Willow’s heart sank, and her stomach twisted into a tight knot. Of course, he knew someone with a boat. What were the odds that one of them didn’t know someone with a ship? Even with the four-leaf clover Christian had found, her luck was never that good.
Raven’s eyes grew large in realization, and she leaned forward to get a better view of Willow. “It’s the water, isn’t it?”
Willow tried not to show her fear, but she couldn’t help but pout. “No, of course not,” she lied.
Raven eyed her warily, her gaze narrowed and suspicious. “I remember. You fell in that lake when you were young.”
Willow lifted a quivering chin. “I did, but that was a long time ago.”
Raven placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Willow, we must cross the English Channel to get to England. Will you be able to do that?” Willow hesitated a moment, and that was enough for Raven. She inhaled deeply and took Willow’s hand, pulling her towards the group. “We have a problem.”
The others looked up.
Mortified, Willow felt her cheeks grow hot. How could she be the problem? How could she allow her fear of water to affect the entire group? She began to shake her head.
Christian stepped around Landyn and placed a hand on her shoulder as if to shield her from their stares. But even his presence wasn’t enough to comfort her. She bowed her head, unable to look at any of them.
“Willow and I have decided to remain in France,” Christian announced.
Raven gritted her teeth. “That’s not the problem, and you won’t be staying in France. We are not splitting up.” She turned to Willow, her voice calming. “It’s the water.”
Sage gaped at Willow in disbelief. “You’re not still afraid, are you, Will?” she asked, her voice laced with mockery.
Humiliation flared in Willow’s chest. That was exactly the response she wanted to avoid. She squared her shoulders and met Sage’s gaze levelly. “No,” she said firmly. “I’m not afraid.”
“Willow,” Raven chastised. “Tell them the truth.”
Willow hesitated, her mind racing. She didn’t want Landyn and Marcus to know. It was horrifying enough that her sisters knew. She was skilled at sword fighting, horse riding, and finding clovers. But water… She quivered in fear.
“What is it?” Marcus wondered.
Sage stood and put her hands on her hips. “When she was young, Willow fell into a lake.”
Willow’s lips tightened. “I almost drowned.”
Sage smiled. “She could have stood up, and she would have been well.”
“I was little!” Willow defended with a scowl.
“You’re afraid of water,” Landyn stated.
“No.” Willow shook her head. “Not all water.”
“She’s learned to keep her feet below her. She can stand up now,” Sage ridiculed.
Raven cast her an angry glare.
“She’s only afraid of water over her head,” Sage clarified.
“The English Channel,” Landyn realized.
Understanding spread over the group.
Willow felt her face flush with a mixture of humiliation and despair. How could she be the one to put a stop to their journey? What must they think of her?
“Really?” Sage asked in an exasperated breath and threw her hands up in surrender. “All of this for nothing?” She looked at Willow with a pained gaze and encouraged, “You can do this, Willow.”
“Willow and I can wait here for you,” Christian offered, wrapping his hand around Willow’s. “We don’t have to go.”
