Chapter 156: Episode 155: I didn’t bring extra clothes.

The pond behind the manor looked like a piece of the ocean.

Rue stood on the edge of the wide stone terrace. She held Drax’s large hand tight. Her lips still felt swollen and warm from his kisses back in the bedroom. Her heart beat a slow, steady rhythm now. The dark, heavy walls of the manor sat behind them. In front of them, the forest opened up into a massive clearing.

The water stretched out far and wide. It didn’t look like a murky swamp pond. It was a bright, striking turquoise. Clear, deep, and inviting. The ironwood trees grew thick and tall around the edges of the water, creating a natural, private wall. But the center of the pond sat wide open to the bright sky. The sun beat down, turning the surface into a sheet of glittering glass.

Thin wisps of white steam curled up from the surface, dancing in the cool mountain breeze.

"It is a natural hot spring," Drax said. His deep voice broke the quiet silence. He led her down the stone steps toward the grass. "The water comes from deep underground. The earth heats it. It never freezes, even in the dead of winter."

Rue took a deep breath. The air smelled amazing. It smelled like crushed pine needles, fresh rain, and wet moss. She let go of Drax’s hand for a second to slip her shoes off. She left them on the bottom stone step. She wanted to feel the ground. Her bare feet sank into the soft, green grass. The earth felt damp and cool against her skin. She wiggled her toes, letting out a soft sigh.

A loud splash broke the peaceful silence.

Rue jumped slightly. She looked toward the center of the massive pond.

Drax and Rue walk out back. Zale is already in the water.

He didn’t look like the clumsy man who tripped on the stone stairs earlier. He looked like a creature born from the water itself. His human legs were gone. They melted away the second he dove in. Replaced by a massive, shimmering tail.

Rue walked closer to the grassy bank, her pink eyes wide with wonder.

The tail was huge. It looked powerful enough to crush a boulder, but it moved with smooth, effortless grace. Thick, overlapping scales covered the long appendage. They caught the bright afternoon sunlight, flashing bright shades of deep blue, sea green, and pearlescent silver. A wide, translucent fin fanned out at the very end, pushing the water away with heavy, rhythmic strokes.

Zale surfaced. He pushed his wet, sandy-blonde hair out of his bright eyes. He took a deep breath and dove right back under.

He swam in fast circles. He moved faster than a striking snake. He created a small whirlpool in the centre of the pond. He shot up from the depths, breaking the surface, sending a massive spray of warm water high into the air.

Wow, it seems like he has been doing this a lot.

[He is Naturally born swimmer.]

He flipped backwards, his powerful tail slapping the surface with a loud smack. The water droplets flew everywhere, catching the light and creating tiny rainbows in the mist.

He laughed. The sound rang out loud and clear over the water. It was a pure, happy sound. It didn’t hold any of the heavy, dark history he talked about in the art gallery. In the water, he wasn’t a broken prince trying to save a dying bloodline. He was just a boy playing in his favorite place.

Rue loved watching him. The heavy dread from the tower vanished. She felt a simple, genuine joy seeing someone so free.

Drax stepped up right beside her. He crossed his thick arms over his chest. He watched his brother do another fast flip.

"He spends most of his life out here," Drax murmured. He kept his dark eyes on the splashing merman. "The manor is too dry for him. He only comes inside to paint or eat. The water is his real home."

"He is so fast," Rue said. She kept her eyes on the shimmering blue scales. "He looks beautiful."

Drax let out a low, amused huff. "He looks like a giant fish."

Rue bumped her shoulder against his arm. "Don’t be mean. He is happy."

Zale heard their voices. He stopped his fast circles. He treaded water in the middle of the pond, his strong arms keeping him afloat. He spotted them standing on the grassy bank. His face lit up with a massive grin.

He swims up to the edge and begs Rue to jump in with him.

He moved through the water with just a few lazy flicks of his tail. He stopped right at her feet. He rested his pale, wet arms on the mossy edge of the bank. Warm water dripped from his chin and his eyelashes.

"You made it!" Zale cheered. He looked up at her, his sea-green eyes shining bright. "I thought Drax trapped you in his boring, dusty room forever."

"It isn’t boring," Drax corrected him flatly.

Zale ignored the dragon. He focused all his attention on Rue.

"The water is perfect today," Zale promised. He patted the surface, sending a warm splash over Rue’s bare toes. "It is so warm. It feels like a giant bath. You have to come in. Please? I want to show you the glowing rocks at the very bottom. They shine like tiny stars."

Rue looked down at the turquoise water. The steam rising from the surface tickled her ankles. The water felt so nice against her skin.

She really wanted to swim. She loved the water. Back in New York, she used to dream of swimming in a real ocean. She never got the chance. The hospital pool always smelled like harsh chemicals, and she was always too weak to swim anyway. Now, she had a healthy, strong body. She lived in a world with magical hot springs and real mermaids.

Her lower back throbbed with a dull, familiar ache. She carried Seika for so many hours today. The warm water would feel like pure magic on her sore spine and stiff joints. It would wash away the sweat from the long dragon flight. It would wash away the heavy stress of the day.

She took a tiny step forward. The wet grass squished between her toes.

"I will catch you," Zale offered. He held one hand out toward her. "You don’t even have to swim hard. You can just float. I will keep you safe."

Rue bit her lower lip. She looked at his waiting hand. She looked at the deep blue water.

Then, she looked down at her clothes.

She wore a thick, heavy wool dress. It had long sleeves and a high collar. It kept her warm in the freezing sky, but it was the worst thing in the world to wear in a pool. If she jumped in, the wool would soak up the water instantly. It would pull her straight to the bottom like a bag of heavy rocks.

Her body felt different now, too. She had Seika just four weeks ago. Her stomach was softer. Her hips were wider. She wasn’t used to her new curves yet. The thought of swimming in her thin undergarments around a brand new person made her feel a little shy.

She didn’t have a bathing suit. She didn’t pack a bag for this trip. She didn’t even bring a towel. Knox just handed her the baby, and Drax threw her on his back. She only had the clothes she was wearing.

If she swam, she would have to ride a giant dragon all the way back to the new house soaking wet. The freezing wind up in the clouds would turn her into a block of ice before they even crossed the mountain peak.

She took a step back from the edge. The warm water slipped off her toes, leaving them cold in the mountain breeze.

Zale dropped his hand. His bright smile faded just a little bit. He saw the hesitation in her pink eyes. He saw her step away from the bank.

"Is the water too hot?" Zale asked, tilting his head. "I can swim down and stir the cold spring up. It only takes a second."

"No, it’s not the heat," Rue said quickly. She didn’t want him to think she was rejecting him. She really wanted to join him. She wanted to float and look at the glowing rocks.

Drax looked down at her. He saw the conflict on her face. He knew exactly what she was thinking. He knew she wanted to jump. He knew she was holding back because of practical, boring reasons. He wanted to tell her to just strip the heavy dress off and jump in anyway. He wanted to see her swim. But he stayed quiet, letting her make her own choice.

Rue let out a long breath. She hugged herself against a sudden gust of cool wind. She shook her head sadly.

"I can’t," Rue sighs, crossing her arms. "I didn’t bring any extra clothes to swim in."