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“What do you mean? You were about to say something. You don’t know how much longer you can what?”
He didn’t answer. He kept walking. I ran to keep up with him. We kept on like that in angry silence until we reached the shore of Wild Lake.
Anson peeled off his jeans and threw them to the ground. The sight of him naked jarred me for a moment. His strong back, marred by a patchwork of scars.
“What is this?” I asked. “Why won’t you tell me what makes you like this?”
He turned to me. “You already know, Tem. I’m fae-cursed. There’s no cure for me either.”
“You’re getting worse. I can see it. I know you can feel it. Tell me! If you really do love me, then you owe me an explanation. Why did you hide who you were? I could have helped you.”
He let out a bitter laugh. “You could never help me. You can barely help yourself.”
With that, he made a graceful, shallow dive into the water. He emerged a moment later.
“You should do the same. Wash yourself off before we go back up to Pat’s house. Dr. Olivet might be right. Maybe the Martels have a mutated strain of whatever this thing is.”
I wanted to argue. I looked back in the direction of the Bonner farm. Damn him if he wasn’t right.
“I’ll wait until you’re done,” I said, crossing my arms in front of me. Anson dove out of sight.
I went to the water’s edge and slipped off my shoes, sinking my toes in the sand. I peeled off my jeans and shirt, but kept my bra and panties on.
The ripples Anson made calmed. A moment later, the water was still as glass. A minute passed. Then another. I scanned the lake. In the distance, a flock of geese flew overhead. Other than that, there was no movement. Not even a breeze.
My pulse quickened. Had the Dragonsteel held him under?
Another thirty seconds went by.
“Anson!” I called out.
Nothing.
I waited ten more seconds, then dove into the water.
It was murky below the surface. We were at the weediest part of the lake, the west side. I carved my arms through the muck, trying to listen for him. Trying to catch any glimpse of where he’d gone.
When my lungs felt full to bursting, I finally broke the surface. I turned in a panicked circle, looking for him.
Nothing. The only disturbance in the water came from me. I filled my lungs and went back under. I dove deeper, scraping the bottom. I felt nothing but more muck and rocks.
Something caught my ankle. Seaweed wrapped around it, pulling at me. Trapping me. I let my claws out, cutting it away. Then, strong arms came around me, pulling me upward.
I broke the surface in Anson’s arms.
He was everywhere. Filling my senses. My body curved to his. He felt so good. So strong and warm. Raw power.
I kicked away from him. Anson froze for a moment, then swam toward shore in arcing strokes, kicking his legs behind him.
He reached back, offering me a hand to pull me out of the muck.
“I’m fine,” I said.
He only smiled and put his jeans back on. They hugged him even tighter now that he was soaking wet. I slipped my arms through my shirt but carried my own jeans. Anson followed.
When we got as far as the barn, I knew something was wrong. Pat was there. She sat in the four-wheeler, her hair and eyes both wild.
“What is it?” I said. “Dad…”
