Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Jade
My mind is completely blown.
We’re in a cave, roughly circular in shape, seams of crystal in the walls glittering in the faint light, which comes from above, shining through small openings in the roof, beams of light falling to the sandy cavern floor like slender ghostly pillars.
There’s a pool at one end of the cave, fed from what looks like a spring in the rock itself.
I think of the temple Axel showed me, the way the water was venerated and used.
This has a similar feeling, though far older, more holy.
Tiny ferns grow like emeralds in the crevices around the spring, fed by the water and the light from above.
There are faint carvings on the wall where the spring comes out, curling shapes of beasts and flowers. It is utterly, utterly beautiful.
“What is this place?”
“Its name roughly translates to The Cave of the Waters.”
“Is it a temple?”
“In a way. More like, it’s a sacred place.”
Axel crouches at the edge of the pool, running his hand through the water, droplets like tiny crystals sparkling as they drip from his long fingers.
He stands, going to a niche in the cave wall where he picks up a terracotta vessel, ancient-looking and discoloured, with a small spout and a curled handle.
He dips it into the pond, then tips the vessel so a stream of clear water flows into his mouth.
I’m ashamed of myself for noticing how hot he looks, the strong lines of his throat, the flexed muscles in his arms, the way his long lashes lie on his cheek as he drinks the water down.
Because this is a sacred place. I can feel it.
It’s something profound, that resonates with something deep inside me as well.
I ride water for a living, and I’ve always had a healthy respect for the ocean and her power.
But there’s something more, a communion when you’re out in the waves alone, as though you’re in the presence of something larger, something ancient and wonderful, outside time.
This place has that same feeling, more so than even the temple in the gorge.
Water is literally the lifeblood of our planet, after all.
It’s no wonder people have been worshipping rivers and pools for millennia.
And I’d wager this shrine has been in here for at least that long.
Axel stands, coming to me. “Would you like some?”
I nod, taking the vessel from him, tipping it and letting water stream into my mouth. I hold his gaze as I do so, unable to disconnect. The water tastes sweet, pure and clear. Axel’s eyes darken as he watches me swallow, and he takes a step closer.
I pass him back the vessel. “It’s beautiful.” It is, despite or perhaps because of its simplicity. Simple unglazed earthenware, it fits into my hand perfectly.
“It’s called a kendi vessel.” Axel is still close to me. “For carrying sacred water.”
“Sacred water. I like that. I’ve always thought of water that way.”
His gaze softens. “I knew you’d understand.” It’s like I can feel his love for this place, as though we’re sharing emotions somehow.
“So why don’t you buy this place?” I feel like an asshole as soon as I ask. It’s none of my business why he isn’t going to buy it.
His brows come together. “Because I can’t. Afford it, that is.”
“Oh.” I don’t know what to say to that. I think of the rack of gleaming boards in his workshop, of the fact he could make a lot of money just by opening up his workshop again.
About the quiet luxury of his peninsula, the cabins and house.
But again, this is none of my business. I don’t know his situation.
So I stay quiet, biting down all the questions I want to ask.
“Someone has already put in an offer, anyway. It just needs to be passed by the island council.”
“The council you told me about last night?”
“Yeah. When the offer came in for the land, it had to be put to a vote.”
“And?” I don’t understand why he’s frowning so much.
“A developer wants it. Wants to build a luxury resort here. Open the island to more tourists.”
I suck in a breath. Okay. Now I see why he’s frowning.
“The council is deadlocked on the offer. We’re meeting again, in a couple of weeks, to make a final decision.
I’ve been trying…” He runs his hand through his hair, tousling the sandy waves.
“I’ve been turned down for a loan. Can’t get funding any other way.
I’ve asked them for more time, but they want the decision made sooner rather than later. ”
“Do you think they’ll accept the offer?”
He shrugs. “If you had asked me a few months ago, I’d have said no. That they would understand how bad it would be for this place. But … they’ve surprised me. And not in a good way.” Anguish threads his voice.
“Shit. Still, would one hotel be so bad. If it was done, you know, well?” I wince as I say this. It’s obviously a bad idea. The island is pristine, unspoiled. One hotel would lead to more, inevitably, and the character of this place would be lost.
Axel grimaces. “The developer who offered to buy this land wants to turn the cave into some sort of spa experience. Bottle the water, sell it to guests. Hold meditation classes. That sort of shit. And it would no longer be open to locals. Nor would the beach.”
“What?” I’m horrified. It feels like setting up a supermarket in a cathedral.
“Yeah. It’s why I’m trying to stop them. But I’m out of options.”
“Maybe I can help.” I have no idea what I can do. But the idea of this place being turned into some sort of exclusive luxury spa makes my skin crawl.
The way his face lights up when I say that sparks an answering wave of joy in me. I want to help him, desperately. He comes closer, taking my hands in his. It’s an unconscious gesture, yet pleasure shoots all the way down to my toes.
“Really? You have no idea what that means.”
“I have some idea.” I smile up at him. “I don’t know what I can do, but I can help you try and figure out something. This place needs to be saved.” The belief sits deep in my gut. Even if I wasn’t so attracted to Axel, I’d still feel the same way.
He moves even closer. It’s as though we’re magnets, being pulled together. His hands slide down my arms, feather-light. “I’m glad you’re here. That I got to share this with you.”
“Axel, I just…” I can’t hold back any more. My arms slide around his neck, my body fitting close against his.
His lips part, and he takes in a breath.
Then his mouth is on mine.
The kiss is intense, tingling from my lips down to my toes. His arms wrap around me, pulling me even more tightly against him.
And then, suddenly, it’s over.
We stare at each other. My heart pounds, little flickers of pleasure running through me.
“We shouldn’t do this.” Axel runs one hand through his hair. His voice is slightly shaky. “Shit. I’m…”
“You’re what?”
It takes him a moment to reply. “I’m too damaged.”
I don’t know what to say to that. I’m damaged too. Perhaps together we can make a whole, forged like the pieces of a broken vessel into something new. But to say that sounds trite, as though I’m minimising his pain, wherever it comes from.
And he’s right. It is too soon.
“Look, Jade, I’m sorry if—”
“You don’t need to be sorry. I think, maybe, it’s this place. It’s magical, right?” I huff out a small laugh, flashing him a smile. “We just got caught up in it.”
“Yeah.” He laughs as well, though there’s not much mirth in it. “That’s what happened.”
“Shall we go?” I want to get out of here before things get too awkward.
Axel seems to get it, leading the way back up towards the entrance.
I glance back, wanting to take it in one more time, the beams of light like ghostly pillars, the gleaming pool, the little emerald ferns.
“Magic,” I breathe, as though by saying the word I can make it true, can bring a little of it with me back into the outside world.
Axel is right about this place: there’s no way it should be given to a developer, the jungle cut back, the cave limited to tourists. Some places in this world are meant to remain secret, or else the mystery will leave us.
I emerge into sunlight, blinking.
It’s fine. It was just a kiss.
No matter how much I might want it to be more.
Axel
It was just a kiss.
No matter how I might want it to be more.
Jade has sparked something else in me, though. Something I’d thought was gone.
Hope.
The fact I want to peel her clothes off and discover just how low that tattoo goes will have to wait.