I’m about to rip my eyes from his dripping shoulders when I notice a strange scar on his side. It’s as long as my hand and red as if it’s still fresh.
I forget my embarrassment, wrestle with my skirts, and crawl the short distance to him. I motion to the raised skin. “What happened to you?”
“Poisoned dagger,” he answers, his voice dark.
“The tournament?”
He said Prince Lionel poisoned him to keep him out of the last competitions, but I had no idea it was this bad.
He nods, and my eyes meet his. I run my finger over the length of the scar, and his muscles tighten under my touch.
Tilting his head back, he studies me. “Have you ever swam under a waterfall?”
“Of course not.” I pull my hand away as I narrow my eyes. “Have you?”
He shakes his head. “The idea has never tempted me before.”
“You say that like you’re tempted now.”
Galinor laughs. “I might be.”
I stare at him, stunned, as he pulls his legs over the edge and then drops into the water, completely soaking his pants.
“You’re going to be wet and miserable all night.”
“We’ll dry by a fire later.”
“We’ll?” I shake my head. “I don’t think so.”
Still kneeling by the pool, I don’t even have the sense to move back when he swims over to me.
“Anwen?”
I give him a wary look. “What?”
Without warning, he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me in with him.
“Galinor!” I screech as I flail in his arms. “My gown!”
The fabric is wet and heavy, but the pool is shallow, so it doesn’t drag me down.
His answering laugh is loud and bright. “I’ll buy you another.”
I swipe at the water running down my face, blinking as it drips into my eyes, and then I go still. Galinor’s arms are still wrapped around me.
He grins. “It feels good, doesn’t it?”
It does feel good, but I think he’s talking about the water.
“I’m sorry,” he answers, but his voice is too smug for the apology to carry much weight.
Finally, once my hair is out of my face and I’ve caught my breath, I crack a smile. “Liar.”
He laughs, checks to make sure I’m steady, and takes a step back.
I run my hands along the surface of the water. “It’s like a huge bathtub.”
The warmth soothes the muscles in my achy leg. Fighting with the gown, I find a submerged boulder by the edge of the pool and sit, resting my head back on the bank. I sigh, closing my eyes. “Let’s just stay here until morning.”
