Chapter 26
Chapter twenty-six
“We finally get to enjoy a hot spring.” Elara sighed, sinking into the steaming water beside Rynna. “I wonder if the boys are enjoying it as much as we are.”
The two girls lounged in the women’s pool tucked deep within the wildlands spring.
Steam drifted in slow ribbons across the surface, carrying the mineral tang of heated stone and the faint sweetness of moss warming on the rocks.
Broad ferns arched overhead, their leaves catching droplets that pattered softly back into the water.
“It is nice to finally relax.” She slid further into the water until it lapped at her shoulders. “It’s been a busy year and a half.”
A thin runnel spilled down a shelf of dark stone beside them, its steady trickle filling the quiet between their breaths while distant marshbirds called from somewhere beyond the trees.
“That’s an understatement.” Elara snorted, a laugh bubbling up. “Non-stop missions and training ever since Fallowmere.”
“You’ve only been on half the missions,” Rynna teased, splashing at her friend.
“Healer training is not a walk in the forest, you know.” Elara splashed her back, the water rippling between them. “It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
“I know, I know.” Rynna's laughter trailed off, her smile fading. “I’m glad you were with us on this last one. Taren got pretty banged up.”
“I don’t know what he was thinking, throwing himself in front of those archers like that,” Elara huffed. “I swear, Bran’s recklessness is rubbing off on him.”
“It’s nice to see him warming, though. Besides...” She shot Elara a glance from the corner of her eye. “I bet you didn’t mind having your hands all over him like that.”
Elara froze, her face going beet red. For a moment, she sat in stunned silence before exploding, splashing water at Rynna with both hands.
“First of all!” she sputtered. “Some of us are actually focused on the mission and not staring dreamy-eyed after a certain unit leader all day.”
It was Rynna’s turn to blush, heat rushing to her cheeks as she mumbled, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She wasn’t that distracted by Fenn, was she?
“Second!” Elara crossed her arms, jutting her chin forward. “I’m so over Taren.”
“Really?” Rynna raised an eyebrow, surprised. Elara had been practically obsessed all through their early training.
“I have more important things to do than drool over a moody boy,” Elara said, trying and failing to look mature as she lifted her chin higher. She scooted closer to Rynna, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Besides, I don’t even think he’s interested in girls.”
Rynna's eyebrows shot up. “Really?” She thought for a moment, turning the idea over in her head. Maybe Elara was onto something. How did I miss that? “Bran?”
“Seems like it. The way they’re constantly going after each other in training or on missions.”
Rynna considered it. “Being mean to the person you like...” Her lips quirked into a grin. Yeah, that tracks. “Boys are dumb.”
They both burst into laughter, the sound echoing lightly off the surrounding stones.
“So dumb.” Elara wiped tears from her eyes.
Rynna glanced over at her friend, a hint of admiration creeping in.
Dang, when did Elara get so smart? she wondered. The girl had come a long way since Fallowmere. She now looked comfortable in her own skin and way more self-assured than most sixteen-year-olds.
“The healing track suits you,” Rynna said, leaning back into the smooth, warm stone at the edge of the spring.
“Thanks, Rynna. That means a lot.” Elara mimicked her, letting the water support her as she relaxed, eyes drifting shut.
For a while, neither of them spoke. The water’s soft lapping mixed with the clean bite of cold mountain air drifting through the clearing, sharpening the edges of the quiet.
The warmth of the hot spring worked its way through her muscles, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Rynna allowed herself to just be.
“Miss,” came a soft voice, pulling her from the tranquil moment. One of the hot spring attendants stood at the edge of the pool, bowing slightly. “Guide Fenn requests that you both join him and the others for dinner if you’re finished with your swim.”
“Thank the Elements.” Elara cracked an eye open. “I’m starving.”
“You’re always hungry,” Rynna replied, standing and stretching, her arms reaching high as the last of the tension melted from her muscles.
Elara stepped out of the water, revealing the generous curves that had only begun to show after she cut down on mission work.
“Sounds like someone’s jealous.” She glanced over with a half-smile.
“Me and every other girl in Ember Reach.” Rynna laughed, grabbing her own towel. “Poor Calli will never recover.”
“She’ll be fine,” Elara replied with a roll of her eyes. “If she stopped worrying about me for five seconds, she’d realize how much attention she actually gets. Besides, she’s been completely buried in far-seer training ever since her father got back from Gale Reach four months ago.”
