Page 21 of Vacation with the Ice Queen

Lila raised her hand in silent greeting, inviting Serena forward with a gesture rather than words. The sunrise would offer its own eloquence soon enough. For now, the quiet seemed appropriate—a blank canvas awaiting their shared experience, whatever form it might take.

Serena approached her with calculated steps, her designer athletic wear a stark contrast to the natural setting. Even dressed for yoga, she maintained the aura of a CEO—spine straight, chin slightly lifted, gaze direct and assessing. She’d pulled her hair back into a perfect ponytail, not a strand out of place despite the humidity.

"You're early," Serena noted, her voice carrying across the quiet cove.

"As are you," Lila replied with a warm smile. "I thought you might be."

Something flickered in Serena's expression—perhaps surprise at being anticipated, perhaps approval of Lila's preparedness. She stopped at the edge of the stone circle, examining the arrangement with the critical eye of someone accustomed to finding flaws.

"These are just for defining our space," Lila explained, gesturing to the stones. "Nothing mystical about them."

Serena raised an eyebrow. "I didn't ask."

"Your expression did." Lila kept her tone light, free of confrontation. "Would you prefer the blue mat or the natural bamboo one?"

After a moment's consideration, Serena stepped into the circle and indicated the blue mat. "This will do."

Lila noted the choice—the mat positioned slightly farther from her own—but made no comment. Every decision revealed something, especially with someone as deliberate as Serena.

"Have you done yoga before?" Lila asked as Serena positioned herself on the mat with precise movements.

"Years ago. At a corporate wellness initiative I was obligated to attend." Serena's tone suggested the experience had been less than transformative. "It was unnecessarily complicated and inefficient."

"Then we'll begin with simplicity," Lila promised, settling onto her own mat. "This isn't about contorting into perfect poses. It's about connecting breath with movement, bringing awareness to your body."

The sky continued to lighten around them, the stars fading as deep purple gave way to softer lavender. The ocean's rhythm provided a natural metronome, waves breaking against the shore in measured intervals.

"We'll start seated," Lila instructed, demonstrating a comfortable cross-legged position. "Spine tall but not rigid, shoulders relaxed, hands resting on your knees."

Serena mimicked the position with mechanical precision, her posture impeccable but holding a tension that defeated the purpose. Lila could see the effort it took for her to remain still—the subtle twitch in her fingers, the alertness in her eyes scanning the environment, her mind clearly racing beneath the composed exterior.

"Close your eyes if that feels comfortable," Lila suggested. "Or keep them open with a soft focus on the horizon."

Predictably, Serena kept her eyes open, fixing her gaze on the point where the ocean met the sky. Lila had expected this—the reluctance to surrender the control that came with visual awareness. She'd guide Serena toward inner focus gradually, without pushing.

"We'll begin with three deep breaths," Lila continued, her voice falling into the gentle rhythm she used for instruction. "Inhaling through your nose, filling your lungs completely, and exhaling slowly through your mouth."

She demonstrated, drawing air deep into her belly and chest before releasing it in a measured exhale. To her surprise, Serena followed without resistance, the rise and fall of her chest visible even in the dim light.

"Now we'll bring gentle movement to the spine," Lila continued, demonstrating a subtle forward bend on her inhale, then returning to center on the exhale. "Moving with your breath, not forcing anything."

As they moved through these initial stretches, Lila observed Serena with the trained eye of a professional. Despite her skepticism, the woman's body responded to the practice—her movements becoming gradually less rigid, her breathing deepening almost against her will. Years of discipline and exercise had given Serena natural strength and flexibility, even if she'd never considered yoga worthy of her time.

The horizon began to glow with intensifying gold as they transitioned to standing poses. Light spilled across the ocean's surface, creating a path of shimmering brilliance that extended toward their small circle on the beach.

"We'll move into warrior pose," Lila instructed, rising with fluid grace to demonstrate. "Front knee bent, back leg strong, arms extended."

Serena followed, and Lila was struck by how naturally powerful her stance became—regal and commanding, a physicalembodiment of her professional presence. For all her dismissal of yoga, her body understood the language of strength.

"Now sink a little deeper," Lila suggested, moving beside Serena to make a gentle adjustment to her alignment. "Allow your front knee to come directly over your ankle."

Her hand hovered near Serena's shoulder, silently requesting permission before touching. When no objection came, she placed her fingertips lightly on Serena's upper back, guiding her into proper alignment.

The contact lasted only a moment, but Lila felt Serena's immediate tension—the instinctive resistance to being touched and being guided by another's hand. Yet she didn't pull away, allowing the adjustment with grudging cooperation.

"Good," Lila acknowledged, stepping back to give Serena her space again. "Now we'll flow into the other side."

As they continued, the first direct rays of sunlight crested the horizon, bathing them in golden warmth. The timing was perfect. Just as they moved into a sequence facing the sun, its radiance spilled across their faces, impossible to ignore even for someone as focused on efficiency as Serena.

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