Nesta and the Mercenary

Chapter 3

Nesta was floating in a pool in the Archeron estate gardens, ignoring the sound of her younger sisters giggling and splashing in the background.

Nesta loved the pool, but not for the same reasons her sisters did. The water was pleasantly cool as she slowly waved her arms and legs to stay afloat, and the sun warmed her face, and she liked the patterns of stars and flames that danced across the backs of her eyelids in the sunlight. The pool had been meant as a water feature in the garden, where water lilies and lotuses and colorful ducks could float, but Feyre had invaded it—playing pirate—one hot summer years ago, and it had been the sisters' domain ever since. Feyre and Elain always begged her to play their childish water games, but she hated getting her face wet and they knew not to direct their splashes toward her. Nesta was content to float, if she joined them in the pool at all.

The splashing and screeching faded into whispers, and a small hand laced in hers.

"Nestaaa," a girlish voice said in her ear. "Come play with us."

Nesta opened one upturned blue-grey eye, meeting its near-twin in her youngest sister's freckled, smiling face. "No, thank you."

"Please! Hide and seek isn't as fun with only two people."

"Hide and seek isn't as fun when you're doing it in a pool of clear water. It's way too hot to go in the garden," Nesta snorted.

Elain, who had been hanging back behind Feyre, popped her head over Feyre's shoulder. "We've been playing it with our eyes closed, and then the hiders can move around but they have to be quiet or else the seeker will definitely hear the splash and find you. Please, play with us," she begged.

"Please, Nesta, all you have to do is find us. You're the best seeker." Feyre squeezed Nesta's hand. "Elain always opens her eyes!"

"That was one time!"

Nesta opened her other eye and raised her head. "No splashing, you say?"

Her sisters nodded expectantly, a wolfish grin on Feyre's face and a pretty pout on Elain's.

Nesta kicked her feet under to stand upright and closed her eyes tight. "One ... two ... three ... four ... five ... six ... seven ... eight ... nine ... ten!" She reached her arms out and began walking slowly through the pool, careful to keep her movement silent so she could hear her sisters.

Elain was easy to find when a splash and a giggle gave her away less than a minute in. But Feyre had always been a strange, quiet child, and was much more skilled at games of stealth. Which was probably why she loved sneaky games so much and hated that Elain had to resort to cheating to find her.

"Nesta, what are you doing?" Elain asked. "The game's over."

Nesta tip-toed quietly through the pool, listening intently and reaching out in hopes of bumping into their youngest sister. "I still have to find Feyre, silly."

"But Feyre is at Aunt Ripleigh's."

Nesta whirled and opened her eyes. "What did you just say?"

"She's helping Aunt Ripleigh," said Elain, who had suddenly aged ten years and was ruining a beautiful silk gown as she sat on the edge of the pool and dangled her legs in the water. "How flattering it was of Aunt Ripleigh, to require us in her time of need!"

Nesta thrashed in the pool, turning in circles. "Feyre!" she yelled. "Come out! This isn't funny!"

"All you have to do is find me!" Feyre sing-songed on the hot breeze. "Nestaaaa." Feyre's girlish voice grew deeper and huskier, distorted like bubbles in water.

"I'm trying!" Nesta cried, then looked down at the water and reflected sunlight that made it hard to see her own feet. What if Feyre had—in the deep end—when she couldn't yet swim and only ever tip-toed on the shallow side—

"Nesta! Wake up!" called the strange, low and girlish voice.

"Feyre!"

Nesta took a deep breath, and dove underwater.