“Huh.” Rynna stepped into the changing room, the floor cool under her feet. “I was wondering where she’d been.”
Elara opened her mouth to respond, but the loud thudding of knuckles on the door cut her off, followed by Bran’s thunderous voice. “Hurry up! We’re starving! Why do girls take so long?”
“If you’re so hungry, Bran, maybe we should leave some steamed veggies out to see how long it takes you to starve,” Elara called, not missing a beat.
Rynna chuckled as she quickly dried off, the soft cloth sweeping over her skin before she slipped into the loose folds of her Hollow-born uniform. “Isn’t he always the one running late?”
“Not when there’s food involved,” Elara replied, pulling on her own clothes. “He makes me look demure if beef steak is on the line.”
Rynna’s mouth twitched into a smile as a brief, amused laugh slipped out. “True.”
Without wasting any more time, they finished getting dressed and hurried out.
“It’s about time—” Bran began, but his words were cut short as Elara slammed her palm into his chest, sending him stumbling back into the wall around the bathing area.
“Thanks for waiting for us,” she said sweetly to Fenn, before brushing past them with a smug smile.
“Hey!” Bran protested, rubbing his chest as he hurried after her. “Since when do healers hurt people?”
“Since they got too annoying,” Elara shot back over her shoulder, picking up the pace. “It’s in the healer's code.”
“No, it’s not!” Bran chased after her, their bickering echoing down the path.
Fenn scratched the back of his head, watching them vanish. “Should I be concerned?”
“Only if you’re paying for dinner.” Taren glanced sideways at the retreating figures. “Do you want me to go after them?”
Fenn thought for a moment, then shook his head. “No, let them have their fill. They earned it on this mission.” He glanced at Taren and Rynna, his tone softening. “You all did.”
“Thank you, Guide.” Taren bowed, but his eyes flicked toward the path, betraying his desire to catch up with the others.
Fenn caught the look and nodded toward the glowing lights of the dining hall. “Go on. Just make sure they save us some seats.”
“Thank you, Guide.” Taren bowed again and took off down the path.
Rynna watched him go. “He’s been a lot better lately, more engaged.”
“You all have been good for him,” Fenn said, his gaze lingering on Rynna. “Though he seems most interested when you’re training them.” He tilted his head, the corner of his mouth curving up. “Should I be jealous?”
“I don’t think you’ve got anything to worry about,” Rynna replied, bumping her hip lightly into his, her earlier conversation with Elara briefly crossing her mind. “But I will say this. He easily grasps concepts that others struggle with. It comes naturally to him.”
She was about to go on or start walking when his hand shot out, strong arms wrapping around her waist. Lifting her effortlessly, their bodies collided in a rush of heat and energy as the world narrowed to the press of his body and the teasing smile in his eyes.
“Fenn!” she yelped as hands slid to her lower back, pulling her even closer.
“Just in case,” he murmured, pulling down his mask, revealing a wicked, wolfish grin beneath.
Then, he kissed her right there in the yard, deep, commanding, and entirely unexpected.
Limbs locking in place, Rynna’s heart jumped into her throat. They were always so discreet.
But the shock didn’t last long as she relaxed into his arms, her hands sliding up to his shoulders, fingers curling into the loose strands of his damp hair. Her pulse raced as his lips moved against hers, and everything else faded away. It was just them.
As the kiss broke, Rynna let herself sink, hands gliding down his sides as she slid slowly down the length of him, until her feet found the ground again. Still, she held his gaze—unblinking, unwavering—as his fingers traced the curve of her hip in a slow sweep that lingered at the dip of her waist.
“Are you trying to skip dinner and get thrown into these bushes right here, right now, Guide Fenn?” She smiled. “Because that’s exactly what’s going to happen if you pull something like that again.”
Fenn paused, his eyes drifting thoughtfully to the nearby bushes as if genuinely considering it. Then, with a low growl rumbling from his chest, he turned back to her. “After dinner.”
Rynna sucked in breath, heat pooling between her legs.
“You’re such a tease.” She turned and started toward the restaurant, feeling his presence at her side almost immediately, his steps falling in sync with hers.
The lanterns swayed gently in the evening breeze, their warm glow spilling amber light across the stone path.
Rynna’s fingertips brushed against Fenn’s as they walked, a fleeting connection that sent a quiet spark through the space between them, though their hands never quite joined.
Ahead, the lodge rose into view, its shingled roof blending seamlessly with the night sky, stone walls shining faintly from the lantern's glow.