I follow him out the back door and through the colorful trees. The two of us walk in silence as he leads the way.
“Where are we going?” I finally ask, unable to suppress my curiosity any longer.
“You’ll see.” A classic Ryder answer that I should’ve seen coming.
Minutes pass, and I’m about to ask again when the trees suddenly open up, revealing a turquoise lake.
“Whoa!”
“It’s not the beaches of the Southern Territories, but it’ll have to do for now.”
“I think I can make this work.” I step closer to the pool of sparkling water.
“Go on. Get in,” Ryder nods.
“Not with my clothes on,” I retort.
“Fine, I’ll turn around.” He waves his hands in the air before covering his eyes with them.
Once he’s turned around, I quickly strip off my clothes and throw them into a pile near the edge of the lake. When I take my first step, I expect to be met with a chill, but to my surprise, the water is slightly warm.
“Can I turn around now?” Ryder yells from where he’s still facing the tree line.
I dip down into the water, letting it cover my shoulders. Unlike other lakes I’ve seen, the water here is dense. It’s almost like swimming in milk.
“Yes,” I yell back before dunking my head under. When I come back up for air, I choke on the water as I watch Ryderwalking deeper into the lake without a scrap of clothing on. “What are you doing?” I shout as I cough up water.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Are you the only one allowed to swim?”
“No, but what if I had come up for air a few seconds earlier?” I swim out a little further, keeping a good amount of space between us.
“Then I guess your view would’ve gotten a lot better.”
I can’t stop my jaw from falling open, and a devilish grin spreads across his face.
“Please, I have enough nightmares as it is.”
He sinks into the water, and when he comes back up, he’s only a few feet from me. His wet hair glistens as he runs his hands through it, pushing it back from his forehead. The setting sun casts a golden light against his skin, and despite his icy blue eyes and jet-black hair, there’s almost a warmth to him now.
“Are you going to tell me why you really brought me here?” I ask before dipping my head back into the luke-warm water.
“Am I that obvious?” he says, standing up.
The greenish-blue water drips down his bare chest, and the image has my mind flashing back to the dream I had of him in the shower when we were in Strellesia. I quickly shake the vision from my thoughts and focus my attention on treading water.
“Yes, you are.”
“Well, since my cover is blown, Artemus told me about the message in your letter.” His eyes narrow on me like he’s trying to gauge my emotions.
“I figured.” I move a little closer to the shore so that I can stand on my toes. “It was just another trick the king had planted when he sent the Royal Guards to seize my father. I’m sure of it.”
“Reign, I don’t think that’s what this was,” he responds cautiously.
“Yes, it was!” I bite back. “You of all people know what he’s capable of.”
Ryder slowly drifts further into the lake like he’s trying to give me space. He stops once the water reaches the tops of his shoulders.
“I do know what he’s capable of. That’s why I know he wouldn’t waste his time forging a letter to an eight-year-old girl he knew nothing about.”
