Elara's POV
Margaret rushed to her side, crouching down, her voice softening into the tender murmur she used with children she loved.
"Oh, sweetheart, what happened? Did you get frightened?"
Celeste was already at her daughter's side, lifting her, pressing her face into her shoulder. She turned to look at me over Lily's head. Her face was perfectly composed. Concern. Confusion. A flicker of sympathy for a situation that had apparently gotten out of hand.
Orion and Veronica came running from the pergola.
He reached the pool's edge and took in the scene in one sweep. Lily was on the steps, weeping quietly. Mia was in the water with me, still shaking in my arms.
"What happened?"
"She held her under," I said.
"She pushed my head down." Mia's voice was hoarse and entirely certain. "She
