Page 77 of Tears of Gold

Vanrey looks me up and down, his lips tight. “You and the dragon both better. His Highness has a summoning spell for me and Skye also knows how to use it in a pinch.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“If he gets even a scratch on him—”

I laugh. “This reminds me so much of when Erritt made me Ava’s bodyguard. Please don’t slap another tracking charm or something worse on me. I’ll be a good boy, I promise.”

Van’s lips twitch. “It’s not you that I’m worried about.” He bows to Erritt. “I’ll be back in a week.”

“Good luck,” the prince answers, and the other elemental vanishes.

“He’s on a mission?” I ask.

“Yes. I am h-hoping he can dig up a few . . . answers for us.”

Realizing I have my arm draped casually over a prince, I step back and clear my throat. “Ah, sorry.”

“Didn’t bother me,” he says. Turning on his heel, he goes inside. I stare in amazement at his retreating back. One day, he’s threatening to throw me in a dungeon, and the next, he acts like we’re brothers or something.

Skye waggles his brows at me when I go back inside. “Now the cat’s away, the mice can play.”

I shudder. “I can’t believe you even know that saying. Shall I take a hike?”

“Ava taught me,” he smirks, then he shakes his head. “Stay, eat, then let’s all go to the creek. Today’s going to be a scorcher.”

Looking around for Erritt, I find he’s climbed back into bed with Ava. For a moment, I wish I could climb in next to her too, but I remind myself to be content that she doesn’t hate me.

Covering a yawn, I head for the outhouse. Whatever this situation is, I’ll have to deal with it. At least there are no classes, and no one to watch ourselves around, so I don’t need to watch my back or Ava’s all the time. I can relax for the first time on Exerin-Mi.

∞∞∞

Skye obviously knows a thing or two about weather. It’s still early when we make our way to the nearby creek, but sweat runs down my shoulder blades. The sound of running water gets louder as we pass through a narrow band of trees downhill from the cabin and come out on the banks of a clear creek.

Upstream, a waterfall drops about six feet, filling a round basin with white water before tumbling out a sand-lined watercourse a few yards wide. A debris line far up the banks suggests that this pretty creek is probably a raging river during winter.

Dropping blankets on the bank, Skye strips down, transforms into a dragon, and leaps with a wild yell. Water splashes, and he disappears for a minute, popping up by the waterfall with a happy shout.

He waves at us. “Perfect! But maybe too cold for humans. Want to help me with that, Erritt?”

“Don’t pee in the water to make it warmer!” I yell.

He flares his claws at me in a gesture I’m pretty sure is rude, and everyone laughs.

Ava ties a tight knot in the bottom of her t-shirt and strips her shoes and shorts. I try to look away, but I only last a moment before watching her dip her toes in the water. She pulls a face, then dives, coming up with a screech that tells me the water is frigid.

I drape one of the blankets out on the grass and pull off my boots and shirt. Might as well get some sun.

“Coming in?” Erritt calls when I lie down.

“Every time I get into water with the dragon, he tries to drown me.”

Skye’s laugh ripples like the rushing water. “Oh, come on, you like it!”

I shake my head. “I have several weeks of sleep to catch up on, thank you.”

“Don’t burn,” Ava cautions.

I wave to show I’ve heard her. I can’t remember ever burning, probably thanks to my darker skin. I intend to sleep, but their happy laughter draws my gaze. I shift so I can watch them play without craning my neck.