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“In or out?” Maddox asked.
“Out,” she and Moon confirmed at the same time, then grinned at each other. Moon raised his hand.
“I will keep a lookout in the trees. Run when I whistle.”
They stepped away from the cave and continued their path until the warm weather turned cold, and they found themselves in a space where the trees and bushes grew wilder. Frost covered the leaves, but colorful berries thrived, with some already picked.
“We had that yesterday,” she said, picking one off and popping it in her mouth. “They really are blessed.”
“Be careful. There might be some poisonous ones.”
The frost-covered forest transitioned into a semi-warm space, where a river ran and fish were abundant. They hurried even further from that spot in case a few of the humans came to hunt until the warmth was gone and the coolness returned. It went on for longer, with most trees dead and crossing into the barrier that narrowed down the path they were taking. Outside, they noticed the lack of creatures.
“Ahead,” Moon whispered.
A few seconds later, they reached the area he pointed at and stared at where the line ended in their head: the x-mark. It was a lake, iced at the corners but with some stubborn vines and flowers growing there, too. The lake itself wasn’t iced but was a clear blue, as normal as any other lake in Broom’s Isle. Maddox pointed to a corner, where large stones were arranged with pots on top.
“There’s an altar. There are flower offerings in the pots, but they are long dead, which means they haven’t visited this place in a while,” he deduced. “Maybe this is another one of their rituals.”
She bent down and picked one of the flowers from the vines, letting it float in the water. It didn’t change, but being so close to the lake made her body thrum in anticipation.
“It’s down there. It has to be.”
“Maybe,” he agreed. “Maybe we should—where are you going?”
Ruby ignored his sharp tone as she made her way to the altar and plucked one of the dead flowers. When she threw it into the lake, it changed color and bloomed into life, reminding her of the scenario in the tree house. Moon sucked in a breath from his position on the tree above her. Hope surged as she removed her cloak and tossed it up at him.
“Take care of it, please.”
“You got it,” Moon said.
“No.” They both turned to Maddox, who was hurrying to reach them. “Ruby, don’t you dare.”
“I have to do it,” she countered, chin lifting as she steadily met his gaze. “Vampires can’t swim, and even if you can, you are still half-vampire, and it must be difficult for you.”
“But—”
“I won’t let Moon do it. Not when he can’t harness anything, anyway.”
“Ruby…”
“Mad, I’m the best chance at keeping this short. I can swim well. I can stay underwater even better. I practiced a lot during our months in the pirate ship and after.”
He went silent after that, a foreboding presence that seemed to charge at her. Somehow, it made her feel breathless. When he reached her, he took her hands.
“Mad, I’m not changing my mind—”
“How long can you hold your breath?”
The question had her blinking. “Ten minutes. Longer when I had magic, but…”
Calloused thumbs caressed her palms, sending heat coursing through her body.
“If you aren’t back at the nine-minute mark, I’m coming after you.”
The promise was low, meant only for their ears. She noted the trust in his eyes, along with the worry and softened. At the same time, it boosted her hope that things were going to work out, so she turned her hands and clasped his firmly.
“I can do nine minutes,” she promised back.
