Fifty-Six Dianna
Our shoes squeaked as we headed up the small steps to the inn. Orym, Samkiel, and I were covered in mud from our toes to our eyebrows. We stopped before entering, and Samkiel shook the caked mud from his sword before calling it back into his ring. Orym folded his daggers and tucked them back into their sheaths.
“Well, that was fun. Sign me up never again,” I said, squeezing muddy water from my hair.
“Sorry,” Samkiel said, scratching the back of his head and flinging dirt in all directions. “The murrak are known for being underground dwellers. I thought if it were still here, that’s where it would be.”
Orym shrugged. “Well, we checked every cave system here. I think it’s safe to say it has gone with Nismera.”
“Which is another big cause for worry,” I said.
Samkiel nodded, placing his hands on his hips. “If she has the murrak, I fear what she may use it for.”
“We need to let Roccurem know. I know he is still in touch with Savees. See if he has heard anything.”
“Sounds good.”
“And I’ll check with Veruka,” Orym added. “See if it made it there.”
“Okay.” I sighed. “So we headed back then?”
“No,” Samkiel interjected, and both Orym and I looked at him. “Orym, you head back and let Roccurem know, but I want to show Dianna something.”
Orym rolled his eyes and scoffed in disgust but nodded. “I’ll let you know if I find anything, and I’ll be sure to knock very loudly.”
Samkiel glared at him in annoyance and lifted his hand. A small portal opened to the library where Reggie usually stayed. Orym waved before stepping inside and leaving us alone.
My smile was soft and warm, unlike how I felt last night. “What did you want to show me?”
Samkiel’s head tilted ever so slightly. “It’s a surprise.”
“A FLOWER FOR MY LADY.” SAMKIEL HELD THE STEM OF A BEAUTIFUL white flower, the center a bright yellow. I smiled as the lady selling them beamed at us. She had been standing out here without a single customer until we walked up. Samkiel had bought them all, yelling for the patrons nearby to come. A small crowd soon formed, and they collected the beautiful blooms one by one. I didn’t say anything as he handed her enough coins that she almost burst into tears.
I feigned a gasp. “Thank you ever so kindly.” I tossed a lock of my hair behind my shoulders. “How will I ever repay you?”
Samkiel’s grin was pure joy. “I’m sure you’ll think of something.” He stepped closer, placing the stem behind my ear, the flower resting against the side of my head. “Let’s hurry. I don’t want you to miss it.”
I nodded, and he grabbed my hand. Samkiel’s smile was downright smug as we walked down the narrow stone road at the edge of town. I kept catching him looking at me, his eyes drawn to my dress with off-the-shoulder sleeves and a wide-flowing skirt that ended a little above my knees. It wasn’t lust that burned in his eyes but pure astonishment. For once, I wasn’t wearing black or red but a soft white.
“I would never in my wildest dreams have thought to see you in such a dress,” he said, sweeping his gaze over me again.
My smile widened as I walked beside him. “I have to keep you on your toes. Never let you know my next move, you know?”
His laugh was infectious. “That you do.”
We walked hand in hand as we neared the lower part of town, a display of affection I was still unfamiliar with. A few lights hung from branches, leading away from the buildings and toward the source of the laughter floating through the air. It seemed that after the events of the auction and all the chaos that followed, the city wished to forget and have some fun.
“Besides, you said something cute for tonight, and I couldn’t resist.”
His hand squeezed mine. “I am not complaining in the slightest. You simply surprised me, akrai.”
Samkiel let go of my hand as we approached a small dock. He placed his hand at the small of my back, and we got in line behind a few other couples. A lean man stood near a tall barrel, handing out what looked like thin sticks. After each person received their stick, they took them to the end of the dock. Long, thin boats pulled up, and another couple got out, making way for those waiting. I watched the exchange as we moved up in line, excitement bubbling inside me.
We reached the man handing out the sticks, and he spoke to Samkiel in a language I hadn’t learned yet. They exchanged smiles and money before Samkiel was handed two. He passed one to me.
“What is this?” I asked.
“You’ll see.”
“So mysterious,” I joked as his hand splayed on my lower back and urged me forward. A boat landed near the dock, and a man helped the couple out. They were all giggles and sweet smiles as they passed us.
Another man held on to the boat, speaking to Samkiel. He nodded and gave us a brilliant smile before walking away. Samkiel stepped into the rocky boat, placing his feet wide to stabilize it before he held his hand out to me. I grasped it without hesitation, and he helped me in. I giggled as we wobbled and quickly sat on the small wooden bench, wrapping my dress under me.
Samkiel pushed us away from the dock and sat, grabbing the oars. I watched as he steered us into deeper water, the powerful muscles on his arms and chest bunching beneath his shirt. I tipped my head back, enjoying the cool breeze on my skin. The branches of the trees dipped and draped in ringlets, teasing at the surface of the lake. Small glowing bugs darted between the tall grasses along the shore before we entered a far more open space. Several boats were spread out on the water, separated by a few feet. Samkiel maneuvered us into an open space, and we came to a stop.
I watched a girl lift her stick thing and press it against her partner’s. They sparked and started to glow, both of them burning at the ends. The lake lit up as more couples did the same, and I turned toward Samkiel, who was already waiting. He was always waiting for me.
I raised mine, touching the ends together. Sparks flew between us, a wash of gold illuminating our faces.
“You said you wanted a date amongst all the chaos, so I thought this would suffice.” Samkiel smiled. “Here, look.”
He leaned closer to the side of the boat, holding the sparkler out over the water. I shifted closer to him, leaning my stick against the side, letting it bounce next to his.
“What are we looking for?”
“So impatient.” He smiled. “Just wait.”
