“All right, I’m coming.” I followed the bird through the forest until the roaring sound of water broke up the heavy silence. I hiked into a small clearing. Here a waterfall cascaded into a dark pool. Rowan stood by the water’s edge.
“Amelia didn’t mention anything like this on her land.” Then again, she never left the house in anything but a ball gown, so I wouldn’t have expected her to meander through the woods.
Rowan unclasped the cloak from his shoulders and tossed it onto a nearby rock. His loose hunter’s tunic followed next. Now he was bare chested. I tried not to stare at how his muscles shifted as he moved. Not sure I succeeded.
“Elea? Is something wrong?”
I cleared my throat. Traitorous mind. It was always bringing me back to unwanted thoughts about Rowan. This was the definition of what Necromancers called zuchtlos. It was our word for impulsive behavior. It was also one of the greatest weaknesses a Necromancer could have. “No, I’m fine.”
“What I discovered isn’t easy to explain. Like I said, I must show you.” Rowan flexed his hand. Creation Casters focused magick into their right arm, making the veins there glow red. Like so many things with Casters, it was the opposite of Necromancy. Our bones shone blue when we used our powers.
“Are you going to cast a spell?” I asked.
“Not here. There are too many wards on this waterfall.”
“There are?” I stepped closer to the water’s edge. Instantly, a wall of magick slammed into me. I knew this kind of spell. A protective ward. I tried pulling Necromancer power into my body. I couldn’t summon so much as a drop. A chill of recognition crept up my neck. The solid strength behind this power was unique. I’d only felt it once before.
When I battled the Tsar.
But what’s the Tsar doing in the forest behind Amelia’s mansion?
Rowan gestured to the waterfall. “There’s a small chamber on the other side of that wall. We need to swim into the pool to access it. Once we get there, you’ll understand everything.” He began loosening the ties on his leather pants.
I took a half step backward. “What are you doing?” I’d seen Rowan naked to the waist before. At the time, I’d been injured and Rowan was healing me. But that was a special circumstance. Plus, I’d been semiconscious and half dead. Now I was very much awake and alive.
“I’m getting ready to swim.” Rowan frowned. “You can swim, right?”
It took all my Necromancer training to speak in a calm voice. “Not exactly.”
Rowan finished loosening the ties at his waistline. A trail of dark hair ran down from his stomach. By the Sire. Another spike of heat ran through me. Suddenly, the tree bark in this part of the forest became utterly fascinating.
“Are you coming?” asked Rowan.
“You can go for a swim. I’ll wait here.”
“I need to show you firsthand what’s in that cave. It’s important.”
“Well…” I risked another glance in his direction. A deep V of muscle arrowed down Rowan’s lower belly. Who knew that kind of muscle was even a part of the male body? I liked it, and I hated that I liked it, all at the same time.
Stay calm, Elea. Focus on your mission.
I inhaled a firm breath. “I’ll swim by myself. I can cast a spell to do it.”
“No magick. The wards, remember?”
I twisted my fingers at my waistline. “But the wards here feel very old. I might be able to cast past them.” I could feel the difference between old and new spells. The magick n this place must have been created years ago. It had a distinctive wobble to it.
“The wards here may be old, but they’re still quite strong. You won’t be able to break them without attracting attention.”
He’s right. And at this moment, I really loathe that about him.
I stared down at the water. It seemed everything black and foreboding. Was it my imagination, or did the current make a kind of whirlpool of death? I closed my eyes and forced myself to picture Ada’s sweet face. That did it. I cleared my throat, inspected the water, and nodded sagely. “I can swim. It’s just a shallow pool, right?”
Rowan stepped up to stand before me. His body radiated warmth, and I wanted nothing more than to lean into him. “Elea, that’s a deep whirlpool. If you can’t swim, you’ll need my help.” He raised his hands. A length of green rope now looped across his palms. “This will do it.”
I fought hard to keep my voice level. “You want me tied to you?”
“Once you take off that gown, yes.”
I folded my arms over my chest. “That plan makes no sense.”
“My homeland is laced through with fierce waters. Not everyone can swim.” He shook the rope in his hand. “We train for this from the time we’re children. As long as you stay calm, we’ll be fine.” He tilted his head. “You’re strong, Elea. You can do this.”
His confidence made it impossible to back down. “Agreed. But the gown stays on.”
“Really. That dress has how many layers?”