Page 55 of Whispers of the Water

Everyone finished up the last of the cake. With some time left before we had to return to Myra’s for Rune’s birthday dinner, we played around the beach. I helped the twins find seashells, and Rune and I competed in a sand sculpting contest to see who could create the best castle. It was artist versus architect, and after being judged by the esteemed panel of judges—Marlow, Avana, and Carlos—I won. Rune was a sore loser, and he tackled me into my castle, destroying the structure beneath our weight. It was worth it, though, because as soon as our friends turned their backs, his mouth was on mine in a slow, tantalizing kiss.

I wanted the day to go on forever, but sadly, it was time for us to head back to Rune’s for the dinner everyone was dreading. None more so than me.

Chapter Twenty

I QUICKLY SHOWERED and changed into my floor-length blue dress. Rune waited in the hall, and I found him leaned against the wall across from my bedroom door. A dark button-up hugged his arms and chest, leaving little to the imagination, and the black dress pants hinted at the muscles in his legs.

God, I loved it when he wore all black.

As soon as he saw me, his eyes softened. “You look exquisite.”

Cheeks warming, I ducked my head. “Thank you.”

“Come on. Let’s finish getting you ready.”

We turned to head into Akira and Bassel’s room where Avana waited to put her illusion on me. Our friends gathered in the space, all wearing somber frowns.

I looked around and asked, “Where’s Carlos?”

“He went home,” Bassel said. “I told him he didn’t want to be here for this shitty dinner.”

“Speaking of dinner,” Rune started. “It’s probably ready, so go ahead and get downstairs.”

“Oh?” Akira said, looking out the door warily. “You mean, we’re actually doing it? Eating downstairs? With your family? In the same room? At the same table?”

Rune hung his head and rubbed at his eyes. “Unfortunately.”

Akira straightened his shoulders. “Well, then, let’s get this over with.”

He gathered the twins, taking one of their hands in each of his. Everyone slowly followed him out until only me, Rune, and Avana remained. She made quick work of adding the fox features to me, and I noticed she did it with more ease every time we put it on. I was even getting used to the pinprick sensation that came with the transformation.

Something I wasn’t used to and probably never would be was the way Rune looked at me when I wore my fox features. A sweltering heat seemed to enter his gaze when I turned toward him, and the air between us became charged with an electric, pulsing desire. I knew, for him, seeing me looking like one of his kind must be reeling in the best way possible. I was sure it made him wonder, what if?

What if I were actually a Fox Fae?

What if I were an actual potential mate?

What if I were someone from a good, strong Fox Fae bloodline?

Would things be different?

They were interesting questions, ones that gave me plenty to think about, but there was no point dwelling on them. Because I wasn’t Fox Fae. I wasn’t even Land Fae. I couldn’t change who I was, and I didn’t want to. So the what ifs were pointless.

“Ready?” Rune asked.

His eyes searched mine, and I knew if I said no, he’d do everything in his power to keep us away. No wasn’t an option, though. This was the moment for which we’d worked so hard. We were finally going to be sitting down with his whole family with nowhere to run, and hopefully, our studying and plans paid off.

Squaring my shoulders, I nodded. “I’m ready. Let’s do this.”

Our group gathered outside of the dining hall. The carefree smiles and laughs from earlier in the day had been traded for straight faces, stiff shoulders, and nervous fidgeting. Everyone was clearly on edge, especially Marlow. His whole body shook, and he was dripping actual puddles of sweat onto the floor.

Or maybe that was water.

“One dinner, that’s all,” Rune said to the group. “The sooner we go in, the sooner we can go back to our rooms.”

Everyone nodded in agreement before we made our way into the dining room. It was an expansive space with windows that rose high to the vaulted ceiling. Gold curtains hung over the glass panes. A large, dark oak table sat in the center of the room with a deep red rug laced with gold and cream patterns beneath it. There were twenty-two chairs seated around the table—ten chairs on each side and then one at either end.

Myra was already seated at the head of the table, facing the entryway, and I didn’t miss the way her features tightened when she saw me. I guessed she’d really thought I’d tuck my tail and run after our talk. I made sure to hold my head a bit higher so that the message was clear.

---