Rise (The Order of the Krigers #1)(19)

“Seems like you’re already doing that with your outburst. Keep your voice down.” Anders huffed. “Besides,” I continued, “Morlet used his powers on me. I couldn’t stop myself from answering him.”

“I guess it’s a good thing I got here in time to save you. Again.”

Rage filled me, and I clambered to my knees, ready to wrap my hands around his neck when I remembered the prick on my back. “You used your sleeping potion on me.” He could have killed me.

“Hardly any,” Anders said, lying down again, not perceiving me as a threat. “Just a little so you’d stop talking long enough for me to fall asleep.”

“You’re despicable.”

“And you’re a chatty, naive girl.”

Some of my anger evaporated with the truth of his words. As much as my father had taught me about fighting and the politics of Nelebek, I was relatively sheltered. Needing to salvage what little dignity I had left, I said, “If you ever use your poison on me again, I’ll kill you.”

“I’d like to see you try.”

“Don’t tempt me.”

***

Anders handed me some berries.

“No thank you,” I said, ducking under a low branch. “I’m not hungry.”

“You should be starving since you didn’t eat anything for breakfast either.”

I shrugged, surprised he’d even noticed. After eating the stew in my dream, I was full. But I didn’t care to share that information with him.

“There’s a pond up ahead where we can wash.” He smiled. I’d never seen him smile. “Come on.” He started to jog.

I glanced around wondering where the moody, insufferable Anders had gone.

“Hurry up!” he yelled.

I ran after him as he sprinted between the dense trees. He stopped before a good-sized pond that had steam billowing off it.

“What’s that smell?” I asked, scrunching my nose.

“The water is heated from the earth.” Anders peeled off his sweater and started untying his pants.

“Um,” I mumbled, “would you like me to keep watch while you clean up?”

“No,” he answered. “I want you where I can see you. Just face the other way.”

With my back to him, I heard him undress and enter the water.

“Now it’s your turn,” he said.

“Aren’t you still in there?”

“Yes, but you can’t see anything. Get in. I won’t look.”

Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Anders neck-deep in greenish water, steam rising around his head. Everything below the surface was murky. Not that I was trying to see him, but I needed to be certain he wouldn’t be able to see me. After telling him to face the other way, I removed all my clothing and quickly slid into the water, making sure it went up to my chin. The warm water felt better than I imagined it would.

“See,” Anders said, facing me again. “Sometimes you just have to trust me.”

I’d had a hot bath only a couple of times. Usually I was forced to clean myself in a tub of frigid water that had already been used by several other people. Even though this pool had an odd smell to it, I didn’t care. I wanted to relax and fall asleep right there in the middle of it.

Just thinking about going to sleep made me tense. When I closed my eyes tonight, would Morlet visit me again? Why was he communicating with me? Was it simply so he could capture me or was there more to it?

Water hit me in the face. Startled, I glanced at Anders. “What was that for?”

“You looked scared,” he said, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

“So?” I challenged. Right when he shook his head, I swiped my arm over the surface of the water, splashing him. A gush of water came whooshing back at me, and I ducked under to avoid it. I suddenly felt light-headed and resurfaced. Maybe the heat was getting to me.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

My palms tingled. “No,” I said, holding up my hands. “They hurt.” Glancing around the lake and shoreline, I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.

Anders swam closer to me. “I need you to focus,” he said, instantly serious. “Shut your eyes.” Without hesitating, I did as he instructed. “Put your hands in the air and feel your surroundings.”

A pull came from behind me. Facing that direction, I opened my eyes and searched the area.

“Trust your instinct,” he said, his deep voice close to my ear. “Keep your hands out in front of you. Direct your power to the source of the pull.”

I took the odd sensation inside of me and pushed it out. Nothing happened.

“Are your hands still painful?” Anders whispered, close behind me.

“No,” I said, realizing the feeling had gone away. “What happened?”

“I don’t know,” he replied. “But when you force your power out, it serves as a warning to those wishing to harm you. A predator could have been stalking us.”

Facing Anders, the top of his chest and shoulders were exposed as he stood a mere foot away from me. Biting my bottom lip, I unexpectedly became nervous from being so close to him.

“We should leave,” he said, his voice gruff, “in case whatever’s out there returns.” Moving to the edge of the pool, he hesitated. “Would you mind turning around while I climb out and put my clothes on?”