The moment their skin met, Theo felt a tingling sensation surging through his palm and up into his chest, almost like a static shock there persisted long after the initial contact.
He sucked in a breath of his own and held it, pulling Fleur to her feet. He examined her face closely, wondering if she felt it too. If she did, she didn't give it away.
"I'm not sure I have much confidence in keeping my wings dry," Fleur commented as he led her down toward the water's edge.
The other royals and their noble counterparts were becoming more and more boisterous as the night wore on and Theo had to admit that she might be right.
"Follow me," he instructed, turning left just before they came within splashing distance of the others.
"Prince Theo, where are you taking me?" Fleur demanded as the ground underfoot became more uneven and they were suddenly climbing over large boulders.
"You'll see." Theo practically purred like an amused cat as she was forced to cling onto him to stop herself from tripping.
"You know, this would be much easier if we were able to fly," Fleur pointed out.
"Ahh, yes but nobody is allowed to fly in the presence of royalty unless they are also flying and my wings aren't dry enough to get half an inch off the ground yet," Theo responded playfully.
Fleur scowled back at him and Theo couldn't help but notice how her chocolate eyes sparked with energy.
"Also, I don't think you'd be strong enough to carry me. I'm three times the size of you," he pointed out and was relieved when she began to giggle as though she was imagining how stupid they would look together if she tried to fly away with him.
"I suppose you are right."
Soon they clambered down on the other side of the rockfall and found themselves in a secluded lakeshore cove created by a natural scoop in the land. The rockfall itself appeared to be the only way in or out and Theo had taken himself there more than once whenever he wished to be alone. Nobody ever seemed to be able to find him there.
So why have I brought her here? he asked himself, wondering whether she might send the palace guards looking for him here if they ever came in search of him in the future.
"What is this place?" Fleur gasped as Theo helped her the last of the way down the rocks and stepped aside to give her a full view of the cove. The mud cliff walls were lined with bushes. Moonflowers turned their faces to the moon, spreading their pristine white petals in worship.
A small stream broke away from the lake and settled in its own little pool in the center of the cove, its surface shimmering silver beneath the moon.
"I like to think of it as my own slice of paradise." Theo watched her out of the corner of his eye, marveling at her as she gazed around the beauty that surrounded them.
"Do you think you could paddle here without getting your wings wet?" Theo asked, once more holding out his hand to her.
"I think I might, yes," Fleur nodded and she placed her hand in his before kicking off the slender pixie slippers she was wearing.
Theo, who was already wearing nothing but a pair of silken shorts, waded into the pool, guiding her after him. The water brushed around her calves, halfway to her knee and began to soak into the pale lilac shift dress she was wearing even though she had used her free hand in an attempt to raise it up.
"Don't worry about that, it'll dry," Theo assured her and before she could protest, he gripped hold of both her hands and pulled her further into the pool.
She gasped as the water came midway up her thighs but Theo was relieved when she did not try to pull away.
Instead, he found himself face to face with her as she stumbled on uneven footing and collided with his bare chest.
"Ouch!" she gasped, pulling a hand from his to lean back slightly and rub her little button nose. "Your chest is as hard as those rocks we just climbed over."
Theo chuckled with laughter even as he slipped his now free hand beneath her chin and forced her face up to look at him. "Let me look."
He examined her nose closely but there was only a slight redness to the soft, creamy surface.
"What are you…" Fleur began but she was cut off the moment he leaned forward and pressed his lips gently to the bridge of her nose. Hearing the sharp intake of her breath, he pulled away just enough for his eyes to flutter down to her lips. Then he leaned in again.
Overcome by desire, he couldn't help himself. So many times he had imagined kissing her and so many times he had prevented himself from doing exactly that but not here, not in a place as beautiful as this where they were alone for what must have been the first time ever.
The moment that their lips met Theo felt it. The spark was so powerful that it caused every muscle in his body to go rigid. And even through his eyelids he saw the blue light flash before his eyes.
The couple, stunned, stumbled apart. Their hands reached for each other to steady themselves and Theo's eyes flew open to find she was staring back at him, shock obvious in her shimmering eyes.