Edne looked me over, leaning heavily on her cane. “Change. You wouldn’t want to ruin your fine clothes.”
I squinted as a light, airy sensation flitted through my head. “Couldn’t I sit against the wall or something?” I asked, gesturing vaguely around the cavern, my wrist drooping weakly. “Anywhere?”
“Into the pool, Princess.”
I hummed my reluctant agreement, swaying as I fumbled with the laces. Everything felt thick and fuzzy, a sense of wrongness I couldn’t quite grasp. It took too much effort.
When I tugged my dress off, I stumbled, warm balmy air kissing my skin. My eyes pressed shut in a long blink as I staggered to the side, and when they opened again, I found the girl standing before me, offering a thin white gown, her smile bright. I tried to return the grin, but I swayed again on unsteady feet. Whatever was in that drink surpassed anything from the slums.
After shrugging into the shift, I tugged at the neckline riding high against my throat, wondering why the back dipped so low.
“She put it on backwards. Should I fix it, Priestess?”
The little girl’s words reached my ears as I turned and staggered toward Sainte.
“No, child,” Edne’s raspy voice replied. “Valahant!”
He faced me and, as he did, my knees buckled.
He was so handsome.
Clad in naught but thin white trousers, his chest bore a light dusting of hair that thickened as it trailed downward. A flush tickled across my skin as my stomach melted. He hurried over, lifting me from the ground. I gaped up at him, lashes fluttering as I gave him my dreamiest smile.
He chuckled, his smirk crooked, then hoisted me against his chest, heading toward the pool. My head lulled back, catching Edne’s grin upside-down. Her expression beamed with pride and mirth, as if I were her favorite child.
When he stepped into the glowing water, its eerie glow brightened with each stride.
“I hate this,” I whined, features set into a stern pout.
“You’ve faced tougher situations,” he murmured.
He loosened his hold, and my body floated, legs drifting away from him as he cradled my head, hands supporting me beneath my shoulder blades. Water soaked into my bones like a warm embrace. It wasn’t unpleasant—the novelty of the strange hue just took some getting used to.
He glanced down at me, and I met his gaze, careful not to strain my neck as he snorted a laugh. I smiled, content, and wriggled, causing small waves to lap against the stone.
“Close your eyes, Princess.”
I sighed and did as he said. “You’re supposed to… call me Ellie…” I mumbled, fading into sleep, my mind disconnecting from my body.
“Drift, Ellie,” Sainte’s voice beckoned me. “Drift.”
A gentle, feminine hum tugged me toward consciousness. I resisted, shifting in my cozy bed to find a better position.
I tumbled into a pond, warm water flooding my senses. Arms flailing, I struggled to stay afloat. My eyes squeezed shut against the rush of liquid, hands groping in the dark for a branch, a tree, anything to grab onto.
A strong grip seized my arm, and I clutched onto it for dear life. When I broke the surface, I gasped and sputtered, fingers clenching into warm flesh.
“Put your feet under you!”
I kicked, thrashing, as I struggled for breath.
“Stand, girl!”
I thrust my legs downward until I found solid ground. With a determined push, I raised my chest above the waterline and released my hold on the arm. My lungs burned as I coughed, sputtering as I swept my hair aside and wiped the fluid from my eyes.
A light laugh drew my attention to the woman before me.
Sheglowed.
