and even a few fruits.

Wilder had deposited the fish in the kitchen and stood staring with a perplexed expression at the chaos.

“I don’t even know where to start,” he muttered, more to himself than to her.

But Lyra stood staring in wonder. It was perfect and magical, this garden.

“I see some kale,” she gestured to the mass of furled green, “and some carrots, it looks like.”

Wilder waved to the garden. “Then have at it.”

She giggled and began foraging for their meager salads.

Back in the kitchen, Wilder prepped their fish, skinning the scales and removing their innards.

“We just eat them raw,” Lyra added as she hovered over his shoulder, watching.

“You also lived under the water and had razor-sharp teeth.”

“That’s true.”

“Do you miss it?” he asked, without looking at her.

“Sometimes. I miss the water and my sharp teeth and claws. But I don’t miss the rules and the dreariness. Everything is so full of life and color here.”

“What’s the court like?”

“Abysmal,” she uttered. “Scheming, corruption, and cruelty. I’m sure we’re aptly described in your books.”