Page 50 of Whispers of the Water

“Who do you think won?” I asked Akira and Rune.

They followed my gaze to where Bassel and Avana were huddled by the water, bent at the knees, laughing. Rune and Akira shared a knowing look and said at the same time, “Definitely Bassel.”

We laid the large blankets out on the sand, and the gentle breeze stirred the waves of my hair. I tilted my face into the wind and inhaled the salty, fresh scent of the ocean. Within the push and pull of the waves were the whispers that always followed.

I closed my eyes and honed in on the whispers until they were all I heard.

Bria.

Princess.

Home.

Here.

Smiling at the water’s greeting, I silently said hello and focused on the peace that settled within my bones. I hoped that, by showing the water I was calm and well, no mishaps would occur while we were here.

Opening my eyes, I turned my attention to the sunny horizon. As I basked in the beauty of it all, strong arms went around my waist and hoisted me up. I squealed as Rune settled me into a princess hold, and he took off for the water, whooping and hollering.

“You look like you need a swim,” Rune chuckled as the water reached his bare toes.

I wrapped my arm tightly around his neck in an effort to anchor myself to him. “Don’t you dare! I didn’t bring a change of clothes!”

Mischief brewed in his eyes. “You can go naked. I definitely don’t mind.”

“Oh really? You’re fine with everyone here seeing me naked?”

He frowned as if just remembering there were other people around. He glanced at the few strangers and our friends. “Damn. We should ditch them.”

Throwing my head back, I laughed. “You’re ridiculous, Fox Boy.”

He rubbed his nose along my neck and jaw, whispering against my skin, “What can I say? I’m possessive over what I cherish. Comes with the territory.”

Cherish.

My heart clung to the word as though it were the only shred of light in a tunnel of darkness. His admission was something I needed, now more than ever. It meant he cared for me, and those feelings gave me hope. When I told him the truth tomorrow, I hoped those feelings would be enough to overcome the anger, hurt, and distrust he’d no doubt feel. I hoped he’d choose me over his hate for Water Fae. I couldn’t lose him.

He was home to me.

Despite how happy his words made me, there was also a major question mark over them. He’d said before that he couldn’t let me in any further, but since then, we’d shared numerous vulnerable moments. Maybe he’d finally realized that giving in and opening himself up would be better for the both of us.

Swallowing hard, I wiggled in his arms until he set me on my feet. The sand burrowed in between my toes, and the cold water moved about my ankles. As soon as our gazes collided, the corners of his eyes softened, and the look made my heart beat wildly.

Placing my hands on his shoulders, I asked, “Cherish as a good friend or something more?”

A flicker of emotion crossed his features, but it was gone too quickly for me to read. “I think you know the answer to that.”

“I want to hear you say it.”

His heated gaze traced my own. He opened his mouth to say something when, all of a sudden, we were hit with a cold splash of water.

Gasping, we spun to find Ardley doubled over, laughing. “You two looked like you needed a nice cold shower.”

Rune growled and stalked toward his cousin. “You’re such an ass.”

The two began fighting in an all-out splash war, so I quickly retreated to the safety of the blanket where Akira sat back on his hands. While it sucked not hearing Rune’s answer, I knew we could finish our conversation later where we’d have far more privacy.

“Those two are such a handful,” Akira said as he watched the cousins try to knock each other into the rolling waves.

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