“Yay!” Wren clapped. “Now we can leave the boys behind.”
I realized Fen was still holding on to me, and I pushed away from him, stretching the arm that was so, so used to having him right there on the other end. We’d slept together all these nights, trying to get comfortable, and finally, I could have my beloved space. At least I was pretty sure that’s what I wanted.
“Can you feel that?” he asked.
“Feel what?
“My magic is telling me there’s water nearby. I can feel it.”
“A bath?” I reached for him out of pure habit.
“Mhm,” he smiled. “We can make camp here, and you can go if you want.”
“Who are you?” I asked. “Just letting me wander off on my own.”
“I trust you.” He dropped his stubbled chin and the tone of his voice. “I’ve always trusted you.”
“The locked door was a clear indication of that, Prince.” I turned and ran off toward the water.
“Other way,” Kai yelled.
“Oh, right.”
“No fair, I want to come,” Wren whined.
“You can go next,” I heard Fen tell her as I went.
I found the small pond lit by moonlight not far away. I took off my clothes and the cold air ripped at my skin. I knew the charmed suit had been keeping me cool through the days and warm at night, but I hadn’t realized how much until I stepped out of it and laid it on the bank with my pack.
I strode into the chilled water and knew if I didn’t just jump in, I’d chicken out. I rushed forward and dove until the cold chilled my body and the soothing waters cleansed me. The moon’s reflection rippled across the water and I had just enough soap left to lather and wash my dirt-encrusted hair.
“Mind if I join you?” The intensity of that familiar smoky voice jarred me.
I gasped and covered myself as I turned. “Yes, I mind. Turn the fuck around, Fen.”
“I don’t think you’d really mind at all though, would you?”.
That crooked grin made my stomach flop. I looked back to the bank where all my clothes and weapons were and then back to him.
“So help me gods, Prince, if you even come a foot closer, I’ll make all your nightmares come true. I don’t care what just happened in the forest. I have boundaries.”
He didn’t listen. He took one step forward and then another.
I backed up, treading water as my feet left the sandy bottom of the deep pond.
He stepped into the lake. One minute he was fully clothed and the next his clothes vanished. He grinned as our eyes stayed locked on each other. My heart pounded in my chest. I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out as every single inch of his perfectly chiseled body lowered inch by massive inch into the chilly water.
“Do you like what you see, pet?” He tilted his head to the side.
I looked away, realizing I had been staring and he had fully caught me. “I’m going to kill you,” I said behind clenched teeth.
“I don’t think so, love. I think you’re going to stay very still while I come to you. I’m going to show you what you’ve been waiting your whole life for, even if you didn’t know it. Every girl dreams of her own prince, but you’re the lucky one. You get to have me. And I’ll have you. I’ll do things to your body you didn’t know were possible.”
He continued to move step by languid step. His words spoke directly to my core, and I tried to push against the overwhelming need to have him.
“S-stay away from me,” I said with less conviction than I hoped for.
“You don’t mean that.” He reached out to touch my hair, and I looked up to his perfect face. He moved closer, and just before I thought he would kiss me, someone called.