So I did. The water was a clear, shimmering blue, and I could see the bottom even in the dark. Then I saw movement between the thick oval rocks at the bottom. I held my sparking stick a bit closer to the water, hoping to see better. They weren’t overly large, about the size of my foot, and strangely wispy. The pair rose from below, swimming toward the surface. They had no eyes from what I could see, just beautiful scales of cream and pink. Their diaphanous tails trailed behind them in sweeping paths as they twined around their partners. They followed the lights, Samkiel showing me how to move them. I smiled and followed his lead, watching mesmerized as the small water creatures danced.
“They are called moonkrest, and they are very rare. Only two planets in the whole universe have them, and they mate for life.”
He shot me a glance, and I smiled. “Terrible decision for them, really.”
Samkiel shook his head, his smile deepening. “They are nocturnal. The moon is usually their guide as they swim up from the bottom to dance and feed all night beneath the light.”
“They’re beautiful.”
“They are. The only problem is the moon only shows once a month here lately. An explosion not too far off in the cosmos pushed it a tad off course, so the locals found a new way to save the creatures. The lights we provide attract the little bugs that feed them,” Samkiel explained, still moving his sparkler in a slow back-and-forth motion. “But being the enterprising folk they are, they expanded the effort into an attraction and the new hottest dating spot in the area.”
“Smart move on their part.”
He chuckled. “I agree.”
I leaned over a bit more, watching the moonkrest twirl and dance around each other.
“Do you wish to know a secret?”
I let my sparkler sway as I glanced his way. “From you? Always.”
“I was actually nervous about bringing you here.”
“What? Why?”
He swallowed, his throat bobbing as his nervousness became apparent. “I know this will be hard to believe, but I have never planned a date in the history of my long existence.”
I leaned back, a hand on my chest as I fake gasped. “You don’t say.”
“Ha ha, very funny.” He rolled his eyes. “I’m being serious. I hoped you wouldn’t hate it or think it was stupid. This is the part where I would ask Logan for his advice, and he would tell me if I was doing it right. He has far more experience with dates than I.”
I leaned back over the edge of the boat, watching him. He didn’t even realize the haunted look that swept over his face at the mention of his friend. I scooted closer to him, bumping his shoulder with mine.
“I think you did fantastic,” I whispered. “Best date ever, truly.”
“Mm-hmm.” He snickered. “Don’t mock me.”
“I will admit, it is funny to think that you, the great and powerful World Ender, everyone’s favorite—”
“Okay, okay.” He nudged back. “I get it. I guess I just never needed to, nor was there anyone I wished to spend time with like this.”
“Well, I am honored to be your first.” I grinned at him.
“The festival was actually my first date.”
The sparklers danced between us, and the fish continued to dance, but at the moment, we were far more invested in the conversation at hand.
“The festival was not a date.” I snorted as the moonkrest snapped a bug from the surface of the lake and traveled to its mate to share its catch.
“It wasn’t?” His head whipped to mine.
“No.” A small chuckle left my lips as I cast a glance at him. “It was a fun distraction while we waited for that lead. Besides, you didn’t even like me then.”
His lips turned downwards, a single brow raising. “Oh, I didn’t?”
“No.” I playfully pushed him. “It was mild toleration at that point.”
“That’s not true.”
My head tipped. “Oh?” I stared at him, waiting for him to continue.
“I felt something then, although I was completely unaware of what it was. I think you woke something up inside me then, and I’ve never been the same since.” He shrugged as if he hadn’t just altered my whole world. “I also counted every single person who looked at you that night.”
My head tipped back on a laugh. “No, you didn’t! Did you?”
Samkiel nodded. “I still do. I blamed it on my hyper-awareness and my need to protect you. All of which stemmed from my feelings for you. It seems I’m still like that, if not worse.”
“Definitely worse.” I leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “But I think you’re perfect.”
He smiled smugly. “I know.”
My free hand whipped out, popping him playfully on the shoulder, and he laughed. Sparks flew into the water, and the fish swam a tad faster before looping back.
“So yes, that was our first date. I count it since it was the first time I had fun. I never had fun growing up on Rashearim, but then I met you, and well . . . you’re fun.”
Something sparked behind his eyes at that word, as if he had been searching for that for a while.
I smiled back. “Well, I am glad I can entertain you, my king.”
He clicked his teeth, closing his eyes briefly before smirking at me. “Don’t do that. I do not plan for our date to end just yet.”
The laugh that left my lips had a few other couples looking toward us before I covered my mouth. “Okay, fine, that’s our first.” I nodded. “And ice skating is our second.”
“Oh, yes. That one is definitely my favorite.”
I lifted one brow. “Oh, because of how many times you fell on the ice?”
“Definitely.” He cast a glance at me that was pure heat, and I knew he meant what happened after the ice skating.
The sparks between us burned brighter. The light illuminated Samkiel’s tanned skin and dazzling smile, casting shadows across the planes of his arms and shoulders. I was completely enraptured by him. Against all odds and despite what the universe had taken from me, here he was, caring for me. He had pulled me back from the harrowing edge of despair more than once, and here he was again, offering me a slice of peace once more, and gods, I fell all over again.
Unable to verbalize everything I was feeling, I just said, “You give me the best memories.”
“Good,” he said with a smile before leaning over and placing a kiss on my lips.
The sparks between us fizzled as he kissed me again. Lazy, slow, and perfect. I could get drunk off his kisses and the different varieties he showered me with. I’d never memorize them all, but I hoped we had eternity for me to try. My hand cupped his face before sliding back to run my fingers through the short hair at the nape of his neck. The lake grew dark as everyone’s sparklers went out one by one. His hand splayed across my back as he deepened the kiss, our boat rocking at the movement.
No force in this world or the next could pull us apart. I knew that more than ever in that moment.
It wasn’t until the lake went silent, the forest with it, that we heard the screams.