He had a point. Despite my conflicting feelings toward him, he had been nothing but kind to me. I lifted my hand. Boaz took hold of it and effortlessly lifted me onto the back of the horse. I wrapped my arms around his solid torso and hung on tightly. A growing buzzing sensation vibrated my skin in a pleasurable way, much to my dismay. I wondered if Boaz felt it, too, but wasn’t about to ask.
Alternating between a fast gallop and a slow walk, we rode the horse for what seemed like a long time over rough terrain through the dark forest. The area was hilly here, and in some spots the horse struggled to maintain its footing on the rocky path. Boaz only stopped when we approached a fast-moving river.
“This place is amazing,” I said, slipping off the stallion. Enormous, moss-covered boulders held the river in its place, and in between their deep crevices, colorful flowers grew. The sharp contrast of greens against reds, yellows, and blues was breathtaking. I walked around in awe, careful to avoid the slippery moss.
“I thought you would like it,” Boaz said. “I imagined this place to be right out of one of your books.”
“Oh no, it’s so much better. How do the flowers stay in bloom with such cold weather?”
“It’s the mystery of the river.”
“It’s beautiful.”
I moved up the river toward the roaring of a waterfall. The clouds above had dissipated, deciding against snowfall. Their lack of commitment gave the sunlight a chance to dance upon the waters. It was almost hypnotizing the way the light fractured and twinkled, sparking like lit matches.
“Are you coming?” I asked Boaz over my shoulder, unable to contain my excitement.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” He smiled warmly and climbed after me. He didn’t struggle along the boulders as I did. It was as if his feet only skimmed their slippery surface.
When I slipped, Boaz caught me. “Careful, love.”
He took my hand and guided me the rest of the way. Once again, my skin tingled at his touch. The sensation spread to the rest of my body, and my smile grew.
After several minutes of walking upriver, we finally reached the waterfall. It must’ve been at least thirty feet high, and its mist filled the air, dampening my face.
“Do you mind getting wet?” Boaz shouted over the loud downpour.
I glanced down at the swirling, turbulent water below us. “You can’t possibly mean—”
“Follow me,” he said and half-carried me toward the side of the waterfall.
As we drew closer, I noticed the rock face disappear behind the falls. Boaz walked into the opening, dipping under a spray of water. I stumbled behind him and yelped when the cold water poured onto my head. With my free hand, I smoothed my wet hair away from my face.
Boaz said nothing but continued to pull me forward into what looked like a never-ending cave. The roaring of the water grew more distant the farther we walked. He stopped only when it became too dark to navigate.
“Would you mind providing some light?” he asked. “I forgot how dark it was in here.”
I raised an eyebrow. “And how would you suggest I do that?”
“Use your imagination.”
“No more magic. I need a break.”
“You’ll be fine. Using your abilities is like using a muscle: the more you use it, the stronger you become.”
“I said no.”
“I’m only asking you to use a little—just enough to see in front of us.”
“I already helped you out once today, remember?”
“I remember.” He cupped my hand with both of his. The power between us jumped, and I sucked in air. “You’ve been so good to me. If you really don’t want to, then I’ll understand.”
He moved to take his hand away, but I gripped it tight, unable to let go of the high. “I’ll do it, but only because you asked nicely.” With my free hand, I felt the damp walls around us.
“What are you doing?” Boaz asked.
“We’re surrounded by rock.”
“Nothing gets by you,” he said with a hint of playfulness in his voice.
“What do you have on you?”
Boaz squeezed my hand. “Mmm, I like this game. I’m wearing a rugged brown coat, tight fitting riding pants, and snake-skin boots. Your turn. What are you wearing?”
I stifled a laugh. “Be serious. Do you have anything small I can use, something with glass?”
He let go of my hand and patted his clothing until he found something in his right jacket pocket. “I have a pocket watch. Will it work?”
I took it in my hand and rubbed it. “I think so.”
I closed my eyes and began the process all over again, using my animosity for the black widows again. The smell was just as bad, but I ignored it and focused on lighting up the face of the watch. It took only a moment before a brilliant light burst forth, filling the area around us.
“Excellent,” he said.
I glanced around. The cavern we stood in was smaller than I expected. Other than a gaping hole in the floor just to my right, the place was bare.
“Is this it?” I asked, slightly let down.
Boaz looked insulted. “I would never waste your time on this. Hold on.”
He wrapped his arms around me tightly and, before I could protest, he jumped down the dark hole.
Chapter 10
I cried out, but my scream was cut short when we landed on a hard surface. “Where are we?”