Page 15 of A Secret Crush Valentine's

Her arms and legs flailed in a mad struggle to propel herself back toward the surface, to safety, but her efforts only seemed to quicken her descent. She tried to scream and watched in dismay as bubbles floated in the opposite direction toward the sunlight. Water rushed into her ears, mouth, and nostrils, forcing its way deep into her lungs.

Drowning was slow torture, promising death but never really fulfilling it. Her lungs were bursting from icy water and lack of oxygen. She could feel her consciousness fading, but it never really disappeared, not completely. It lingered just enough for her to experience the agony and terror of dying.

As she sank farther into the lake’s depths, still thrashing, a shape came into view.

Damon’s eyes were wide with the same panic that coursed through her. He, too, struggled against the water’s pressure, bubbles escaping from his lips. Their eyes met, and his grew even wider. He reached for her, his fingers stopping just inches away from her face…

Then, an explosion of light sent them spinning away from each other.

Julia awoke, gasping desperately for air. Then, it occurred to her that shedidn’tneed to gasp for air because she could breathe just fine. There was no water in her mouth, ears, or her lungs. She lay on her side on a hard, flat surface. A floor, she realized.

“Hey, Red!” Someone was gently shaking her shoulders. “Wake up. You’re okay. I’m right here with you.”

She blinked. In the light filtering in through a crack in the wall, she could just make out who it was. Damon’s handsome features were tight with worry. Julia blinked again, only half-consciously taking in the details around her. They were in the small room the barmaid, Angela, had offered them. It was somewhat musty, but they’d spent the night just fine here, at least until her dream woke them up.

The memory of the past couple of days trickled back to her. They were still on Frost Mountain, a magical prison, a death trap. But she was safe. She was alive. She wasn’t a bloated corpse at the bottom of a lake.

“You’re okay, Red,” Damon told her. His hand reached up to cup her cheek. “It was just a dream.”

She nodded wordlessly. His face hovered just inches away from hers, those beautiful green eyes of his locked on her. If she moved a little closer…

Not now, she chided herself.

Definitely bad timing. Besides, she doubted the thought had even crossed his mind. If she tried to kiss him, she doubted she’d survive the awkwardness that followed.

She pulled herself into a sitting position, refusing to meet his eyes. “I’m sorry I woke you up.”

“You didn’t,” he replied. He sat back, and Julia couldn’t help feeling a twinge of disappointment. “I’ve been watching you sleep since sunrise.”

He’d beenwatchingher? Her cheeks burned. “Oh.”

Damon got up then. “Get some more rest if you can. We’ll be leaving Dragon’s Den this morning. I’ll go into the town and gather whatever supplies we might need for the rest of our journey.”

“I can come with you.” She started to climb to her feet, but he stopped her with a stern look.

“Get some more rest,” he said again, more firmly this time.

Julia sat down again.

“I’ll be back soon,” Damon said. He stared down at her, and for a moment, she thought he was about to say something. Then he turned and left the room.

Julia didn’t go back to sleep. After the dream she’d just awakened from, sleeping was the last thing on her mind. It wasn’t the first time she’d dreamed of drowning, but it had been some time since it happened—weeks. No doubt, being around Damon after all these years must have brought the memory rushing back.

She walked over to the small window and peeked out. The town had already come alive from what she could see. Townsfolk had begun going about their businesses. Julia bit her lip. It felt a little strange being here around all these people after she’d spent several weeks traveling alone across this mountain. She’d known people were living on Frost Mountain, but a whole town?

And based on what Damon had told her, there could be hundreds of thousands of places like this. She’d thought she was simply lost, marooned on a mountain far from home. But the reality was that this placewasher new home. She might as well kiss her job and her vacation goodbye. Her life was here now, with all these other people who were trapped on this mountain. With Damon.

In this foreign land, ice whispers roam

My once-wounded heart is now in Frost’s bitter home.

The words appeared in her mind just then, and she let out a groan of dismay as she realized she had no pen or paper to write them down with, no phone, either. Here on Frost Mountain, all she had was her mind, assuming she didn’t lose it in the cold.

“Just great,” she said with a sigh.

She certainly couldn’t remain here waiting for Damon to return without going stir-crazy. Without further thought, she left the room, stepping back into the tavern. Julia did a clean sweep of her surroundings. There were fewer customers in here than last night. Less than half a dozen men sat at different tables, silently sipping from mugs.

Figures, she thought.

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