Chapter 26
Calypsta
Somewhere in the Jungle
Hours after Kendra and Reyne left the ruins of Lux behind, they happened upon a magnificent sight.
Before them stood a cascading waterfall that tumbled into a large, secluded lagoon surrounded by jutting cliffs and tangled vegetation.
The clear inviting water lapped softly against a sandy slope as mist rose in the air.
The cool, rippling blue water beckoned her to drench her sore feet. Glancing at the sky, she realized there was at least an hour before the sun would set, Kendra felt a sense of relief and anticipation. She plopped on the ground and began tugging off her boots.
For the last hour she had barely managed to walk, but did her best to push through the pain. She rubbed the arches of her feet and wiggled her toes to be sure they were still working.
While Reyne busied himself setting up camp for the night and gathering wood for a fire, Kendra rolled her pants up to her knees and waded into the lagoon’s inviting water.
As she stepped forward, her toes sank into the cool, squishy sand beneath the surface.
She let out a soft moan of contentment, savoring the soothing sensation.
She waded almost to her upper calf and felt a light nibble on her ankle, then one on the bridge of her foot, then her big toe. She peered down and saw several colorful fish cautiously surrounding her lower appendages. She moved her foot.
They darted away, only to quickly return.
Their dainty little nibbles tickled. Kendra squealed and laughed as the swarm of curious fish grew bolder.
She glanced over her shoulder and watched Reyne remove his boots and his blood-stained shirt. “Reyne, come see these pretty fish.”
He moved to the water’s edge, crouching to rinse the blood from his shirt. He wrung it, shook the material and hung it on the branch to dry. A second later, he loosened his belt and began to remove his pants.
“Reyne,” she shrieked, realizing he was about to disrobe. She shifted her focus to the cascading waterfall. “What do you think you are doing?”
“Preparing to bathe,” he replied with a deep chuckle.
She heard a splash as he waded into the lagoon. Unable to help herself, she glanced sideways and caught sight of his broad back, lean muscled legs and rounded ass cheeks before he dove under the surface.
A blush crept up her neck and stained her cheeks.
She had seen a naked man before, but Reyne's masculine physique was quite magnificent.
“Don’t you have any modesty?” she scolded when his head emerged between her and the waterfall.
He flashed a wicked grin and wiped water from his face.
“Modesty has never been one of my virtues.” He briefly dipped his head under the water again and began rubbing handfuls of sand onto his face, chest and his uninjured shoulder.
“Virtues?” She rolled her eyes with a skeptical laugh. “Do you have any?”
“Actually, no. Now come in, the water feels great.” Using his palms, Reyne shoveled a wave of water in her direction, scattering the group of little fish still nibbling her feet.
The idea of bathing was really tempting, but she shook her head. Kendra wasn’t shy about nudity, but the thought of stripping bare in front of Reyne made her pulse leap.
“Come on in, or I will be forced to come and get you.” His predatory glaze smoldered with anticipation—as if he hoped she would resist, just so he could chase her down.
She sucked in her breath. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Care to test me?” He slithered towards her, and his fingers gripped one of her ankles.
“Fine,” she conceded with haste, not prepared to be yanked into the water fully clothed. “Please, turn around.”
With an amused chuckle, he presented her with the back of his broad shoulders.
Kendra shed her clothes and wearing nothing but her necklace, she dove into the lagoon, creating ripples.
The lagoon wasn’t deep, but when she sat on the sandy bottom, the water thankfully covered her nakedness.
Reyne was right. The water felt wonderful.
Following his lead, she grabbed handfuls of sand and began scrubbing every inch of her body and face.
“See. I told you.” Reyne grinned. “Turn around. I need to get our fire going before it gets any darker and I don’t want to disturb your delicate sensibilities”
Delicate sensibilities? Kendra slapped the surface of the water, splashing him.
He chuckled and dipped his head one last time and strode from the lagoon. When Kendra finished scrubbing herself, she turned her attention towards their makeshift camp. Wearing only tawny trousers, Reyne crouched by the budding fire, his back towards her while he worked.
Kendra made a mad dash out of the water and tossed her clothes on as fast as possible.
“May I use the comb,” she asked once the fire was burning on its own. Darkness was upon them, and she needed to brush out her damp hair and re-braid it before retiring.
Reyne rummaged through his pack, retrieving the comb. But instead of handing it over, he said, “Please, allow me.” He dropped to his knees behind her on the bedroll and began to untie her thick braid.
