Page 126 of Ruling the Green

The trees were new.

They were somehow part of his plan.

But nothing was clear until we moved around a wall of towering pine trees that I did not remember.

Then there it was.

A lake.

Not as big as my lake, but a respectable size, flanked on nearly all sides with weeping willows, their fronds half-hiding the water from view except on the far end.

Hundreds of water lilies dotted the surface.

A frog floated on a lily pad, searching the surface for bugs to eat.

Wait.

It wasn’t just any lake.

It was… my lake?

It called to me.

It sang in my bones.

It sighed in my mind, “Oh, there you are.”

“I don’t understand,” I admitted, looking over at Jet.

“I consulted with some experts, who informed me that if I built you a lake and slowly filled it with water from your lake—without draining your lake—the water would still recognize you. This will become a continuation of your lake as it fills with more water. We will still visit your lake as often as you’d like, but I want my wife, my queen, at her full power at all times. This will allow you to feel your best at all times.

“And I had the willows brought in—with the help of at least a dozen trolls—to provide privacy for your visits. No one will be able to see you out here. This is your own personal sanctuary.”

He leaned down, snatching a pink lily out of the water and pressing it into my hands.

“Hello,” it seemed to sing in my mind.

The surge of emotion was sudden and overwhelming.

Tears streamed down my face as I let the lily fall back into the water so I could throw my arms around my husband.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” I cried into his chest.

Jet’s arms closed tightly around me.

“I got everything I wanted,” he said, squeezing me tighter, silently including me in that, “I wanted you to have everything you wanted too.”

“I already did,” I assured him. “I had you.”

Jet pulled back, his face soft as he pressed his hand to my cheek. “And now you have me… and your lake.” He leaned in, pressing his lips to mine. “What are you waiting for? I know it’s calling to you,” he said, taking a step back and waving to the water.

I glanced behind him, but Nira and Cora had disappeared, likely sensing how private a moment this was.

I reached to pull off my gown, leaving me in nothing but my slip that turned semi-sheer in the sunlight, making Jet’s jaw clench before I dove into the water.

There were no words to describe the way the water surrounded me, sank into me, welcomed me home.

I couldn’t say how long I stayed under the water, letting myself remember the sensations, before surfacing and holding out an arm to Jet.