I find myself fighting a blush for a second time in one day. But, this time, there is no anger, only the warmth of his praise. His compliments fill me in a way that I haven’t been filled in a long time. He has no reason to praise me, really, which means his affections are sincere. Not knowing how to handle myself in the face of such kindness, I glance away and shrug.
“I assure you I have my shortcomings.”
“You will have to let me know when they rear their head, otherwise I might begin to think you are too perfect.” He swims ahead again but I’m too stunned for a moment to follow. It’s then I notice he’s heading away from my room.
“Where are we going?”
“There’s a task I need your help with.”
“Didn’t you tell Fenny that you were going to return me to my room and head back?”
Ilryth looks over his shoulder with a smirk. “Do I look like a man who can be told what to do?”
No. And, dangerously, I like him even more for it.
CHAPTER16
“Where are we headed?”I ask as we swim higher above the estate. I notice that Ilryth doesn’t swim in front. Instead, he remains at my side.
“Sheel’s house.”
“Sheel’s?” I repeat, surprised. I haven’t seen the sharklike man in a solid week or two and haven’t really interacted with him in longer. It seems our paths stopped crossing after Ilryth’s injury. To neither of our complaint, I’m sure.
“Yes, there’s something there that I think you’ll be able to help with.”
“Which is?” I swim a bit ahead of Ilryth to look back at him.
“You don’t like surprises?” The corners of his mouth quirk slightly into a knowing smile. Mischief dances in his eyes like sunlight on the sea floor. Somehow the expression manages to be both coy and seductive. When he can wield expressions like that so effortlessly, it’s no wonder the ladies at the breakfast were practically throwing themselves at him.
“Not regarding matters that seem important.”
Ilryth slows and drifts to a stop. I do so as well, ending alongside him. He swims around me, tail arcing behind my back—slow to catch up with his torso—as his arm wraps around my shoulders, hovering just over my skin. Every almost-touch is more and more unbearable than the last.Just touch me, my skin screams, aching for the real thing despite my better judgment. It’s made worse by the memories of his hands smoothing down my arms, over my stomach. Our contact is a forbidden secret, made potent whenever we’re in public.
Ilryth points past the barren field of sand and shells to a small reef ahead—one I can see houses built into.
“See that? It’s a small township of my duchy. That’s where Sheel and many of my other vassals reside. At his home is someone that needs you desperately.”
“Needsme?”
“Yes, you.”
“How?”
“She is sick with the rot.” His tone becomes serious. A shadow passes over Ilryth’s face, making him look haunted and distant. “And I believe you can heal her.”
“How?”
“The rot is a product of Lord Krokan’s rage—a blight of death. Lady Lellia’s magic keeps it at bay. You are working to learn their magics, so I believe you should be able to undo it,” he says, full of hope and confidence.
Emotions I don’t quite share. “We’ve never practiced anything like that.”
“But we’ve worked for weeks. You’re ready.”
I can’t go and fail. I can’t let someone down. “Ilryth…”
“You want to go to the trench, right? You need to save your family.”
“How dare you bring them into this.” The words are cold.
