“Humans might know where the bottom is,” Sawyer told her, “but they can’t slow their descent or pull up when they hit the water the way you can.”
Annika looked up at Riley. “You shouldn’t dive from there.”
“Got it.”
Annika took Sawyer’s hand, tugged him in a little deeper. “We can have a race. Racing is fun.”
“Yeah, like any of us has a shot against you.”
“I would swim backward.”
“And still,” Sawyer said as Doyle let out a snort. “But okay, challenge accepted.”
He went back to the end, waited for her to roll onto her back. “Ready? Go!”
He gave it some power, counting off seconds in his head. And when he slapped the other end, she was already sitting on the side of the pool, casually squeezing water out of her braid.
“Show-off.”
“Showing off is fun.”
He thrilled her by pulling her back into the pool.
Mmmm, bare skin. His hands, for just a brush, on her hips. His eyes laughing into hers, then not. Like the brush of hands, only a moment, not laughing, but looking deep.
And his face close, close enough for lips to meet.
Then he let her go, let the water separate them.
“Leg race next time—on land.”
“My legs are very strong, and very fast.”
“Yeah, we’ll check that out, Aqua-Girl.”
When he sank below the surface, she swam over him, then down to skim along the bottom until she could quiet the longing. When she surfaced, she stretched out to float.
She heard the voices, the splash of Riley diving in.
It was like her dream, she thought. All her friends together with the sun and the water. And that was enough for the day.
Even the work was like the dream. All her friends together with Bran’s magick. His magick was so pretty, so bright and strong. They swept away all the dark, laid light with the powdered crystals and bespelled water. Then, with a shield from human eyes beyond the wall of trees, he rose up to spread the protection from the top of the house to the ground below.
“I didn’t know it would be beautiful,” Sasha murmured, gazing up at him.
“Irish has style.” Riley draped an arm around her shoulders. “We did all this in Corfu, but I’ve got to say, it doesn’t get old. Okay, inside or out for war council?”
“We’re as protected out here as in there, and it’s too nice to sit inside, even for war.”
“Agreed.”
“I need to finish the new chart—for chores. I’ll do that tonight. But I’ll take dinner. It would be nice to have war talk over, as much as it ever is, before we eat.”
“I’ve got some maps upstairs.”
“I can fold the laundry now,” Annika said. “Should there be wine?”
“Baby.” Riley swung her arm away from Sasha, over Annika. “There should always be wine. Let’s get started.”