Page 21 of Restored

“Doesn’t get much better than this, does it?” Mia is next to me, now floating on her back. The water pebbles on her skin, reflecting off the sun. Archie pushes Cam’s head under the water, and he pops up laughing and splashing. They both swim toward the waterfall.

Once they make it, they stand and let the water cascade over their heads. “Come try, Layla,” Archie shouts.

The normalcy of the moment perplexes me. I thought I’d be chained in a dungeon somewhere by now, not swimming leisurely in a beautiful spring with my captors.

I contemplate for a moment before my feet are coasting over the stones beneath me as I make my way over. I’d never seen a waterfall before, much less stood underneath one, so I decide to allow myself this.

Once I’m next to Archie I extend my fingers, letting them skim over the cool flowing water before moving my head under the stream.

I smile as the crisp water cascades over my head, down my face and shoulders. I have never felt anything so refreshing, so wondrous.

“What do you think?” Archie asks as I open my eyes, stepping away from the flow.

“It’s magical,” I answer with a small, hesitant smile. I look over at Cam, seeing him under the waterfall one second and then disappear the next.

At first, I think he has a similar ability to Maddox, but then movement catches my eye on shore, and Cam appears shaking his shaggy hair out.

“He can transmit?” I ask incredulously.

“Short distances; he’s still mastering it.”

I turn back to Archie curious. “Can you show me your power again?”

He turns to shore, raises his hands, and sends an array of flowers floating in the air towards us. He wears a satisfied smile as the flowers breeze magically around me. I reach out, running my fingers through the air above and below the flowers before I delicately grab one.

“Brilliant.” I’ll never not be stunned seeing other people’s powers come to life.

“Well, I can’t mend bones and save people’s lives, but it comes in handy.” He shrugs.

“It fits you,” I say as the flowers drop, filling the water around me.

Mia takes that moment to come up and splash Archie, darting back under the water to swim away. “Real mature,” he calls before he dives in after her.

I’m still marveling at the beautiful flowers when Ledger approaches the waterfall a few feet down from me.

The water stops just below his belly button. My mouth goes dry as he steps under the surging water. I watch as it flows over his broad shoulders, down his impressive chest.

The briefs he wears sit low on his hips revealing deep Vs that draw my attention and a dusting of hair that disappears beneath his waistband. I’d seen plenty of shirtless men, I’d worked on hundreds, but I can’t ever remember one looking quite like that.

He catches me staring, his face hardening and jaw feathering. My cheeks heat, and I go to look away when his gaze shifts and becomes alarmed.

“Layla. Do. Not. Move.” His voice is dangerously low and serious when he steps out of the flow of water.

I freeze at his command and the hair on the back of my neck stands on end. My breath halts as I sense another presence in the water.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see a creature stalk towards me. It sails eloquently through the water. Its green, scaly skin shimmers in mesmerizing blues and purples as it moves. Its face is ethereal, almost human, except for round,alluring eyes that appear too large for its face. Two slits appear where its nose is and a row of razor-sharp teeth gleam from behind full lips.

Its head moves from side to side as it studies me, its unearthly eyes boring into mine. My breath lodges in my lungs as the creature circles me, holding its head at an unnatural angle as its eyes vibrate over me. I’m frozen in place, unable to move as it gets closer.

It dives under the water only to pop up right in front of me. I swallow a scream as it fingers a strand of my hair and then drops its forehead to mine.

It inhales deeply and every muscle in my body locks. I want to squeeze my eyes shut but find myself equal parts terrified and captivated, rooted where I stand.

The whisper of a sword being drawn from shore shifts the creature’s attention, and it reacts immediately. It pulls away, eyes growing angry, and releases a hissing sound that makes my knees quake.

“Everyone stand down; Maladra are unpredictable. We are one sudden movement away from it drowning her.” Ledger’s voice is a low warning.

I assume the sword is put away when the creature’s eyes fall back on me.

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