Page 49 of When Wishes Bleed

I whispered a spell and spirited to the other side of the pool before he could catch me. “Not fair!” he yelled, diving in gracefully.

Though I could swim, my movements could never be considered graceful, so I sat on the edge of the pool and dangled my legs in the water, letting them get used to the temperature. I slid in slowly when Mira threatened to soak me like she’d done Brecan.

The water felt glorious, neither too hot nor too cold. I sloppily made my way to the shallower side where my toes could easily touch the bottom. Mira and Brecan splashed one another playfully on the other side of the pool. She sent small bursts of water arcing from one side of the pool to the other and back. I smiled, then laughed as I tried to catch them in my hands. Then she crafted a herd of Pegasus from the water. They whinnied, swooped, and dove over us, splashing when they rejoined the water.

When the door opened, she released her magic and all the effects rained down on us. I wiped a splash from my face and blinked up to see Tauren dive into the deep end. He swam beneath the surface, breaching right in front of me, rising from the water with a triumphant smile.

“The other girls are too afraid to get their hair wet,” he panted, raking his dark hair back.

“I think they’re nervous for you to see them in a swimsuit,” Mira told him, moving into deeper water so that she was concealed from the neck down. She shot me an anxious smile, gawking at the prince standing in front of me.

Brecan swam to the deep end and back, which made me feel as if he were pacing. His white-blonde hair streaked through the water like angry ribbons.

Mira faked a yawn. “Wow, I’m really tired. We did so much today. I think it’s time I head back to my room.”

She looked at Brecan. For a moment, he didn’t budge or reply. For a moment, I didn’t want him to go with her.

That moment evaporated when Tauren took my hand under the water and tugged me ever so slightly closer.

“Will you check in when you go upstairs?” Brecan finally asked, looking between the two of us.

I discreetly pulled my hand from Tauren’s and used both to slick my hair back. “I won’t be much longer.”

Brecan walked to the nearest ladder, climbed up, and escorted Mira to the towel rack. They wrapped themselves and left the pool area, but not before Brecan shot us a look of warning.

“We are scheduled to spend an hour together tomorrow,” Tauren said, his voice echoing over the empty space.

“Aren’t you supposed to be spending this evening with someone else?”

“This is my free hour,” he answered, swimming around me with ease. His muscles rippled with every movement.

“Do you swim every day?”

“No. I don’t swim very often at all.”

“Then why are you here now?”

Tauren grinned and my knees weakened. “Because you’re in my pool.”

“So?” I said, crossing my arms. The movement drew his attention to my body. A fire ignited in his eyes.

“So, I was jealous.”

“Of your pool?” I said incredulously. “How can anyone be jealous of a thing?”

“I’m jealous of lots of things,” he said with a half-smile. “And people. You and Brecan looked like you were enjoying yourselves on the lake.”

“I imagine just as much as you enjoyed your romantic horseback ride with Rose.”

“You’re at ease with him,” he noted.

“He’s my best friend,” I volleyed.

He swam faster around me. I spun faster to keep up. Then he stopped and stood at full height, and I was mesmerized by the water sluicing from his skin.

“What am I to you?” he asked softly.

“You are my prince.”

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