Page 17 of Midnight Star

Zoey

Anhour later,I’m at the small pond in the back of the palace—right behind the outside walls of the human wing—with Jake, for my daily swim lesson.

Aethelthryth, of course, stands off to the side, watching us. Jake’s night fae handler stands next to her.

Both of their wings are out.

There’s no such thing as free rein for humans when we’re not locked inside our cage.

“Let’s try floating again,” Jake says, standing waist-deep in the pond. “Try to relax this time.”

Easy for him to say. He’s not the one sitting at the edge of the pond, feet dangling in the cold water, trying to summon the courage to push off. Not to mention the fact that fae don’t have bathing suits—I’m stuck with a loose, ankle-length, full-sleeve chemise-type thing instead.

If it weren’t for Jake’s wandering eyes, I’d probably rip the thing off and swim naked.

“You won’t let me sink?” I ask him, even though we’ve been through this a dozen times already.

“Never.” He holds out his hands, ready to support me. “Trust me.”

I do trust him. That’s not the problem. Jake’s genuinely sweet, and I know he wants to help. It’s just...

“Remember to keep your back straight and…” He moves toward me, but when he takes my hand, it’s not to help me into the water. It’s to run his thumb in circles over my palm and gaze longingly into my eyes. “You look really pretty today.”

Yeah.There’sthe problem.

“Jake,” I say gently. “Focus?”

“Right, sorry.” He shakes his head, his cheeks reddening. “Back straight, arms out, like we practiced on land. Sound good?”

I glance at Aethelthryth—sinceshe’sthe one who advised we practice on land—and she gives me an encouraging nod.

Then I slide into the water, trying to ignore how my heart races as I do.

Jake’s hands are there immediately, one supporting my back, the other ready to catch me if I panic.

“Good,” he says, watching me closely. “Now, lean back slowly.”

I try to follow his instructions, but the moment my feet leave the bottom and my back touches the surface, memories of almost drowning in that frozen lake flash through my mind. The crack of ice, the shocking cold, the helpless feeling of sinking...

“You’re okay,” Jake murmurs, but he’s closer than he needs to be, staring at my face instead of watching my form.

I push away, relief flooding me as I find solid footing.

Aethelthryth shifts at the edge of the pond, and I swear I see her roll her eyes.

“Maybe we should try something else,” I say to Jake, as I continue to steady myself. “Something upright?”

Jake waggles his eyebrows, and now I roll my eyes—along with Aethelthryth. Even Jake’s handler is trying to suppress a smile.

“Something upright as intreading water,”I clarify, even though I’m starting to regret asking him to teach me how to swim in the first place.

Maybe I can get Sophia to teach me instead? Or Isla?

It would crush Jake, and he’s sweet enough that I don’t want to hurt him, but I’m slowly reaching my breaking point.

“Treading water,” Jake repeats, shooting me a sheepish grin. “So, you just kind of move your arms and legs. Like you’re bicycling with your feet and scooping water with your hands.”

“I know what treading water is,” I say, and he flinches back, as if the words physically hurt him.

---