Page 76 of Whispers of the Water

“Thank you for helping me protect Rune,” I said, knowing the water could understand me in its own way.

Looking around at the streaks trailing down the glass shower, I silently urged the drops of water to still. Without hesitation, everything froze. The steam stopped rising, the drops sliding along the glass door ceased their journey, and the stream spewing from the overhead faucet froze in mid-fall. It took such little concentration to keep it frozen, which only amazed me more.

I released my hold, and the water came rushing back to life. Hot pellets rained down on my skin, and the steam clouded the air and space once more. Smiling, I closed my eyes and relished the tender touch of the water.

As I concentrated, I could feel something more than just lifeless drops. Something warm and moving rapidly with excitement filled me to the brim as the water cascaded over me, and it came from the flow. From the lake behind the house to the water in the pipes, it was humming. Its whispers and desperate voice sang to me, and my bones vibrated as its need to be commanded radiated through my very soul. The water wanted me to call upon it, and it reassured me that it was there for me.

In that moment, it really hit me how powerful I must be. My eyes widened, and my jaw dropped slightly as a slight fear swept through my chest. Immense power surged through me with my fairly new gift, and my hands began to shake. Could I do this? Could I really control and harness this power? There were Water Fae relying on me. What if I couldn’t be what they needed? What if my powers overwhelmed me like during my practice with Dallas? Every doubt and insecurity suddenly reared its ugly head, and panic sank its teeth into me.

As my anxiety started to build, the rush of hot water changed. The drops lost their heat and became a fountain of cool kisses. My eyes turned upward into the shower head as the water rained down. It covered my skin, and instead of continuing its path toward the drain, it clung to my body, stitching itself together until I wore a bodysuit made of water. My shoulders relaxed, and my eyes slipped shut as I embraced the cold touch covering my skin. The water soothed me, and its silent whispers told me that I was okay.

I accepted the comfort, and for now, I accepted that my power was within my control. At least for this moment, all was well within this glass shower. As soon as I stepped out, things might not be. I crossed my fingers and sent a silent plea to the water to give me strength in facing Rune, because God knew I needed it.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

ONLY AFTER THE shower naturally turned cold did I finally get out, and as I dried my hair, I noticed more strands now had blue tips. Even though Rune and the others knew the truth, I still snipped away the color. I didn’t like having something I didn’t yet understand decorating me so blatantly, especially since there were more than just my friends in this house. The TV played quietly as I finally sat among the comfort of the bed’s pillows, but my mind strayed from the show. I couldn’t focus on anything with the thought of Rune in the back of my mind.

Glancing out the French doors, I took note of the navy-dusted sky. It was nearly nightfall, and I had no idea where Rune was or what was going through his head. It had been hours. Was he so mad that he needed hours to calm down? Was he so hurt from the betrayal that he needed hours to face me? Or was he not coming back and leaving me for his family to rip apart?

I shook my head at the absurdity of that last thought. That was my worry talking.

I let out a heavy sigh and drew my knees up to my chest. Rune was complicated. He was barely able to admit his feelings when I was “human.” How could he possibly accept me now? How could only a short time of loving me replace a century of hating Water Fae?

The answer nearly strangled me.

Because I didn’t think it could.

My throat grew unpleasantly tight as I whispered to myself, “Where are you, Rune?”

The knob clicked as the door opened, and I quickly jumped to my feet as a stone-faced Rune walked in. He refused to look at me as he shut the door behind him and locked it. I held my breath, clenching and unclenching my fists, nibbling the corners of my lip, waiting for him to look at me.

Silence stretched between us like an impassable ocean. My rehearsed explanation died on my tongue with the reality of him standing before me. There was so much I wanted—no, needed—to say, yet it was as if words were suddenly foreign to me.

I opened my mouth. Then closed it.

I took a deep breath and managed to recall how to at least say, “Rune—”

“Water Fae,” Rune interrupted. His shoulders were tense, and his eyes stayed glued to the floor. He kept his arms crossed firmly over his chest as though to shield himself from me, from the deception and hurt I’d caused.

As if staying on the other side of the room wasn’t distance enough.

“Water Fae,” Rune started again, his voice barely hinting at the anger he held back. “Water Fae are cowards. Water Fae are evil beings. I want all Water Fae dead, regardless of who they are. I said all those things.”

My heart hardened into glass with each word, and it shattered into broken fragments on the last.

Rune took a deep breath, and he finally looked up at me. Contempt. Resentment. That’s what I expected to find. Instead, his features were turned down under the heavy hand of guilt and anguish.

“I am so, so sorry,” Rune whispered.

My eyes widened, and the air passing through my lungs stilled. Certain I’d misheard him, I stammered, “Wh-What?”

He took in a shaky breath and ran a hand over his face and through his hair. He finally moved across the room until he stood directly in front of me. Turmoil swarmed his eyes as he said, “Bria, I am so sorry. All of those awful things I said … God, it’s no wonder you didn’t want to tell me.”

I swallowed hard. “I wanted to tell you. I really did. I’ve been trying, but every time we were alone, I got … distracted. It’s not that I didn’t want to tell you. Honest. I was just scared.”

His brow pinched as he shut his eyes tightly. “I’ll never forgive myself for making you feel that way.”

Still reeling from Rune’s reaction, I slowly asked, “Are you not angry? You don’t hate me now?”

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