“It didn’t happen,” I say to Eskar. “Maybe I haven’t been found suitable?”
Eskar gives a side to side no.
I don’t know what questions to ask to get an answer. With a sigh, I roll out of bed, dress and take the bowl out to find breakfast. The berries are all gone, but there are other fruits to gather. Not all are delicious, some are tart and hard, and much better when cooked. But none of us have gotten sick.
We haven’t been attacked by anything or seen any Paohl. Although to be fair they could be in the river and I haven’t noticed. I suspect Eskar has followed the river upstream, but I didn’t ask if he’d gone far enough to check on his people. He is dead to them and they have moved on.
When we return to the camp, the water king is there, in flesh and wrapped in fur.
I almost drop the bowl.
My mouth dries and I don’t know what to say. I’ve been waiting for this day and feeling for the changes. Bathing in the pond is no longer chilling even though the weather hasn’t warmed up that much. It’s still cool, even though it’s spring. I just no longer notice the chill.
Wraight and Harding stand near the fire with the king and I feel like I’ve interrupted something.
“I am glad to see you again, Eskar and Leah.” The king smiles. “I have been explaining the change.”
I shake my head. “Nothing’s happened.”
“Small changes have.” He walks over to Wraight. Wraight nods and the king touches Wraight’s chest over his heart.
That touch unlocks the change. Wraight closes his eyes and in his next breath he is made of frost.
“Be careful you don’t exhaust yourself,” the king warns before moving onto Harding.
Then he’s standing before me. “Are you ready?”
Well, I’m not staying here on my own. I nod. And he places the tips of his fingers over my heart and the dam breaks, releasing the power of water. My ears fill with the rushing of water, like I’m standing under a huge waterfall. For a moment I’m drowning. Then I can breathe, and the sound is just my pulse in my ears. When I glance at my hands, they gleam white and frost dusts my skin. I draw in a breath and shake it off. My body knowing what to do with this new magic.
The king cups his hands for Eskar. “You have done well watching over them. Return first to water then to flesh and your wound will be healed.” He releases Eskar and Eskar returns to my side.
At first, he vibrates, and nothing happens. Then flakes of snow dust my skin and he appears next to me, his skin blue and frost rimmed. He touches his stomach, but there is no mark. He closes his eyes, and with a gasp he’s flesh. He sucks in air like he’s been holding his breath for one hundred days, and removes his hand from his stomach, as promised the wound is healed. He grins and pulls me into his arm. The carefully gathered fruit spills from the bowl into the dirt.
I don’t care. I hug him, never wanting to let him go. His skin is as rough and cold as I remembered. He leans down and kisses me. “I’ve wanted to do that for one hundred days.”
“Same.” And so much more. And he is completely naked and pressing into me.
I tear my gaze away to look at the king without pulling away, but I turn so Eskar is at my back and not on display. “How did you heal him?”
“He could’ve healed himself but was too weak to change forms. He didn’t need to be a wisp, but he needed to learn not to interfere. You all need to understand that. Omea is returning to see who survived, so you need to decide if you will come with me or remain with the Paohl.”
I’ve already made my choice. “I’m staying with Eskar.”
“And I am no longer Paohl.” There is a sadness in his voice.
“You are, and will always be, Paohl,” the king says. “But now you are more. You are part of my clan and I will show you where we live.” He turns. “And you two, where do you wish to live?”
“I will come with you.” Wraight says.
Harding nods.
I’m prepared for the king’s touch this time. He places one hand on my heart and the other on my forehead. “This part will hurt, but only the first time.”
I don’t get a chance to answer, my body tears apart and I am free. I am light. Eskar joins me. I know it’s him. I can see him even though I have no eyes. I can hear him without ears.
“I love you,” he says. “I said it so many times and you didn’t understand me.”
“But I felt it even though I was too scared to say it.” I don’t have to be scared anymore. “I love you too.”
