Eureka released the orchid. She pressed her hands against the shield, her palms against Ander’s. Then, slowly, she pressed her forehead and her shoulders against it. Ander lifted his chin, rapt, as she pressed her lips to the shield.
She gazed at him. His lips were slightly parted. He hesitated for a moment, then took his finger and traced her lips lightly through the shield. She could feel the subtle pressure of his touch but not the softness of his skin.
Heat coursed through Eureka. They were tantalizingly close—
They could swim to the surface and the shield would fall away, but Eureka suddenly sensed that a powerful force might always lie between them, teasing her, torturing her.
Ander had been underwater a long time without air. Within her shield, Eureka could breathe, but Ander’s lungs must have ached. She pulled back from the edge of the shield and pointed toward the surface. When Ander nodded, she picked up the orchid and they kicked themselves higher, higher, until Eureka’s head broke the surface and the shield shattered again.
They faced each other and tread water, which was as warm as a just-drawn bath. Her arm brushed Ander’s thigh. His foot pedaled into her knee. Her guilt grazed his, then got lost in the dark water. Eureka didn’t know how to stay connected and not sink.
“Don’t mind me.” Solon smirked at them from the edge of the pool.
Beyond Solon, Eureka saw a curved staircase built into the stone. Cat and the twins leapt from the bottom step and ran toward her. Dad’s winged bower hovered at the foot of the stairs.
She waved the orchid to signal she was okay. She was still adjusting to the idea that she wasn’t about to die.
The cave was darker down here, undecorated. Only a few stalagmite candelabra lit the yawning space, but Eureka sensed there was more to this underground cistern than she could see from the pool.
A spray of water erupted behind Eureka. She lunged forward.
“Just a little blowhole,” Solon said. “It’s not another test. Why don’t you calm down and emerge? We have much to discuss.”
Ander pulled himself out of the pool and turned to help Eureka. She was soaking; he was as dry as ever.
Solon tossed her a robe identical to his. She put it on over her wet clothes and wrung the water from her ponytail. Cat and the twins embraced her—her friend high up on her body, her siblings low.
“So. You passed,” Solon said. He glanced at Ander. “With only some cheating.”
Ander chested up against Solon. “She was almost killed.”
Solon stumbled backward, amused. “Some would say that’s the point. I’m sure you know who I mean.” He turned back to Eureka. “Your friend is mad because when I realized he was using his Zephyr to aid you, I used mine to disengage his. That’s when you fell.” He used two fingers to mimic the flailing legs of a falling girl and whistled the sound of her descent.
“You wanted me to fall?” Eureka asked.
“Want is a strong word. Mostly, I don’t want a Seedbearer paraded into my home.”
“I’m not a Seedbearer anymore,” Ander said. “My name is Ander. Like you, I turned my back—”
Solon scowled and shook his head impatiently. “Once a Seedbearer, always a Seedbearer. It is the most unfortunate aspect of a vividly unfortunate existence. And you are nothing like me.” He paused. “Ander? After Leander?”
“Yes.”
“Rather pretentious, isn’t it?” Solon asked. “Have you had your Passage yet?”
Ander nodded. “I was eighteen in February.”
Eureka’s gaze darted between the two boys, trying to keep up. All of this was news to her. She imagined Ander’s birthday, months ago in Lafayette. Whom had he celebrated with? What kind of cake did he like? And what was a Passage?
“Whom did you replace?” Solon asked Ander. “Wait, don’t tell me, I won’t get stuck at that dysfunction junction just because some kid walks into my cave like a bad joke.”
Eureka threw the orchid, striking Solon in the face. “Here’s your flower, asshole.”
“Blow it out your blowhole,” Cat muttered.