6Asger left at the first glimpse of trickling sunlight from above. He thanked Carrick for his hospitality and promised to return later that evening to gather Javelin for the clan. As he turned his liquid-gold gaze toward Lena, he did not bring up his proposal from the night before.
Instead, he gave her a silent nod and drifted into the waters ahead.
Lena could feel her father’s eyes on her back as she watched Asger’s sapphire tail vanish in the distance. To avoid his questions, she slipped into the vast waters to hunt for more sea fare. At least in the quiet stillness of the sea, she could try to sort out her thoughts . . . her true feelings. But even alone, she felt torn, as if a riptide were yanking her in every direction.
Her conscience was hardly a comfort. What would happen if Jave
