JASSYN
Refusal was a futile notion. The claw anchored to Jassyn’s shoulder made that abundantly clear. Fenn’s relentless energy drove him forward like a rushing current, sweeping him deeper into the fortress whether he liked it or not.
Torches burned sporadically along the winding passages, casting flickering shadows across rocky walls blanketed with luminous moss.
An abrupt shift in the bond sent a jolt through him, the prince’s proximity now a faint speck in his mind. Fenn’s talons briefly tensed against him—Serenna must’ve portaled too.
Eventually, Jassyn dared to question if they were really destined for this Lagoon.
“It’s too early for excitement there,” Fenn explained, his tone light but his grip unyielding as he steered Jassyn through the spiraling tunnels. “Trust me, where we’re going is much more…intimate.”
That’s not exactly the relief I was hoping for.
Anxiety ricocheted around Jassyn’s chest with every step, the air thickening with warmth as the passages seemed to close in. A bead of sweat trickled down his neck, sliding uncomfortably under his collar.
Fenn scraped his talons against an arched entryway then warped ahead as a chamber came into view. Seeing no other option—he’d never be able to navigate back without a guide—Jassyn hesitantly followed.
A misty haze wreathed a lone turquoise pool that snaked across the uneven floor, its surface chalky and still. Droplets of condensation beaded along the jagged contours of stony walls, where glistening lichens clung like delicate veils, bathing the cavern in a cyan glow.
Fenn plucked a folded towel and a flimsy pair of wading shorts from a rocky shelf, holding them out. Jassyn blinked, momentarily jarred. His eyes flicked from the garments to Fenn, whose grin only widened—all fangs and unspoken invitation.
Jassyn shoved damp curls out of his face before reluctantly accepting the clothing. Profoundly unfamiliar with wraith culture, he had the nagging suspicion that he’d unwittingly agreed to something.
He cleared his throat. “What are—”
“We’re taking a dip in the pool,” Fenn interrupted, eyes igniting with delight.
Jassyn’s pulse quickened, his grip on the meager fabric tightening. Fenn’s interest was anything but subtle. Yet he couldn’t decide if this wraith simply cast charm wide or if it was something more deliberate, reserved for him—though Fenn had clearly already grown close to Serenna. Either way, it would be prudent to steel himself for whatever—
Fenn’s trousers hit the ground.
And so did Jassyn’s stomach.
He spun away so quickly that he nearly lost his footing on the slick stone. Heat surged up his ears as he locked his eyes on the pool.
Behind him, Fenn chuckled, his voice wrapped in velvet-edged teasing. “You elves are so…reserved. Don’t worry. This ismy father and Aesar’s preferred spot. But my father is busy with his duties and Aesar hasn’t yet returned so it’s all ours.”
The realization struck like a plunge into icy water. They would be entirely alone—intentionally. While the notion of privacy was faintly reassuring, the clothes in Jassyn’s hands suddenly felt impossibly heavy, as though they’d been replaced with stones. This was a mistake. Surely Fenn didn’t expect…
Fenn swaggered around him, steam swirling in his wake. A scrap of fabric covered his lower half, though his mane of hair did most of the work. Easing himself into the steaming pool, he threw his arms out, talons clicking along the rocky ledge.
Jassyn swallowed hard, feeling cornered and out of options. Even if he managed to retrace the path through the twisting tunnels, returning to the Aerie alone wouldn’t be safe—especially if Lykor appeared.
Unsettled and uncertain, Jassyn lingered, his fingers resting on the hem of his shirt. The heat of the room pressed against him. Slowly—reluctantly—he peeled his tunic over his head. But when he reached for the waistband of his trousers, his courage faltered.
“I won’t peek,” Fenn drawled, his smirk audible as he tilted his face up to the ceiling, the muted glow glinting in his piercings.
Skeptical, Jassyn kept his attention fixed on the wraith. He kicked off his boots with a hesitation that bordered on defiance, wondering if simply dipping his feet into the water might be enough to placate Fenn.
The air suddenly stirred. Pressure converged in the cavern and Jassyn whirled as a portal ripped open in the chamber.
His brow furrowed, an unfamiliar tightness tugging at his scar. Was the prince portaling to his location with Serenna in tow? Such a diversion would be a welcome rescue, swiftly granting him freedom from this awkwardness with Fenn.
A fragile ember of hope flickered, only to be doused by blind terror.
Jassyn shuffled backward as Lykor stumbled through the rift in a blast of wind and snow. Heart a riot in his chest, Jassyn slammed a shield around himself, the violet barrier crackling as he braced for the worst.
Calculating his escape, Jassyn whipped his head to the tunnel, weighing his options. His thoughts fractured as Lykor suddenly toppled forward, crashing to the cavern floor.
