Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 231436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1157(@200wpm)___ 926(@250wpm)___ 771(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 231436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1157(@200wpm)___ 926(@250wpm)___ 771(@300wpm)
Tawny tossed a grin in my direction as she padded barefoot into the water. A soft squeak left her. “Oh, it’s cold. Definitely cold.”
The water was always chilled, which was odd, considering the floor of the lake was made of some sort of dark rock. One would think it would absorb the sunlight and warm the waters, but that wasn’t the case.
Tawny waded out several feet, her arms folded across her chest as she muttered to herself about what a bad idea this was.
“The other lake?” Tawny asked from where she was now up to her waist in the water. “The one by Wayfair? Was it always this cold?”
I nodded. “Yep. Even on the hottest days.” I didn’t have a lot of clear memories of walking the elms outside Wayfair with Ian when I was a child, but I did remember the lake there. This one reminded me so much of that one, except it was larger and had a waterfall. But there was something else the lakes had in common. Something I hadn’t remembered until now. “You know what’s strange?”
“Besides the fact that I’m the only one in the lake?” she asked, splashing water at me.
“Besides that.” I began toeing off my boots. “The woods surrounding the other lake in Carsodonia are also rumored to be haunted. At least, that is what Ian claimed.”
“Ian claims many things.”
I laughed as I unhooked my sheath with the bloodstone and wolven-bone dagger, placing it on the cloak. I inched closer to the water’s edge, the grass cool beneath my feet. “He said the woods were…” I squinted. “He said they were haunted by the spirits of those afraid to face judgment.”
“That’s kind of sad,” she said, slipping down so her shoulders were just barely visible. “But why would they haunt those woods?”
“He said it was because the lake was a doorway to where Rhain ruled,” I told her. “One of many.”
“Your brother has a very active imagination.”
“That he does,” I murmured.
“Did he say the same thing about this lake—wait, don’t answer that. I don’t want to know.”
Laughing, I inched closer to the water. “I don’t recall if he…” I trailed off, the back of my neck tightening suddenly. My skin prickled. Stopping, I turned and scanned the trees. The Grove was quiet except for the breeze rustling the branches and the distant calls of birds.
“Poppy?” Tawny called. “Did you hear something?”
I gave the expanse of trees another look. “No. I just…” My brows knitted. I wasn’t even sure what had stopped me. I hadn’t heard anything. I’d just…felt something. But what? I had no idea.
Shaking my head, I walked into the water. The coldness stole my breath, but I powered through it, knowing it was best to just go for it. The pale shift I wore trailed behind me as I reached Tawny’s side, finding that she was still staring at the bank of the lake.
I followed her gaze, seeing nothing. I looked back at her. “Did you hear something?”
“No.” The warm breeze tossed a loose curl over her face. “But I expect a spirit to wander out of the trees at any moment in an attempt to get a peek at our unmentionables.”
“I don’t know if you’re being serious or not,” I said, letting myself sink. The moment the water rose above my chest, I thought my heart stopped for a moment. But after a few seconds, the shock of the cold faded. I waded farther out, my feet gliding over the smooth rock at the bottom of the lake. I then swam and made it to the deepest part of the lake, where the water crested my chin.
Tawny was still staring at the woods.
I let my senses open just a tiny bit. Not a lot. Tart, almost lemony unease gathered in my throat. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Yes.” She backed up in the water.
“I swear I didn’t see or hear anything, but if you’d rather head back, we can.” I pushed off the lake floor.
“No. I’m fine. I’m just being weird.” Tucking the wayward curl back, she faced me. A moment passed. “You don’t believe in spirits, do you? I mean, the kind that remain here. With us.”
I opened my mouth, unsure how to answer. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen one, at least that I know of.” I shrugged. “Do you believe?”
She swam closer, biting her lip. “I didn’t.”
My curiosity piqued. “But?”
“But I saw one once.”
“Really?” I narrowed my eyes. “Are you being honest?”
“Yes. I am.” She splashed me, creating a ripple that cascaded across half the lake. “And it wasn’t when I was a young child. It was only a few years ago.”
I stared at her. “You saw a spirit here? Was it at the castle?”
Tawny nodded. “I was in the atrium with Loren. The Mistress had just left, and Loren had dozed off. I was supposed to be reading. And I was. Sort of.” She drew her teeth over her lower lip and looked back at the bank. “I felt this…I don’t know. A cold draft? Suddenly. Like a burst of wind. Then I looked up and saw it standing in the corner.”