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How can that be? A memory of whispered words and blood runes being traced on my forehead flashed to mind. Had Vayla given me not only her gift of magick but all of her knowledge, too? She must have. For when I’d encountered the sprites before my captivity, I had no idea what they were yelling and screaming as I fled into the woods. But now, I understood them as clearly as if we were speaking high fae.
The three sprites dove back into the water, but quickly resurfaced. “Come with us,” shouted Zu.
I frowned, examining the waterfall. “It is behind there, right?”
“They nodded in unison.”
“Can we not just walk behind the falls?”
“No.” Zu shook her head, a water droplet coasting off her feathery crown. “Not behind. Only under. Come along.”
Sighing, I turned to Goll, letting go of his hand to reach for the hook of my cloak.
“I suppose we have to get into the water then.” I shivered, knowing how cold it would be.
Goll unhooked his own cloak, looking back toward Keffa and Soryn. “Turn around.”
Soryn grinned. “We’ve seen her before.”
Keeping my gaze down, I fumbled with the front lacings of my tunic, heat flushed into my cheeks.
“Turn. Around. Or I’ll beat you both bloody.” Goll’s voice lowered to that scary, threatening tone.
Keffa and Soryn both laughed but did as he bid, quite quickly I noticed when I peeked up at them.
Goll moved close, blocking my body from them. “Best take off everything so we’ll have dry clothes to warm us when we return.”
“Yes,” I agreed. “I was thinking the same.”
I wasn’t going to repeat my last experience here at the falls.
We undressed quickly and quietly, Goll glaring at Soryn and Keffa’s backs every few moments.
When we were finished, Goll slipped in first and then held out a hand to help me in.
I shivered. “So cold,” I whispered as I lowered slowly into the water.
I didn’t miss his gaze flickering over my breasts, stomach, and lower, or the heated trek across my shoulders to land on the bite mark. But his voice was serious and gruff like when he gave a command to his warriors. “Stay close to me. I’m a good swimmer. I’ll keep you safe.”
A warmth bloomed from the pit of my belly, spreading outward. Not because I believed him, but because I felt the truth of it and a deeper emotion behind his words.
“Come along, faelings,” chirped Zu, her blue skin glowing beneath the water. I smiled at her calling us “faelings,” like we were children, but I suppose compared to her, we were very young indeed.
Two distinct blue glowing orbs zig-zagged around us beneath the water.
“Take a deep breath,” Goll said, his confidence boosting my own.
“I wish I was a skald fae right about now.” I could’ve used some webbed feet and hands.
“You’ll be fine.” His blue eyes were icier, brighter, with the reflection of the water in them. “And I’m right here beside you. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
I nodded, warming yet again at his words. I took a giant gulp of air then plunged beneath the freezing water.
Visibility was hazy with the splashing of the falls into the deeper part of the pool, but the glowing lights of our little guides made it easier to follow. Goll grabbed hold of my waist and gave me a fervent push beneath the torrent of the falls. I came out into a calm tunnel of water, dark on our end but greenish light up ahead.
When my lungs started to protest, I kicked and swam toward the light, never panicking with Goll at my side. A chortle of gurgling laughter drew my gaze to the purple and blue flash swimming around Goll. She had darted beneath him, near his groin, before he swatted at her in the water. She laughed that watery chortle again before zipping ahead of us.
The greenish light grew brighter, my chest began to ache with holding my breath. I surfaced with a gasp and inhaled a deep lungful of air. Goll appeared at my side, not nearly as winded. I thought we’d come out in another part of Esher Wood, but we weren’t in the forest at all. We were in a large cave.
