Page 14 of What Lies Beyond the Realms

“I think so. Just wow. Didn’t expect it to be this cold.” I laugh, holding back a shiver.

“Yeah, it’s cold for me, and I always run warm, so I imagine you’re out of your mind freezing right now.” Rhett laughs again.

There’s a splash next to us, and Luke surfaces.

“Invigorating, right?” He has a huge smile plastered across his face, and I know he’s cold too.

“Yes, very,” I say. I smile at them. I’m hardly able to contain how happy my heart feels in this moment. I’ve never been able to do something like this before, just casually have fun with friends. I’ve never been able to have friends. It’s a new feeling, but one I hope to have more often.

“Okay, fuck this. I’m going to go build a fire and unpack lunch. I brought towels for us. When you guys are ready to get out, I’ll leave them on a rock for you,” he says between chattering his teeth and starts to swim toward shore.

“If you’re too cold, you can follow Luke, or if you’re feeling a little more adventurous you can hang onto my back and I’ll swim us behind the waterfall. It opens up into a huge cave. It's worth seeing. Plus, my body heat will keep you warm.” Rhett smiles and gives me a playful wink.

“Ever the gentleman you are. Yes, turn around and take me to the cave, wolf.”

I wrap my arms around his neck and let my body press against his back. My legs come up behind us, kicking along with his. He’s deliciously warm, and it helps to slow my breathing. I hadn’t realized I was practically hyperventilating from the cold.

The waterfall is small but large enough to hide the cave opening behind it. I hold my breath for a moment as we duck under the falls. I wipe the water from my eyes and wrap my legs around Rhett’s waist. It’s now shallow enough for Rhett to stand and hold us up, but I can’t quite reach the bottom yet. The cave is enormous. The walls are slick and covered in light green moss. At the roof of the cave is a tiny opening. I pause, taking in the magnificent view of the treetops swaying in the winter breeze. A rainbow of orange, blue, and green leaves dance and blow off the trees, some of them tumbling into the cave. I watch in awe as they gradually slow their descent, twirling and glistening in the soft, buttery beam of sunlight. The leaves finally come to rest on the calm water that surrounds me, creating a serene and peaceful ambiance. Rhett walks us straight over to the beam of sunlight and stops beneath it. I let my feet fall to the rocks and release him now that I can reach the bottom. The sunlight spreads across my face. I tilt my head back and close my eyes, calling the warmth to me. The water is surprisingly tolerable here in the cave.

I bring my face back up to look at Rhett, who’s staring at me.

“The sun feels nice.”

“So you think I’m beautiful and terrifying,” he teases.

“Are you trying to flirt with me?” I tease back, giving him a flirtatious smile.

“Can I ask you something?” he says, the seriousness back in his voice.

“Sure, what is it?” I look up, meeting his eyes.

“What are you doing with Aidan? Are you two a thing?”

A laugh escapes me. “Oh, gods no. My parents hired him to train me. I don’t know why he brought me here. I think he took pity on me because I’ve never been allowed to travel anywhere before.”

Rhett doesn’t look convinced.

“Aidan doesn’t take pity on anyone, and he doesn’t do anything without a reason. Just be careful around him, okay?”

“Okay, I will.” I smile and nod, but unease fills my gut.

We share a brief look while he raises his hand and tucks my hair back behind my ear.

“You’re the beautiful one, Lyra. I’m sure after your nineteenth birthday when you inherit your powers, you’ll be the terrifying one too.” He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Aidan doesn’t deserve you. He’s not—he’s not good. Don’t give yourself to him, whatever you do. Stay for the festival then go back home. Don’t linger around here. It’s not safe for you.”

“Believe me, I learned the hard way what kind of male Aidan is. I won’t linger. I promise.”

* * *

We swam to shore and found our towels waiting for us. Rhett, ever the gentleman, hands me my towel and doesn’t even let his gaze linger on my mostly naked body. I wrap myself in the towel’s warmth and plop down on a rock next to Luke by the fire.

“What’s for lunch? I’m starving.” I nudge Luke with my elbow.

“Wolpertinger pies. It’s not much, but we don’t want to fill up before the feast tonight anyways.”

We all start to dig in. The pie is delicious. It’s got the same spiced, earthy flavor as the jam I had at breakfast. For Lycans, they certainly don’t eat as much meat as I thought they would.

“Is wolpertinger a local mushroom?” I ask.