Denna

DENNA

T he steady rhythm of Korrin's breathing filled the cavern as he slept, his chest rising and falling in a tranquil beat. A spark of hope flickered within—maybe we'd find a way out of this underground maze after all.

Restless energy thrummed through my limbs. I itched to explore, hunt for any hint of escape. Soundlessly, I rose and crept past Korrin's sleeping form, venturing deeper into the cavern's guts.

The crystal walls transitioned to craggy, water-carved stone. Ghostly whorls of amber and purple lichen painted the rough surfaces luminescent. My footsteps echoed against the vaulted ceiling as I picked my way along the underground lake's sandy shore.

Lush foliage sprouted in pockets of soil, nourished by fallen leaves over ages. The garden-like tangle hinted at an ancient, hidden world lost to time's march.

I gathered fruits and berries, filling my arms with anything the pale grotto-creatures nibbled. Back at our camp, I piled my foraged bounty neatly before investigating the waterfall at the far lake end.

A cool mist caressed my cheeks as I neared the cascading torrent. Water tumbled down the sheer rock face, polishing it mirror-smooth. I scanned for handholds, toeholds, any route to scale the slick surface and reach the river above. Nothing. My shoulders slumped. Dead end.

Undaunted, I skirted the cavern's rocky fringes, probing every nook and cranny. Some openings gaped tantalizingly out of reach. Others narrowed to impassable tunnels. I wriggled into promising ones, holding my breath, hoping for a whisper of fresh surface air against my skin. But each ended in disappointment, air heavy with mineral reek and sulfur fumes.

Across the glassy lake, I glimpsed Korrin's boots poking from beneath our shelter. He looked oddly vulnerable sprawled in repose, long limbs askew.

Tearing my gaze away, I rounded the bountiful far shore, lush foliage thick with luminous blooms and fleshy fruits. We should've camped here.

Pushing through dense vegetation, I stumbled into a small clearing. Half-hidden among glowing trees stood crumbling stone ruins. Excitement thrilled me. Not a natural cavern—ruins. Ruins meant people...and escape, maybe.

The ancient door rotted to splinters, leaving a yawning portal. Ducking inside, I found a cozy dwelling's remains. A collapsed hearth. A cracked basin, perhaps for bathing. Perfectly square windows overlooking the mirrored lake. A home.

More buildings huddled in asviloon trees' shadows, bone-white branches heavy with softly radiant orbs. An entire abandoned village, forgotten. Wonder and unease mingled in my chest. Who were these deep-dwellers of old? Why had they carved out an existence here?

Winding through the vine-choked ruins, I stumbled on a faint paved road outline, barely visible under glowing moss and lichen. My pulse quickened. Roads lead somewhere. But where? The cracked flagstones soon vanished, swallowed by encroaching growth. I'd need Korrin's help to puzzle out where this ancient path might lead.

My tranquil contemplation shattered with the tremendous splash. I whipped around, desperate eyes searching through the lush greenery's curtain.

There he was.

That familiar shock of blue and green hair. Water cascaded down Korrin's tanned throat as he arched back, his lean, muscular body rippling in the ethereal blue light. I froze, mouth agape, drinking in the sight of him.

Glistening droplets traced tantalizing rivulets over the hard planes of his bare chest, the sculpted ridges of his stomach, the only thing he wore was the necklace that had brought me to him. He floated on his back, eyes closed, limbs relaxed as he gently bobbed in the warm water, bliss softening his rugged features.

Heat bloomed low in my belly, an insistent ache. I knew I should turn away, grant privacy, but I remained riveted, mesmerized by the sensual display.

"Join me!" His shout rang out, eyes still closed. How had he sensed my presence?

"I don't think so." My voice came out breathier than intended. Wanton images danced—strong hands skimming slick skin, mouths fused in heated kiss...

Korrin's eyes snapped open, vivid green pools piercing me. "The water's warm. Healing. Your own scrapes and bruises could use a soak." His low rumble hummed through my veins like liquor.

As if entranced, I stepped out, leaves rustling my legs. Crouching lakeside, tentative fingers dipped into the silky, steaming, inviting water. He was right—I ached to surrender to its soothing embrace...

But flashes intruded. The temple. Sickly-sweet perfume. Naked terror as scalding darkness plunged me again and again, until I forgot my name. Until an empty vessel, ready to be filled.

"Warm water is no friend of mine," I choked, snatching back my hand.

Concern etched Korrin's brow as he swam closer, droplets sliding angular planes. "You could use a bath," he said softly. "Don't worry, I'll turn my back."

A surprised laugh bubbled up. "What exactly are you suggesting?"

"Just that you deserve to feel clean, refreshed." His smile, pure boyish charm, mischief crinkling his eyes. "That dress could use a scrubbing, too."

