Page 31 of Whispers of the Water

Rune’s eyes squeezed shut as he got down on his knees to pull both boys into his arms. “I miss you guys, too. More than you know.”

Wanting to give the brothers privacy for this intimate moment, I quietly slipped away and into the changing room. I sank down onto a bench by my clothes, and the gravity of everything I’d just seen, heard, and did hit me with the force of a freight train. My fight with Rune had been a tense and strenuous one, far more so than any practice session we’d had, and the blow to my gut had been just as excruciating as when Jonah had nailed me there in one of his previous attacks.

I tugged off the tunic and looked down at my throbbing stomach. Thankfully, there were no bruises surfacing on my skin, because I was sure if Rune saw evidence of his punch, it would devastate him all over again. God knew I didn’t want to see the marks I’d left on him.

I stood, inhaling sharply at the protest in my limbs, and carefully stepped out of the slacks. As I reached for my dress, the door opened and shut behind me. I quickly went to cover myself, until I realized it was only Rune.

Sighing in relief, I let my body relax. “You startled me. I thought the twins were coming in.”

He shook his head and slowly started for me. “They’re waiting on the mats.”

I nodded and quickly slipped on the black dress, pulling my fox tail through the opening in the back of the garment. Thankfully, Avana and I had prepared one in almost all my clothes for the trip. “Are they okay?”

“They’re fine. They’re tough, far more than most kids their age. But then again, that is the way of Fae.” Rune’s fingers curled around my chin and forced my eyes to meet his. His usually deep, confident voice broke as he asked, “How badly did I hurt you?”

I shook my head and placed my hands on his chest. “You didn’t hur—”

“Don’t lie to me,” he growled, a mix of anger and agony pinching his brow. “I didn’t mean—”

“Exactly,” I said. “You didn’t mean to. Everything that just happened was Myra. We were put in the middle of her sick game, and I don’t blame you for any of it. I’m fine.”

His eyes searched mine. For what? I couldn’t say. Perhaps he was trying to decide if I was lying, and if that was the case, he’d come up empty. I was truly okay, because he and the boys were all safe. We’d narrowly avoided Myra’s wicked trap, and because we had, all was fine. I just hoped we’d be as lucky the next time our paths crossed.

Rune took a deep breath and finally released me. “If you’re sure, we’d better get back out there. The twins are eager to forget this whole shit show happened and continue the tour.”

I blew out a tired breath. “I think that’s a splendid idea.”

“You know, your hits packed a decent punch today. Have you been secretly working out?” Rune chuckled.

He was teasing me, yet the joke made a fine layer of sweat break out on my brow. My Fae strength must’ve slipped through in some of my jabs.

I forced a smile and nonchalantly flipped my hair over my shoulder. “Better watch out. I’m becoming a secret badass, Rune Beckett.”

“I look forward to it,” he answered, holding the door open for me.

We rejoined the boys, who were happy to resume our interrupted tour. Greshim pointed at all the different doors here in the training facility, explaining what was behind each.

Newt tugged on my hand, pointing down a hallway. “Th-There’s m-m-more. Th-This way.”

Happy to finally be leaving the training room, I followed Newt down the short hallway. There was a closed door at the end of it, and the closer we got, the more a soft hum started up in the back of my head. It was like melodic voices whispering amid the soft trickle of water, urging me forward.

As soon as Newt opened the door, I realized why the whispers had started. Bright, fluorescent lights reflected off an indoor pool’s surface, and the strong smell of chlorine invaded my nose. My eyes locked onto the large pool, and the water immediately began to slap against the concrete’s edge as if someone had jumped in.

“Woah,” Newt whispered, watching the churning of the water.

I wanted to groan, because I knew I’d done something to unsettle the water, but I had no idea what. Maybe it was because of the stress induced by the Myra confrontation, or maybe it was something else entirely. Trying to think quickly with Rune and Greshim coming down the hall and Newt inching closer to the pool, I focused on the water until I felt that familiar warmth spread throughout my limbs, ending in the tingling of my fingertips. Recognizing that I was now in control, I silently commanded the water to calm. In mere seconds, the water stilled, becoming a lazy, peaceful pool once more.

“Are you two okay?” Rune asked as he came up behind me. His worried eyes flicked between Newt and I.

Clearing my throat of any trace of nerves, I said, “Yeah. I think we opened the door too hard. Either that or your house is haunted.”

“Cool!” Greshim cheered. “I wouldn’t mind living in a haunted house!”

“I would,” Newt said as the color drained from his face.

Laughing, Rune hoisted his younger brother into his arms. “Don’t worry. If it’s haunted, I’ll get rid of all the ghosts for you.”

Greshim crossed his arms and glared at Rune. “Party pooper.”

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