Page 42 of The Book of Legends
“You still didn’t answer my question.”
He keeps walking. The moons cast their glow across the dark sky, and the trees warp into strange, towering shapes. If Kainen didn’t go to Malachi, there must be a reason. We should have been at the castle by now–– I’m sure of it. Yet, something keeps him flying at night.
Suddenly, the trees grow sparse. The air turns crisp, sending a shiver beneath my leather pants. A soft, ethereal glow flickers ahead, accompanied by the distant rush of water. He stops. Mybreath catches as I step forward, taking in the sight before me––a lagoon with a waterfall. Water so blue it looks illuminated from within, glowing like trapped starlight. Mesmerizing. It’s beautiful.
Kainen turns, the lagoon’s glow casting a luminous sheen across his golden skin. The light catches his eyes, sharpens the edges of his jaw. His armor glistens, the metal gleaming bright under the moonlight.
The wind tugs at my hair, pulling me back to reality. He may be an insufferable ass, but damn, he’s gorgeous. The way his long, straight hair brushes his shoulders only adds to his appeal.
“When you’re done staring”––he tosses a small bag at my feet––“there’s a spot behind the waterfall you can go and wash up.”
I glance at the bag, then back at him, as if he doused me with cold water. “What’s in it?”
“Toiletries.”
I crouch, opening the bag to find a bar of soap and a small jar of moisturizer.
“So we are staying out here?”
“Yes.” He moves to leave but pauses. “Oh, and don’t go in the water.”
I wasn’t going to. “Why not?”
“Because it isn’t safe.”
I glance back at the lagoon, its surface clear as a sapphire sky, shimmering under the cascading waterfall. The cliffs surrounding it loom high, jagged edges softened by the iridescent glow. “It’s beautiful.”
“It’s safe to bathe. But not everything beautiful is safe to consume.”
“How does something like this even exist here? There is no sign of life. No foliage.”
He meets my gaze, his expression unreadable. “Not everything is as it seems, Selene.”
“And how do I know I can trust you?”
His eyes flick to the bag in my hands before returning to mine. “Because if I wanted you dead, you would be. I don’t need a lagoon to do it.”
He disappears into the night, leaving me staring after him, my pulse thrumming. I step toward the smooth rocks behind the waterfall, the bioluminescent tendrils beneath the surface swaying like glowing threads. After making sure I’m alone, I peel off my clothes, leaving only my panties. Carefully, I set them on the driest rock before taking out the soap.
The water is surprisingly warm as it sluices down my skin, glowing in the delicate streaks of blue light. The scent of flowers lingers in the air, and for a moment, I allow myself to relax.
Then I hear it.
A low hum, drifting through the water like a whisper in the dark.
I freeze, the melody sending a shiver down my spine. It rises, swelling like an unseen tide, and I take a cautious step toward the edge of the pool. The waterfall roars, but beyond it, the cavern widens, revealing a hidden shore. The hum grows louder, wrapping around me like a spell.
Movement. A shadow rippling beneath the surface.
I step closer, the jagged rock biting into the soles of my feet as I press against the cavern wall.
A voice cuts through the rush of water.
“Faster.”
Kainen’s voice.
I hold my breath. The glowing water reveals him, seated on the rock with his legs spread wide. His fingers are tangled in dark hair. A siren’s hair. Her silver-scaled tail breaks the surface as she bobs between his thighs.
