Page 67 of Ruling the Green

It looked different. The water was lower. Less blue. Some of the water lilies had withered and died.

But it was still home.

“Don’t need to be shy with me,” Nira said, shrugging as she took my small sword from me.

I didn’t hesitate.

I slid out of my shoes, then my pants, leaving me in a small swatch of fabric Nira had constructed that she called ‘panties’ and insisted I wear because they ‘help with the chafing issue.’ I didn’t know what the chafing issue was, but as with all things, I chose to trust the much more experienced Nira.

I left on the tight shirt along with the panties and teased my toes into the cool water.

It sang through me as I sank deeper and deeper until it completely enveloped me.

The whole world fell away.

Time ceased to exist.

All I was aware of was the feel of the water as I swam, all the tension in me loosening. The weight that had been pressing down on my shoulders fell away.

Pleasure bloomed through me, but for the first time, I had something else to compare it to.

Jet’s face suddenly burst through my mind, his lids heavy, his gaze heated.

And for the first time in my life, the lake… it wasn’t enough.

I broke the surface, ready to suck in a deep breath, when I heard it.

The clash of swords.

My heart sank as I whipped around in the water and looked toward the shore.

And there was Nira, body twisted, sword raised.

Engaging with, oh no.

No!

The troll.

Vrad.

And rushing up behind her with a large tree limb raised? That was the redheaded fae who’d helped kidnap me.

“Nira!” I screamed, treading water.

“Stay there!” she yelled back.

She twisted, swiping at the redheaded fae to back him off. But Vrad took the opportunity to swing, punching her so hard in the head that she went down on her knees with a grunt.

No.

No, no, no, no, no.

This couldn’t be happening.

They couldn’t hurt—or kill—her. Not for me. And, surely, that was why they were here.

I dove under the water, knowing I would swim faster, even as my heart pounded against my ribcage at not being able to see what was happening on the shore.