Chapter 2 #2
I’d been enjoying my bath in more ways than the warm water soaking my body. A burning tension had built in me until I couldn’t possibly do anything but release it. My mind had flashed forbidden images, fantasies I had no business having. A powerful touch. A searing kiss. Blue eyes and sly smiles—
Water bursts from the glass, splashing us both.
Dagon coughs out a laugh, standing up straight as he wipes the droplets off his face.
I hurry to do the same, completely mortified.
“Power is tied to emotions,” he says, and it’s a kindness he isn’t asking me to lay out the details on which emotion just took over. “Like anger,” he continues, tilting his head. “And…” He motions to me. “Whatever that was.”
I swallow hard. I’ll never admit what that was.
“That’s one of the reasons we’re not working with the river.”
I huff a laugh, some of my embarrassment waning. “Okay, what’s the other reason?”
“It’s currently filled with ice,” he says, taking the seat right next to me this time. “Last thing we need is you hurtling shards at yourself and lopping off a limb.”
“Ice can do that?” I ask, intrigued at the prospect. There have been enough enemy attacks lately that I know defending myself and my family is imperative. If I could fling ice through an attacker’s heart, I’d be an asset instead of a liability.
Dagon grins. “If you know how hard to throw it and how sharp to hone it,” he answers. He curls his fingers in the air, and all the water left on his shirt and mine draws away in tiny, glittering spheres. They fly through the air before swirling over the glass, dropping to fill it again.
“Wow,” I say before I can stop myself. “How long did it take you to master all of your powers?” He can do more than me, wield more than just water. Fire, earth, wind. He’s overflowing with power.
“Minus the five hundred years I was asleep?” he asks, and I nod. “Three and a half centuries.”
“Wonderful,” I say, totally dejected. I slump back in my seat. How am I ever going to learn this quick enough to be useful in the upcoming battle I know we can’t avoid?
“You said master,” he says. “Not wield. It takes time to use the powers as easy as breathing, but you’ll learn enough to control it, I’m sure. You just have to be consistent. And listen to me.”
I openly glare at him. “I’m trying.”
Dagon leans forward, harnessing my full attention. He’s so close I can feel the heat coming off him.
I hate how my body responds to him.
Hate that he’s the face I saw last night while taking a bath. That it was his hands I pretended were touching me instead of mine. Hate that I haven’t been able to get him out of my head since the first time I saw him.
Hate that he wants nothing to do with me and is only here because the king ordered him to be.
“Annika,” he says.
“Yes?” I ask in a breathy whisper. I can’t help the way it comes out. He’s overwhelming. He’s infuriating.
“Out of all my powers I had to learn how to use,” he says, eyes flicking from mine to my mouth and back again. “Water was the easiest.”
Anger snaps through me so fast I can’t catch it. He’s openly mocking my struggle.
Water bursts from the glass again, this time each drop hitting his face, not mine.
I barely cover my laugh, the sound dying completely as he pins me with those blue eyes. A snap of his fingers and the water is back in the glass.
“Again.”
“A glass of water, Olivia,” I whine as I pace back and forth at the end of my aunt’s bed.
Olivia laughs softly, but cuts it off when I send a pleading look her way.
“You have to start small,” she hurries to say, shifting slightly on the bed.
I rush to her, adjusting the pillows automatically. She’s on bedrest now, with her and Ransom’s baby due any night now.
“I’m fine,” she grumbles at me. “Ransom waits on me enough, don’t you start too.”
It’s my turn to laugh as I settle on the side of the bed next to her. “You’re about to have a baby,” I say. “That takes an enormous amount of strength and mental resilience. Let us wait on you if we want. You’re doing all the hard work.”
Olivia looks like she might argue, then shakes her head. “Fine. Anyway,” she says. “Back to you. The water glass.”
“Ugh,” I groan. “I only made it move twice, if you can even call it that. More like explode.” I mime an explosion.
Olivia pats my arm. “That’s something,” she says. “And with more practice, you’ll be bending the Edgemont River to your will in no time.”
I scoff playfully at her. “That’s hilarious.” I sigh. “Besides, my oh-so-wise teacher says the river is filled with ice and too dangerous to even attempt to mess with. I can’t even get a glass of water to do what I want.”
“Is Dagon giving you trouble?” she asks, sitting up a bit straighter, her round belly exposed by the movement. “Because I can have a word with him—”
“No,” I say. “No, he’s not. It’s me. I’m just…frustrated.”
In more ways than she needs to know. Sure, Dagon’s the most attractive male I’ve ever seen. One who seemingly finds me weak and annoying and wants nothing to do with me. That doesn’t mean he’s a bad teacher.
“He was open with me,” I admit. “Told me about his own powers and how long it’s taken him to master them.”
Olivia settles back down against her pillows. “That’s good,” she says. “But you tell me if he’s an asshole. I’ll set him straight.”
I laugh softly. “Best aunt ever.”
“I try,” she says, then tilts her head.
“Oh no,” I say. “What’s that look?”
She smiles. “You know where there isn’t ice in the river?”
I furrow my brow. “Where?”
“Cassandra’s island.”