Kendra froze. She didn’t know what to do. His request seemed odd. “Do you do this often?”
“What? Brush hair?”
“Yes.”
“Actually, no. This is a first.” Once her tresses were freed, he started detangling her ends, gently combing through the many snags and knots.
Kendra stared at the sizzling fire—speechless for once in her life.
If someone had suggested this ruthless bounty hunter would offer to brush her hair like a lady’s maid, she would have laughed at the absurdity.
But here she was, sitting on the ground, in the middle of a jungle, with Reyne on his knees, doing just that.
“Why is this color considered a curse?”
She pondered his question. “Because the husbands of the last three Kunnetsov’s born with this rare color were assassinated by your kind. All within a month of their vows.”
“My kind?” he repeated with mock indignation.
“Yes, your Ramachii brethren,” she explained with an eye roll, thinking he couldn’t possibly be that dense.
“Ahh. You mean us henchman?” he teased.
“Yes,” she hissed over her shoulder. “The first murder was dismissed. The second raised curious concerns, but when my great aunt’s husband was found dead on the palace steps, a Taleari dagger embedded in his back, this color was declared a marital curse.”
He emitted a noise that sounded suspiciously like a snort.
“It’s doubtful that the Ramachii would be involved in some meaningless assassinations on Valeria.
We do have a code, although Mordrick would prefer it if we didn’t.
” He continued to work on her silken tangles.
“No. More likely the scheming of your own at play, blaming the Taleari to avoid casting suspicions on themselves. "
Her laugh lacked humor. He could be correct. “Doesn’t matter. Not anymore. It has been said that when I was born my father openly wept.”
“Wept?”
“Yes. Because he knew I would be unmarriageable the minute he saw the wisp of coppery fuzz. I was useless in his mind. A worthless daughter.”
Reyne paused mid stroke. She felt a slight tug as he abruptly fisted her locks. “Are you saying no one would marry you because of your hair color?” His deep rumbling voice held a hint of disbelief.
She considered lying, but what was the point? Finally, she admitted with a reluctant sigh. “Yes.”
“That’s absurd,” he argued. “Your hair is not cursed. It’s glorious. Any Valerian lord who wouldn’t marry you because of this amazing color is a fucking fool.”
“Indeed,” she muttered. “But none of the lords were willing to risk their life, or the lives of their sons. A daughter’s only value lies in the alliances marriage strengthens.
My father tried to arrange several advantageous marriages, but none of the lords would have me.
He even offered a hefty dowry as an enticement, and still there were no forthcoming offers.
Eventually, he found another use for me. ”
“Valerians are idiots,” he muttered, then resumed his task.
She would have responded to his blatant insult on her race with a tart reply, but in this case, she tended to agree with him—Valerian lords were idiots.
With her tattered ends successfully untangled, he moved the comb higher. Teeth scraped her bare shoulders as Reyne lazily pulled the comb through her long strands.
Sensitive goosebumps spread across her skin in waves that made her dizzy.
The fire crackled, sending flaky hot embers into the air.
“What did your father receive in trade?” His tone was gentle as he posed his question.
“A weapon design.”
“Ahh. That’s not surprising. Dracarians are gifted in that area. What kind of weapon?”
“No idea. I never asked. Ironically, whatever my father had commissioned, he never received. The Dracarians cried foul and cancelled the contract. At least that’s what I was told when they found me guilty of murder by poison and prepared to deposit me on the nearest prison barge.
I did find perverse enjoyment in knowing that my father’s grand plans were foiled. ”
With all her tangles gone, the unencumbered comb was now moving from her scalp, scraping down to her lower back in long, soothing strokes. Everywhere the comb touched, her skin tingled with a kind of tantalizing pleasure she never experienced before.
Who knew having her hair brushed could feel so good? So sensual.
Suddenly, she didn’t want to converse. She didn’t want to think. She just wanted to feel. To lose herself in Reyne’s tender ministrations. Her eyes fluttered shut as she released a sigh of deep contentment.
After several minutes of silence, he twisted her combed locks and draped the thick mass over one shoulder. His hand replaced the comb and caressed her exposed collarbone with a calloused palm. Deft fingers grazed her nape while his other arm banded her waist.
Instead of pulling away, she pressed into his touch, her back brushing his warm, bare chest.