I sigh. “People die in lakes all the time, and sometimes their bodies are never found.” This time I do meet his eyes as I remind him, “That could have been me.”
“That willneverbe you. I won’t allow it.”
“Run and we will let you die,” I mock in a deep voice, while cutting him a scathing glare. “I believe it was you who said that.”
“It was bullshit, songbird. All of it. We wanted you to stay. We would have done anything to keep you here. You must know that by now.”
“Easy for you to say now that you love me. And rightfully so.”
“Fuck, you’re infuriating.” Thorin tips his head back and closes his eyes like he’s praying for patience.
“So you’re saying you’re not head over heels in love with me?”
“Ah.” His eyes pop open, and he smirks at me. “So that is what this is about. You’re fishing.”
“I amnot.”
He’s full-blown grinning now, and what a beautiful smile it is. If I wasn’t so enamored with his perfect face, I’d scratch it until it was in ribbons. “Come on,” he says before swimming for the large, slanted rock shaped like a miniaturized version of Pride Rock.
How had I not noticed that before?
The rock is only a few feet from where Khalil and Zeke are wrestling each other in the shallow end. I don’t know what Khalilsaid to him, but Zeke is actually smiling now as the two try to best each other.
I trail Thorin across the lake, and we’re nearly to the shore when Zeke manages to shove Khalil underwater. They’ve drifted a little farther out so Khalil doesn’t immediately reappear, and Zeke’s gaze narrows as he slowly turns, searching the glistening surface of the lake. His body is strung tight like he’s expecting Khalil to pop up and strike.
Extremely likely.
But he’s gone long enough for worry to gnaw at me.
“Is he—?” The words die on my tongue when Zeke suddenly pauses too, spotting something swimming past me underneath the water. “What—” His green gaze flies to mine and then he presses his fingers to his lips.
Um…okay?
I want to look and see whatever he does, but I’m too chickenshit. I don’t have a chance to second-guess his command before something jumps out of the water a few feet ahead of me.
I scream.
Thorin has already reached the rock and is reaching up to grab the pointed ledge to haul himself out of the water when Khalil suddenly wraps both arms around his middle and yanks him back in the water. There’s a lot of splashing, thrashing, grunting, and growling as Thorin tries to break free of Khalil’s hold.
The latter is holding on for dear life.
“Just out of curiosity,” Zeke muses, “what exactly did you think was going to grab him?” It takes me a moment to realize the question was meant for me.
Zeke is making small talk with me.Willingly.
“I don’t know. A crocodile? A bear? The Loch Ness monster? It really didn’t matter. My heart would have given out regardless.”
Zeke snorts and then glances at the massive lake behind us. “I mean, the bear is a possibility, but the rest are not even close to being likely.”
“Come again? I thought it was trees bears can climb. You’re telling me they canswim too?”
Ezekiel slowly nods while watching me carefully. “They’re excellent swimmers, Aurelia.”
I don’t say another word. I just swim for land and pull myself out of the water. I don’t have a towel to help me dry off, so I settle for my sweat-stained shirt to mop up the excess water.
“I’m sorry.” Zeke says after following me. “I, uh…I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“No, no. It’s okay. You didn’t. I was ready to get out anyway. Really.”
