Page 23 of The Broken Elf King
Cahal came out and nodded to him. “It’s all clear now, my lord,” he said.
My mouth popped open. “Did you just kick that sweet elderly lady out so you could go in?”
Raife gave me a mischievous grin. “She could be an elderly assassin.”
I moved to playfully slap his shoulder but then thought better of it.
“The village benefits from use of the healing pools. Each time I go in I leave a hefty donation.” Raife gestured to a small stone bowl by the opening of the cave. It held copper and silver coins, even a few bottles of honey. The king placed a stack of silver coins inside and then stepped through the opening.
I swallowed hard, looking back at Cahal to see what he was doing. He stood like a sentinel on the side of the door, an arrow nocked in his bow.
“Am I supposed to go in?” I whispered to Cahal.
“Kailani,” the king beckoned, and I charged forward into the darkness, unsure what I would find.
After stumbling in the dark a few feet and then turning a corner, I noticed a bright light ahead, which outlined the king’s body. He disappeared from view and then I walked into an open cavernous space.
“Holy Maker,” I gasped, after moving into the hidden oasis.
The top of the cave was actually open to the outside, so sunlight shone down onto the turquoise liquid. A stream of water trickled down the sides of the mountain rock, filling the pool below.
“It’s incredible.” There was a splash to my left and I startled, turning to see the king poke his head up out of the water. He was without his tunic but wearing his trousers; the water was crystal clear and I could even see his bare toes. A huge sigh escaped him as he slowly treaded water.
“The only place I can heal,” he muttered.
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
He looked my body up and down. Heat crept into my cheeks every time he did that—which was often I was noticing. “Come in.”
I blushed. I was wearing a beautiful and expensive silk gown. There was no way I was getting in the water with this on, and wearing just my undergarments would be inappropriate. They were white and totally see-through when wet.
“You can wear my tunic,” he said, and then turned to give me his back. “Trust me. You won’t feel any pain riding home after a dip in these pools.”
Would it heal my sore butt? Now I was curious, and that got me moving. Unlacing the back of my dress I slipped out of it and folded it onto the rock nearby. I looked up to make sure he was still turned and padded over to his dark tunic, slipping it over my head to cover my small bralette and cream undershorts.
“O-okay,” I told him, and then dipped my feet into the water, sitting at the edge. A small tingle worked its way up my legs and I sighed. “Oh wow.” It was like the weight my body normally felt from carrying my own skin and bones around all day had left. I just felt… nothing.
“Come all the way in.” He was suddenly before me as my legs dangled over the edge, and I chewed on my lip.
“I… never learned to swim and it looks deep.”
Reaching up, as if it was no big deal, he hooked his hands under my armpits and plopped me into the water before him. “I’ve got you.”
I’ve got you.
Those three words did something to me. They worked their way into my soul and I was starting to get really confused about how I felt about my new boss. I swallowed hard, at the same time trying to tread water and also experience the utter and deep relaxation the waters provided. His hands left my armpits and went to my wrists, keeping me above water as my feet kicked around a bit frantically.
“Don’t worry. I won’t let you drown,” he told me.
Being this close to him, to those blue eyes and his long blond hair, his tunicless body, I instantly wondered what it would be like to bed him. I also wondered who he’d been bedding this morning when I interrupted him. Maybe he was a serial seducer just hoping to bed me casually over the next five years I worked for him while he also bedded half of the castle! All while married!
“What are you thinking right now?” he asked, eyes narrowing.
Oh Maker, tell me he can’t read my thoughts.
“I’m wondering why you said the pools are the only thing that can heal you,” I lied.
His eyes narrowed further at the lie but I didn’t care. A woman was entitled to her own thoughts!
