My stomach lifts then falls. He’s taking me to the cascades? Why?
It’s nighttime, which means it’s when couples are allowed to… perform recreational activities.
This time, I restrain my panic in silence, but I tug back on his wrist. He whips around, rage in his eyes. He first looks over my shoulder but then focuses those harsh eyes down at me.
I shake my head, trying to communicate that I do not want to go to the cascades with him. Maybe it’s irrational; after all, he can do the same things to me there as he could alone in his dwelling.
His brows rise. He lowers his mask and mouths,Trust me.
His eyes softenat the astonishment on my face then slides his mask back into place. He expects me to trust him?
Ignoring my concerns, he continues down the hall. He doesn’t turn where I expect, though, where Helena always takes me into the cascades. Instead, he finds another spiral staircase down a hall that is so narrow and short he needs to hunch over. Even still, the sound of water grows louder and louder.
Soon, mist fills the tunnel and the ground beneath my grubby feet warms.
Then, all at once, we are out in the open, just feet from the edge of the water. “Hurry,” he says. “Get in.”
It’s all happening so fast I can barely think straight
He pulls off his mask and begins unwrapping the leather weapon holsters around his body, throwing them in the corner.
I stand there, shocked still, eyes wide.
He continues disrobing, tossing his clothes to the ground one item at a time, until he is completely naked.
My mouth drops open, yet I cannot look away.
My Dread is not the largest of the warriors, but he is still large, and his back and arms are chiseled like stone. There are scars scattered over his entire body and a few ink drawings. He keeps his back to me as he steps into the pool.
When the water is over his waist, he turns and holds out his hand. “Keep the dress on.”
I blink, and somehow, my body moves of its own accord and I am in the warm water of the cascade with a naked Drak warrior. The moment I begin wading in, he turns and lounges against the stone at the far side of the small pool.
Wearing my beautiful blue silk gown, I sink into the water. It bubbles and floats up around my thighs. This is so bizarre.
My heart is still pounding too fast. My mind still reeling. I barely know what’s even happening.
“Now, put your dress here.” He points to the stone barrier a few feet down from him.
I swallow.
“Hurry. They will be here soon.”
I frown and look over my shoulder. Who? Who will be here?
Rhythmic thudding catches my attention. “Now,” he barks. I can feel the magic in his command. A heavy weight over my soul.
I could fight it, but to what end?
With trembling fingers, I pull the straps of my dress off my shoulders and sink deeper into the water just as the soldiers come into view. Boots stomping. Weapons out. Eyes scanning the waters.
I suck in a breath and quickly push the dress the rest of the way down to my feet and kick it off. My Dread grips the fluttering fabric under the water and pulls it behind him.
“Haze!”
He tugs me onto his lap.
“Aye,” he says. “What’s the trouble?” His arm curls over my waist, fingers splayed over my stomach. My breath hitches.
