Page 44 of Magic Cursed

And really, I think a plunge into some very cold water is exactly what I need at the moment. I face him. He stands on the beach in a casual manner. His curls are still dripping, wetting his shirt. He sweeps his arms out to the water. “The water felt great. A little chilled at first, but you get used to it fast.”

The water isn’t what I’m afraid of. Getting naked in the same vicinity as Daimis, however, seems like a very bad idea. But I’ve come this far. I just need to focus on why I’m down here; books about the shadow demons. Or really, any books on magic would be helpful.

“Turn around,” I order.

He smirks but does as I ask, facing the opposite end of the cavern. I quickly take off the cloak, unbuckle my belt holding my sheathed blades, get out of my dress and my undergarments until I’m completely, stark naked. The cool air prickles my skin. As I create a bundle with my things, using my belt to keep it all together, I keep glancing up at Daimis to be sure he’s still facing the opposite wall. I stand up, wind my arm back, and throw my bundle to the beach. It lands with a thud just behind Daimis and comes apart on impact.

I take a deep breath and jump into the glowing blue below. The water envelops me with pins and needles of freezing cold. I surface and suck in gasping breaths.

“You okay?” Daimis calls over his shoulder.

“You said it felt great,” I say, swimming to the beach.

“It’s not that bad.”

Smooth sand greets my feet and I walk the rest of the way up, crossing my arms over my naked breasts in a poor attempt to warm myself. When I make it to my scattered things, I crouch down and search for my undergarments, but I’m having trouble finding them. Daimis is only a foot in front of me.

“Searching for this?” He asks. I look up. My bottom undergarment is hanging from his fingers, held out to his side.

“Daimis,” I reprimand.

“Not my fault, you didn’t bundle your things well enough, these fell from the others right in front of me. I figured you didn’t want to walk in my line of sight to retrieve them.”

I sigh. “Don’t peek,” I say, and I approach him.

“Like you did?”

“I did not.” Of course, I did, but I’m not about to admit it.

“Mmmhmm.”

I snatch my garment from his outstretched hand and turn my back to him before shoving my legs in one at a time. I pull my garment top over my head and down to cover my stomach.

“You’re lying,” Daimis says from directly behind me. I whip around to face him in nothing but my undergarments. Can he see right through the cream-colored fabric, with my body as wet as it is? I don’t take my eyes off his to look down at myself. But nor does his gaze wander from mine even the slightest.

He has that smirk in place. “You definitely checked me out when I was coming out of the water. When I glanced back, I saw you turn away, your hair swung with your movement.”

“And that gives you the right to look at my body?”

“I’m only looking into those incredible blue eyes of yours.” He lifts my dress, which I’m only just realizing has been in his grasp. “Arms up.”

He’s much better than I am at control, which makes me feel foolish, like a child who can’t resist a pan of cooling pastries. I just need to remind myself that even if I look at the pastries, and smell them, I cannot, under any circumstances, partake. And then there is that small, ridiculous part of me that wonders why he doesn’t want to peek at my near nakedness. Perhaps he’s not as attracted to me as I am to him. Which, I remind myself, is a good thing.

I match his smirk, and without another word, lift my arms. He slides the dress over my head, my hands find their way through the sleeves. He pulls the dress down until it’s perfectly in place.

“Turn” his voice is a low rumble.

I obey, and he brushes my hair over my shoulder. I’m taken aback by how such a small movement can bring goose pimples to my body. I only hope Daimis assumes the bumps scattering across my skin are from the cold water. He works on tightening the laces at the back of the dress, his fingers and knuckles brushing my back in the process. Once the garment is snug, he ties it off.

“All set,” he says.

I turn back to face him. Now that we’re both fully dressed, I can carry on our previous conversation without my intrusive thoughts distracting me. My mind keeps going back to the Regent. He has too much power, but surely Daimis has more —he’s royal. His bloodline is God and Goddess chosen. And beyond that, the people love the Berhanes.

“Can’t you stop the Regent?” I ask Daimis. “You’re the Prince.” I wave my hand at him. “Use your princely power, or whatever.”

“It’s not that simple,” he says looking around the cave.

I put my hand on my hip. “Thenmakeit that simple.”

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