Page 144 of A Dance of Water

Her hands tangled in braids, and the crisp scent of winter wrapped around her as Tharen threw her over his shoulder.

"I think this has gone on long enough." Tharen’s voice was even but laced with cruelty.

The hard muscles of his shoulder dug into her stomach, and she slammed her fists against his back, feeling the blood rush to her head from being held so carelessly. He did not flinch from her punches; she felt his shoulders quake with barely restrained laughter. He merely saw her as a joke.

"Where are you taking me?" she demanded, but her words were drowned out by a fearsome quake of thunder, making her tremble against him.

He did not reply to her. She swayed with each step he took, lightheaded.

Finally, his steps slowed, the ground sloped downward, and she fisted her hands in the back of his shirt to keep from falling. His arm banded over her backside, keeping her from falling.

Fresh, earthy water misted her skin, more than just the pure, chilled water that fell from the sky. And she realized where he had taken her.

"No." She struggled against him. "Tharen, n-no. Please, stop it!"

Tharen only walked deeper into the lake. The water rushed around them, turbulent from the thick droves of rain that fell from the sky and disrupted its clear surface?—

But…

She blinked. The roar of the storm dulled for a moment, replaced by a hush. And she saw an untouched lake, two lovers lying on a bed of grass by its side. A male with dark hair and pale skin placed kisses on a willowy, dark-haired female’s body, going down, down, down.

And—

Tharen threw her from his shoulder, and she fell down into the water’s embrace like the arms of a lover.

49

DO NOT GO EASILY

LUELLA

If Luella must die, she would not do so alone.

Cold chaos rushed around her, and she found that she wanted nothing more than to grab Tharen and pull him under, make him drown with her.

So, she did.

Her hands reached up effortlessly, as if lifted by the water. She tangled her fingers in his shirt, grasping at whatever she could as she tugged Tharen down. His braids snagged in her fingers. Her nails scratched against his skin. She kicked with all her might.

She would not go easily.

Not anymore.

The lake water was not salty; it did not burn her lungs or skin. It was not violent, but peaceful. And even though she could not see, she felt an overwhelming sense of calm and…power.

But even that could not save her lungs from seizing with lack of air.

Her body jerked, bubbles escaping from her mouth.

Not again.

Please.

Panic set in.

And as if in answer to the strong emotion, the well of power within her rose to the surface so quickly and so violently that she felt dizzywith sickness.

A burst of feeling radiated from her, absorbed by the water. The peaceful cradle enveloping her turned unsettled.

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