Episode 87 Moonlight Swim
Moonlight Swim
Hopefully, it’s not raining. Not that Elowyn minds rain. It’s soothing to her magic.
But tonight is a night for moonlight.
They may be tempting fate by venturing out to their pool like this, but it feels worth it. Surely they can go for a swim together without it leading to more.
Regardless, it will be an adventure, and it will distract both of them from thoughts of the real world.
“Just in case there’s any confusion,” Rominy says before they climb the stairs to their sailboat and the island beyond, “this will be easier if you leave your clothes on.”
A smile forms unbidden on her lips. “I will do my best not to torment you, my love.”
“It’s only a torment because I can’t have you,” he says under his breath.
“If you could refrain from touching my ears, that would be appreciated. And other parts of me.”
“I will do my best to keep my hands to less fire-inducing parts of you. Or perhaps I shouldn’t touch you at all? That seems safer.”
And much less pleasant, but she keeps that to herself. He’s probably right. They’re already living dangerously tonight.
As they emerge from their cottage, the briny sea air fills her senses, and she breathes in deeply. It’s not raining.
“Did you ask the heartlanding for a perfect moonlit night?” Rominy whispers as if he’s afraid to break the spell of the calm waves and moonbeams shining down on the water and white sand.
She shakes her head. “I think this is the heartlanding approving of our adventure.”
He hops to the ground and reaches up to help her, as he always does. Not that she needs help, but the gesture warms her heart every time. And his hands warm the skin at her waist beneath her thin dress.
“Well. That lasted about two seconds.” Rominy huffs a quiet laugh as he drops his hands and steps away. “Are you sure about this?”
“Relax, my love. We’ll be fine.”
Or they won’t, and the heartlanding will douse them again. Either way.
But she doesn’t say that part.
“Come on.” She resists the urge to reach for his hand as she plots a trail across the silky sand beneath her bare feet.
All signs of the downpour they endured earlier have vanished.
Are their building supplies still where they left them?
They’ll have to check tomorrow. Perhaps the wood is as dry as the sand now.
“You look even more gorgeous than usual in the moonlight,” Rominy says behind her, and she turns to find him standing still, watching her with his hands in his pockets as the breeze tousles his golden-brown hair and plays with the hem of his loose linen shirt.
Her heart speeds up at the warmth in his eyes.
“Rominy,” she says softly.
“I can’t help what I feel, El. Even if I can’t act on it tonight. That’s why I’m standing back here. It seems safer.”
A light laugh escapes her.
“Keep walking,” he says. “I’m coming.”
She watches him for a moment before continuing her trek to the creek. Occasionally, she glances over her shoulder as he follows, and when their eyes meet, he offers her a smile that fills her with butterflies.
They wade through the creek toward their private pool, and this time, Elowyn leaves her underlayer in place.
Which does little to temper the heat in Rominy’s eyes as the moon reflects off the water and his hair and his bare shoulders.
“Should I put my shirt back on?” he asks softly, but she shakes her head. It wouldn’t matter. He’s as attractive in a wet shirt as he is without it.
The butterflies return as his eyes drift lower before returning to her face, and he looks away and clears his throat. “Here we are. Is it everything you dreamed it would be?”
“More than I ever imagined.” The allure of moonlight on the water pales compared to how it glistens on his hair and skin.
Whistling wind. Maybe he was right and this was a mistake.
He finds her eyes again, and neither of them speaks.
“I’m about to have an extended lapse in judgment,” he eventually whispers.
Does she even wish to stop him?
Then he groans and looks away before diving into the water.
It’s enough to remind her she’s fighting for her life in the real world.
And there’s a human prince depending on her not to die.
With a groan of her own, she flops back and lets the water hold her afloat as she gazes up at the stars. Cerian’s stars. They may as well be his, with how much he loves them.
Rominy is unlikely to be the only prince depending on her not to die.
The thought is sobering.
When Rominy surfaces, she glances his way. “How is Cerian? Did you speak to him?”
