Page 15 of Must Love Moss and Moonshine
I laughed lightly and turned back to her, my breath catching at the sight.She had waded waist-deep into the water, standing in a shaft of sunlight that broke through the canopy above.The surface of the pool sparkled around her like a thousand stars scattered on water, while tendrils of mist wrapped around her form like a gauzy veil.Her wet tunic clung to her body, and the ends of her long hair floated on the water’s surface, creating dark swirls against the crystal clarity of the pool.Autumn leaves drifted down around her, landing softly on the surface of the water.
“How long does it take for the magic to work?”she called.
“I don’t know.But in my experience, you can’t hurry magic.”
“But you can hurry frostbite.Picturesque as this is, I’d much rather be beside that fire with you.”
As would I.“Close your eyes.Listen to your heart.”
She did as I asked, standing there for so long I began to worry.Her body trembled from the cold.
I was about to call to her, to tell her to come back, when she turned.“Nothing,” she said.“Nothing, and I’m freezing.I’m coming back, if you’re feeling shy again.”
I went to the water’s edge.“I’ll see you safely back.”
“Chivalry overrides modesty?”she asked, drifting back toward me, stepping carefully on the slick stones.
The misstep happened in the space between heartbeats.One moment she was steady, picking her way carefully across the smooth stones, and the next—a flash of movement, a startled gasp, the sound of splashing water.Time seemed to slow as I watched her fall, my body moving before my mind could catch up.
I plunged into the sacred pool, barely registering the shock of cold water against my skin.My hands found her arms, pulling her upright in one fluid motion.Her wet tunic clung to her skin, but her eyes were bright with laughter.
“Pitchforks and torches, is that submerged enough?”she asked with a loud laugh.
My relief came out in a shaky breath.“Let me carry you.”
Not waiting for her answer, I lifted her.The water seemed to part around us as I carried her to shore, her body fitting against mine as if she belonged there.
Setting her down beside the fire, I pulled a blanket from my satchel.As I wrapped it around her shoulders, my fingers brushed against her skin, sending a jolt of awareness through me.Her hair, though wet, still held that shimmer of midnight blue in the dancing firelight.
“Here.Get under the blanket with me.You’re soaked too,” she said, opening the wool covering in invitation.
As I settled beside her, the blanket creating a warm cocoon around us both, I discovered I didn’t feel the cold at all.Instead, a different kind of warmth radiated through my body, starting where our shoulders touched.The fire popped and crackled, sending sparks dancing upward to join the golden leaves still drifting down around us.Each breath brought me the scent of her—clean water, autumn air, and something uniquely her own that reminded me of lilacs.
“Kellen,” she whispered, turning to meet my gaze.The way she said my name made it sound like something precious.“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”We sat in companionable silence, watching the waterfall’s endless dance.The occasional shower of leaves spiraled down around us, as if the forest itself was celebrating this moment.“I’ve never shown anyone the falls before.As far as I know, you are the only outsider to ever see them.”
“They’re beautiful.Cold,” she added with a small laugh, unconsciously leaning closer to me, “but so very beautiful.”
The heat from the flames slowly worked its magic, bringing color back to her cheeks.I found myself watching the play of firelight across her face, the way it caught in her eyes like stars reflected in still water.Her body pressed against mine felt more natural than a century of solitude.
When I reached forward to add another log to the fire, the blanket shifted, and she moved with me, as if she’d been waiting for an excuse to close the small distance between us.The wood caught quickly, sending up a shower of sparks that reflected in her eyes as she looked up at me.
“You know, I’d like to say wading into freezing water in the name of reclaiming my memory is one of the more unexpected things I’ve done lately, but something tells me that my life is always like this.I don’t know how or why, but I can feel I’m rootless.I don’t live in Greenspire.I don’t know where I live, but my life feels…nontraditional.Does that make sense?”
“You were alone on horseback in the middle of an enchanted forest.I suspect you’ve got a unique sense of adventure.”
“And here you are, pulled into it, and without hesitation.”
“I’d say I did it to protect the forest, but…” My voice dropped lower.The blanket’s warmth and her nearness made me dizzy with possibility.
She glanced up at me, her expression gentle, searching.“But?”
The moment stretched between us.My heart thundered against my ribs as I leaned toward her, drawn by something more powerful than magic.The space between us seemed to crystallize with potential, like the moment before snow falls or dawn breaks.
My hand trembled slightly as I reached up to touch her cheek, my fingers grazing her skin.“You’re warming up.The color is coming back to your cheeks.”
She held my gaze, and the silence deepened into something meaningful, something that made the very air around us feel charged with possibility.The forest seemed to hold its breath, waiting.
