requested that the nuns remember them in their prayers every day. “Everyone at the convent thinks that you’re . . .”
“Dead. Yes, most people think I died with my father and brother. My mother let them believe that in order to protect me. Only a few high-ranking officers know the truth.”
With a gasp, Maeve remembered her mother boasting at the dinner party that she had destroyed King Rudgar and his sons. Dear goddesses, no! She slapped a hand over her mouth to keep from crying out. And then her mother had actually threatened to kill Queen Esther and Princess Elinor—Brody’s mother and sister.
She dropped her head into her hands. This was too terrible. How could Brody accept her now? How could he even stand to look at her?
But he couldn’t see her in the dark, so he kept on talking.
“When I was ten years old, Father took Edgar and myself out to sea for a sailing lesson. It was supposed to be a fun outing. We headed south from the Isle of Moon, and I guess we ventured too close to this island.”
Maeve blinked back her tears. “My mother?”
“She blew up our ship.”
Maeve jammed a fist against her mouth to keep from letting a sob escape.
“My father and Eddy drowned,” Brody continued in a soft voice. “And all the crew. I was sinking, so filled with despair that I wanted to die, too.”
“Oh, Brody.” Tears ran down her cheeks. How could a ten-year-old boy cope with something so awful?
He sat on the window seat. “My gift was awakened as I struggled to survive. I shifted into a seal and swam to the surface. When I tried to swim away, I heard the Sea Witch’s voice.”
Maeve wiped the tears off her face. “Was that when she cursed you?”
“Aye. I’ve never forgotten her voice. It terrorized me in my dreams.” He took a deep breath. “But your voice always brought me comfort.”
That made more tears run down her face. He still loved her. He still needed her. She stood and walked slowly toward him. “Did you swim home?”
“No, I . . . I couldn’t bear to return home without my father and brother. I felt so guilty for surviving when they hadn’t. I swam north till I was exhausted, then washed ashore on the Isle of Mist. The Seer, your father—he found me and raised me as if I was his own son.”
She sat next to Brody on the window seat. “I can’t begin to tell you how sorry I am.”
“I’m sorry the Seer died before you could meet him. He wanted so much to see you.”
It no longer mattered what Brody looked like. Maeve wrapped her arms around him and held him tight. He held her, too, his head nestled in the crook of her neck.
She rubbed his back. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.”
She thought back to what her mother had said at dinner. “Cahira targeted your ship and your family on purpose. She thinks your island should belong to her.”
Brody nodded. “Aye. Now I know why the Seer always made me hide in the cave whenever anyone came to the island. He knew he had to keep my survival a secret.”
“Even from Cahira?”
“Aye. When she told him you had died as a babe, he knew she was lying and he could no longer trust her. He just played along so he would know what she was doing.”
Maeve took a deep breath. “Well, it’s a relief to know one of my parents was good.”
“True.” Brody straightened. “Are you all right? I wanted to tell you all this last night, but—”
“It’s better this way. Last night was perfect.”
He snorted. “I wouldn’t say that.”
“I thought it was perfect.”
“I was left as a dog with a bone.”
“Excuse me?”
“We’ll finish what we started tonight.” He cradled her face and, using his thumbs, wiped her cheeks dry. “If you can still accept me.”
She scoffed. “I’m the one who should be worried. Can you accept me after all that my mother has done?”
“She abandoned you because the Seer foresaw that you would be more powerful than she is. She doesn’t even deserve to be called your mother.”
Maeve blinked. “I’m going to be more powerful than Cahira?”
“That’s what the Seer said.”
She sat back, wondering what her father had meant. Had he been referring to her new gift of foresight?
“I should go see Nevis now.” Brody stood and she heard some rustling noises.
He must be disrobing in the dark, so he could shift. She opened the curtains, then