I glanced down at the garment. Damn him, he was right. The rockfall had left us both messes. His own discarded clothing was piled on the opposite shore. All of it.

Heat flared in my belly, a consuming fire that threatened to scorch my insides. Could it be...was Korrin actually...?

My throat constricted as I perched on a smooth rock, my hands trembling as I worked the laces of my boots. Korrin's gaze never wavered, his eyes following my every move as I peeled off my soiled undergarments. A predatory hunger smoldered in his eyes, sending a thrill of excitement coursing through me.

Gingerly, I stepped into the shallows, the water caressing my feet with a silken touch. It was pleasant at first, but the sensation quickly became suffocating, each lap of the warm water dragging me back to moments I'd rather forget—floating in the warm, airless bath of the Tomb.

"Are you all right?" Korrin's voice, laced with concern, cut through my spiraling thoughts as he swam closer. "If the water's too warm, there's a cooler spot by the waterfall."

I managed a grateful nod, unable to voice my thanks. Together, we waded through the water, the temperature dropping to a blessed chill as we neared the cascade.

The cold shock of the water helped me regain my bearings, banishing the ghosts of my past. I drew in a ragged breath, letting the icy chill tether me to the here and now.

"Better?" Korrin's voice was a soothing balm, his words barely above a whisper.

I gave him a shaky nod, not trusting my voice. The frigid water swirled around my legs, saturating the frayed hem of my dress. I watched as the grime and blood seeped from the fabric in smoky streams.

"Good," Korrin said, a playful glint in his eyes. "Because I'll carry you to the falls myself, injured leg and all, if that's what it takes." His grin was infectious, even in the spectral light.

Emboldened by his teasing, I ventured further out until the water reached my thighs, my dress billowing around me like a dark, clinging cloud. The sting of my wounds was a distant concern, overshadowed by the magnetic pull of Korrin's gaze, the raw appreciation in his eyes.

"Can you swim?" His voice was a low rumble that resonated in the core of me.

"I learned in the lake near the southern wall of Infinity Ring," I replied, memories of sun-warmed water and carefree laughter bubbling to the surface. It felt like a lifetime had passed since then—before everything changed.

Before warm water only made me think of the tomb.

I pushed off from the lakebed, cutting through the water with strong, purposeful strokes. Korrin kept pace, his movements less fluid but no less powerful, relentless.

We met in the heart of the lake, treading water as we faced one another. The shadows sculpted Korrin's features into a study of contrasts, highlighting the sensual curve of his lips, the strength of his jaw. Water droplets clung to his lashes like a scattering of diamonds.

Without warning, his hands were on my shoulders, the heat of his touch searing through me. I had only a moment to register the spark of mischief in his eyes before he dunked me under the water.

I emerged sputtering, my hair plastered to my face. "What in the seven hells was that for?"

Korrin's laughter echoed off the cavern walls, a sound so full of life it chased away the shadows. "There was some debris in your hair. I was merely helping you rinse it out." His eyes roved over me, lingering on the wet tendrils of my hair, the droplets that trailed down my neck to pool in the hollow of my throat. A shiver ran through me, one that had nothing to do with the cold.

"I'm perfectly capable of washing my own hair, thank you very much," I retorted, my voice betraying me with its breathless quality.

"Apologies, my lady." Korrin pulled us closer to the edge of the rocky island to execute a courtly bow, the gesture undermined by his nakedness. "I promise, no more dunking. Upon my honor."

"You, sir, are no gentleman," I grumbled, but the corners of my mouth twitched upward in a smile I couldn't suppress.

"And you," Korrin said, his expression turning serious, "are no typical damsel in distress. When we first met, I thought I'd have to shield you from every danger. But you've proven yourself time and again—facing my enemies, saving me from a grim fate in this forsaken cave, tending my wounds, and foraging to keep us both fed. You're extraordinary, ."

The sincerity in his eyes rendered me speechless.

"I learned from the best," I finally managed, deflecting with humor. "You've been an excellent teacher."

"It's more than that," Korrin insisted, his grip on my arms tightening. "You're a survivor, a fighter. You've saved me in ways you can't possibly comprehend."

He reached up to cradle my face with one large, calloused hand. I leaned into his touch, my toes barely touching the smooth silty bottom of the lake as it sloped upward to the island, savoring the rough warmth of his skin against my cheek.

"Korrin, I..." Words failed me, lost in a wave of emotion.

His lips found mine in a kiss that was both a promise and a revelation, igniting a fire within me that threatened to consume us both.

I wound my arms around his corded neck and pulled him closer, crushing my body against the hard planes of his chest. He groaned low in his throat, the sound vibrating through me like a second heartbeat.

"I want—" I started.

Breaking away to trail searing kisses along my jaw, he nuzzled just below my ear. His whisper was a dark promise.

"You shall have."