Page 79 of Swift Wings Shadowed Heart
“Oh.” I don’t have to try hard to express confusion.
“How did you figure out that it could be done?”
My mind races to come up with an explanation, and an idea begins to take shape. Good thing I have practice lying. I made up many stories for my father and other adults when I was a disobedient teenager, roaming free about Emberton, doing things I wasn’t supposed to, and getting into trouble.
“Well,” I begin, “the other day when Silas punched me.” I pause and carefully watch Vaylen’s expression.
“Go on.”
“When I went under water, I felt like I was drowning. I think instinct kicked in, and my bond to Zephyros flashed. Suddenly, I had this idea, and I let it take over. I felt a change around my face, but they started to pull me out before I could figure out what it was—not to mention I passed out. Ever since, the idea has been bothering me. I wanted to try it, so I came here.”
This is a plausible explanation. Right? Right?! I watch him. Slowly, the frown on his forehead eases, and the light in his eyes seems to change.
“And you were able to do it,” he says, likely remembering how I popped out of the water seemingly out of nowhere.
I nod, but keep my lips sealed. No need to oversell this.
His eyes rove around the pool for a moment, then he says, “Show me.”
By the Seven Hells, Iamdoomed.
35
Rhea
My knees feel wobbly even though I’m in a pool of water. Surely, if gravity had me fully in its grasp, I would collapse. I’m going to kill Zephyros. He’s not getting away with abandoning me in a situation like this.
You can do this, Rhea. You can lie your way through it.
“Um, so it’s actually very… easy,” I begin. “You just get under water and use your power like you would out here.” I stretch out a hand and gather some air from the room. It swirls around my fingers, making the water surface below my hand ripple. “Easy as hatching dragons.”
Goddess, what a stupid saying!Dragons might have had an easy time hatching millennia ago, but without Heratrix dragon eggs can’t be laid, much less hatched. So a saying that used to mean something was easy, now really means it’s impossible.
Vaylen huffs, the irony of the saying not lost on him. “I saidshow me.”
He knows I’m lying. Dammit! Now what?I go for the cold shoulder.
Putting on a bored expression, I say, “You know what? I’m tired. I’m going to bed.”
I take a couple of steps toward the stairs, kicking off my boots in the process. I’ll have to come back for them and my satchel later. I can’t risk someone finding them. Besides, I need them.
He stands from the ledge where he sits, water gliding down his smooth chest. One particular rivulet catches my eye. It slides right between a set of incredible abs, over his belly button, and the dark hair that trails downward from there. I swallow hard and remind myself of the trouble I’m in. I need to think clearly, and his damn body seems designed to drive women to distraction. Somehow, I manage to hide the effects.
“You’re not going anywhere until youshow me.” He blocks the way to the stairs.
“Now, that’s not very gentlemanly of you, High Prime Stormsong.” All right, I probably shouldn’t have gone there, but I can hardly think straight.
To my surprise, he demands, “Is this what you do? Play games with men? Lead them on? Then give them the cold shoulder?”
Well, I’ve succeeded in distracting him from the stupid bubble, but I’m not sure this is better. He looks irate.
I shake my head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He steps closer, cutting the distance between us in half. He’s within arm’s reach, and that tattoo of his stares me right in the face. “Don’t play coy, Skysinger. I’m not a fool.”
Light starts swirling in his eyes, a clear sign he’s getting angrier. Scarier. I don’t think lying is an option anymore. He is, indeed, no fool.
“Fine,” I say. “I admit I was playing this game you mention. I had certain goals, but they have changed.”