Rominy brushes his hair away from his face as he wades toward her.
He stops out of arm’s reach, but he smiles her way.
“I can’t believe I forgot to tell you. Cerian is hopelessly in love.
It was shocking. He’s definitely not glaring at my sister these days.
” Then Rominy frowns. “That’s not something I want to think too much about. ”
Elowyn finds her feet again as happiness swells in her heart. “And is she in love with him?”
“I’m going to say yes.”
Without thinking, Elowyn throws her arms around Rominy’s neck, and he catches her.
“Yeah, that didn’t last long,” he mutters.
“What did he say? What did he do? Tell me everything.”
“Well, I was focused on breathing and you not dying at the time, but he played with her hair. And the way he looked at her. Stars above. He’s got it bad.”
Elowyn lets go to search Rominy’s eyes. “He played with her hair? In front of you?” She leans her head back and laughs. “What magic has she worked on him?”
“I’m guessing the magic of the heartbinding. And you should have heard the way she said his name, El. I’ve never heard Sanna talk like that. He’s not nearly as harsh as he seemed when we met, is he?”
Elowyn shakes her head. “You’ve only met terrified Cerian. The real Cerian isn’t harsh at all.”
“I think I met the real Cerian. Briefly. Though he’s terrified for you, so you need to get better, all right? For Cerian.”
Rominy’s mouth twitches, and Elowyn laughs again. “Are you attempting to guilt me into getting well for my brother?”
He laces his fingers behind her back beneath the water. “I might be. Is it working?”
“I’m not sure how much control I have, Rominy. I’m doing my best.”
“I know. At least thinking of my sister in love has cooled my own fire a bit. Cerian’s a fire wielder, too, isn’t he?” Rominy shakes his head. “Stop, brain. We don’t need those thoughts floating around in there.”
Laughter gets the best of Elowyn before she can help it.
“Yeah, I’m having regrets about this conversation now,” he says. “Though neither of us has caught fire, so I suppose that’s good.”
“So next time you’re about to have a lapse in judgment, I should remind you that Cerian is in love with your sister?”
Rominy eyes her for a moment before responding. “I’m not sure I like that idea. But it would probably work.”
With a contented smile, Elowyn rests her cheek against Rominy.
“Hey, love,” Rominy whispers.
“Hmm?”
“I thought we came here to swim.”
“Are we not swimming?”
“Is this how you normally swim? I doubt you’d win many races.”
She almost falls when he pulls away and winks before diving under the water toward the far side of the pool.
“That’s cheating!” she cries as she dives in after him.
She easily pushes the water to carry her toward him, and they both reach the boulder at the water’s edge at the same time.
“I heard you!” He laughs. “Accusing me of cheating? Which one of us is using magic to win a race against a poor, magic-less human? Hmm?”
Elowyn fights a smile as she pushes her hair back. “Fine. No magic. I’m still going to win.”
She doesn’t wait for his response as she dives under the water again, and he hurries after her.
“You’re yawning again,” Rominy says softly as Elowyn tries to hide it after far too many races across their little pool, all of which she won. He pulls her close. “We should call it a night, love.”
She wants to say not yet, but he’s right. She’s fading quickly. At least she feels stronger today, even here in the heartlanding. That must be a good sign.
“I suppose you’re right,” she says.
Rominy studies her for a moment before smiling. “I have an idea of my own. Come on.”
He takes her hand and tugs her along, grabbing his shirt and her dress from the side of the pool as they go.
“Where are you taking us?” she asks. Not that it matters. She’d follow Rominy on any adventure.
“You’ll see.” Right before they break free of the foliage, he turns to look at her. “Close your eyes.”
Without hesitating, she lets her lashes dust her cheeks as a smile sneaks onto her face, and Rominy holds her around the waist from behind.
“Now open them,” he whispers near her ear as shivers race to her toes.
And she gasps at the sight awaiting her on the sand at the water’s edge.