“You're naturally drawn to them, Ivy. It's normal. No one would be mad if you went over there,” he confirms, and I shake my head.
“I would be.”
“Would you really, though?” he asks, and the uncertainty of trying to acknowledge the answer to those feelings he's invoking has me on the brink of a spiral.
Instead of doing as he suggests, or fighting against it and arguing back even more, I spin on the spot and find myself drifting toward the water's edge,
Feeling the ripples of water dance along my toes is almost calming as it lures me in and my breathing slows. One step after another, I move deeper into the water. A few people are off in the distance already playing some kind of water game, but I keep to the side, minding my own business as the noise drifts away, and I let my body take over again.
Before I can think, I plunge under the water, sinking to the shallow bottom as I tilt my head back, staring up at the moon through the ripples, and I feel like I could fall asleep.
I don’t get to bask in the serenity for long before a shadow appears over me and I'm yanked from the water, feet dangling as I splutter. Dragging my hands down my face, water seeps into my bones as Baron gapes at me.
“What the hell?” I blurt, and his eyebrows pinch as his gaze searches every inch of me.
“You're okay,” he croaks back, deepening my frown.
“Why wouldn't I be?” I grumble, irritated that my moment of peace is broken, but I'm caught off guard by the way his eyes almost bug out of his head.
“Because you're a Fire Protector,” he states, like that's supposed to make enough sense on its own.
“And?”
“It's water.”
“Is that supposed to mean something?” I hiss back, and he sighs, shaking his head.
“Fire Protectors and water don't usually bode well together,” he mutters.
“Does that explain Inky Lake and the cliff that day?” I ask, and he sighs.
“With you, who knows?” he mumbles, and I grin.
“Can you put me down now?” I mutter as silence extends between us.
“Sure,” he says, quickly lowering me, and the second my feet hit the ground, I slip beneath the surface of the water, so my shoulders are covered again, but I opt to keep my face out this time so the beast beside me doesn’t go insane again.
The moon has my attention tonight.
I expect Baron to stalk back off, but to my surprise, he plants himself beside me, head tilted back.
His proximity doesn't cause me the level of irritation I expect, and as I grow calmer, he clears his throat.
“Teddy said Odesa gave you trouble again today.”
I sigh, hoping to forget about her and the drama that seems to follow me everywhere. “It was fine,” I grumble, and he clears his throat again.
“He said she said some things.”
“What did he say?” I retort, snappier than necessary, bringing all of my attention to him, the moon long forgotten, and he shrugs.
“Why don't you tell me?”
I shake my head, waving him off. “There's nothing worth worrying about,” I insist.
“Ivy.” My name's a threat on his tongue.
“It was fine,” I repeat.
