Page 29 of Rebel Fae
“I ran out of water,” Becca announced after two hours into our journey.
“Here, you can have some of mine.” Ronnie offered his canteen absentmindedly while he squinted up at the sky and made silent hand gestures in different directions.
When Becca handed back the canteen, Ronnie took it and frowned. He shook it. “Hey, you drank it all!”
“So what? I was thirsty. Don’t you know a water spell or something?”
“I don’t know a spell for everything. You’re supposed to sip, so it lasts. Don’t you know anything?!” Ronnie’s voice rose above the din of the jungle, sending a few lizards scampering up the tree branches.
The heat and hard trekking were having an impact on everyone’s mood. This was no good. I rushed toward them and handed my canteen to Ronnie.
“Here, here, take half of my water,” I said.
Ronnie stuck out his bottom lip, a gesture that was very much that of a child. “That’s not the point. The point is that she is an id—”
“Listen up, everyone!” Vaughn called out, his deep voice interrupting Ronnie right before insults started flying left and right. Perfect timing. “I hear water in that direction. Not far. We can refill our canteens there and refresh ourselves.”
I gave him a grateful nod and noticed that even he, who was as tough as they come, seemed put out by the excessive heat. His golden skin was red around his cheeks, making him look younger, and he had unbuttoned his uniform shirt, revealing the expanse of a muscular torso that gleamed with sweat. My mouth went drier than it already was. I glanced away, naked images of him flashing before my eyes.
At the news of nearby water, the group seemed to relax a bit. It only took five minutes walking north to find a small waterfall depositing bubbling water into a clear lagoon.
“Oh, my gosh! This is paradise!” Becca exclaimed and ran toward the lagoon, quickly disrobing.
“No, wait!” Vaughn and I called at the same time, but it was too late, Becca was already in the water, splashing around and giggling, wearing only her panties and bra.
Heart in my throat, I flew to the water’s edge and rose several feet into the air. “Becca, get out of there!” I ordered as I desperately scanned the lagoon from above, searching for a threat in the clear water. Was there a squid in this lake, too? One had nearly killed Wally last time. Flashes of the nightmarish incident burned through my brain as I scanned the depths in a panic.
Becca continued to ignore me, starting to swim out further. “Why would I get out? It’s awesome. You all jump in.”
Vaughn was at the water’s edge, too. He stood fierce and ready for anything. “Do you see anything, Tally?”
I shook my head. The water looked placid with nothing more threatening in its depths than small, darting fish.
“Cannonball!” Ronnie exclaimed, running toward the water.
Next thing I knew, he was jumping into the air, drawing knobby knees into his chest, and exploding through the surface, sending Becca into another giggling fit. They sure hadn’t stayed mad at each other for long. Of course, now there was plenty of water to refill his canteen.
Regina and Bael approached the lagoon more warily, sending suspicious glances in our direction. Ignoring them the best I could, I flew around the lagoon, inspecting it carefully.
As I flew back and forth in front of the waterfall, its spray splashed on my skin, cooling it off. However, the droplets evaporated quickly, leaving me wanting more. I felt the urge to drop into the lagoon to quench the heat, but that wasn’t an option unless I wanted to drown. So instead, I flew around until I found a shallow section of water and alighted there. I sank up to my waist and enjoyed the glorious coolness that encircled my legs. Using both hands, I scooped water and splashed it onto my face. I sighed in relief, closing my eyes to the unrelenting sun.
Becca’s giggles and splashing games sounded in the background, making me feel for an instant as if we were in a place where we could be carefree and joyful if only for a handful of minutes.
I wanted to unbutton my shirt, throw it to the shore, and revel in this amazing feeling, but I knew better. There was danger everywhere on this island, and I didn’t want to end up nearly naked, fighting mysterious creatures or even the mosquitoes.
After the blissful water had cooled me down enough, I glanced back at the others. Becca and Ronnie were splashing each other, doing headstands, and darting back and forth like the children they were. He seemed to have forgiven her, or maybe he enjoyed being near her in her half-naked state. Bael had found another shallow spot and was refreshing himself in the same way I had. His wings were much heavier than mine, and they would probably sink him like a rock if he got them wet. Regina, to my surprise, was floating on her back in a patch of shade, her eyes closed, a calm expression on her face. She looked like someone who was thousands of miles away from here.
When I searched for Vaughn, he was nowhere to be found. My eyes darted about, but he had disappeared.
Suddenly, something grabbed my ankle. I yelped, imagining a giant squid pulling me under. Vaughn appeared beside me, rising out of the water like some sort of god. He was grinning from ear to ear, his golden locks plastered to his face. Water dripped from his nose and chin. He had removed his shirt and his bronze skin was slick with water.
“Gotcha,” he said with a wink.
“You scared me. I thought—”
“Thought I was an evil giant squid?” He grinned, his eyes glinting with mischievousness.
Despite myself, a smile stretched my lips, and that fondness I’d felt for him at the best of times rekindled. Why could I never stay away from him?
