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I didn’t answer, instead picking up my pace and taking the rest of the trail in a few steps.

Sweeping away the last of the plants, I ducked into the secluded, misty clearing and spun toward him. Cypherion’s eyes widened, bouncing from the steaming hot spring pools up the cliff to the top of the waterfall.

Trees formed a dense ring around the springs, but the canopy overhead was open, a clear shot to the stars. The rock wall before us formed tiers, a large pool at the base collecting the water from the falls, but smaller pockets of steaming baths nestled in each step.

For some reason, the water was hot here all year round. I’d found this spot as a girl, and any of the few times I was allowed away from Valyn, I took the chance to escape alone here.

Cypherion’s eyes widened as he took it in. Nerves fluttered throughout my body, and I sucked in a breath, waiting for him to say something about this secret I’d kept for years.

“This is magnificent, Vale,” he finally said, awe-struck, and satisfaction settled my racing heart.

“The water is always warm, so we can swim even in the winter.”

His eyes snapped to me then, the blues so deep, an ocean swirling with questions. “I don’t…”

I scoffed, turning to the edge of the rock and kicking off my boots. “Don’t be so shy, Cypherion.”

Keeping my back to him, I untied my cloak, dropping it to the ground. My top, skirt, and undergarments followed, leaving me in nothing but my silver jewelry.

One chance. I had one chance at freedom, one night to indulge. If Cypherion Kastroff was too modest to join me, that was his choice. But the babbling of the falls called to pieces of me I’d long ago kissed goodbye, and I couldn’t stifle them tonight.

Looking over my shoulder, I caught him staring at my body, eyes falling over the curve of my waist and ass like hot honey across my skin. It was nothing he hadn’t seen before—exalted even—and while he claimed we were friends, there was nothing friendly in that stare.

Every inch of me heated in response, desire waking. For his hands on my body, to bite down on his bottom lip. For the pleasure he wrung out of me.

No, I told myself. He doesn’t want that. He doesn’t want you.

And though it broke my heart to remind myself I had let him go, I refused to allow that pain between us to dampen this place.

“Scared, Cypherion?” I teased.

I waded into the water before he could answer, but I thought I heard him mumble something along the lines of “fucking terrified,” and I smirked.

The waterfall was slower than most, the babble a hum of music rather than an overbearing drone. It was serene. I ducked beneath the water, surfacing quickly and brushing my hair back from my face.

The heat stung my skin in the most delicious way, soothing not only the sore muscles from days of travel but my worries as well. Taking thoughts of tainted sessions, Angel emblems, and Titus. Here, in this bubble, none of it mattered as I crouched down so the water came to my shoulders and steam swirled about my ears.

The spring’s current shifted around me, and I spun.

Cypherion was there, his long hair damp and darker than usual, blue eyes shining by starlight, and his skin covered in small beads of water. They trailed between the defined lines of his muscles, sliding down…

He hadn’t left his undershorts on like I thought he would. The water came to his hips, but it was clear from here that he was naked. And every salacious memory of how he felt between my legs poured back into my mind.

“What are you looking at, Stargirl?” he teased, and though I’d been caught staring, I didn’t care.

Not tonight, with strings of freedom dancing at my fingertips.

And he’d used that name again. He’d become selective with it, only letting it slip when his guard was down.

Instead of answering immediately, I stood. The tide only came to my waist, but my hair was behind my shoulders, breasts out. “Nothing.”

We remained like that for a moment, some silent dare hanging between us. Do it, I said with my stare. Knock down that wall you’ve built.

His eyes dropped to scan my body, his hands fisting at his sides.

Then, he backed down a step. Sank beneath the water and came back up further away from me.

Sighing, I turned away, too, and waded to the other side of the small pool. Embarrassment didn’t sting like I expected. I supposed when you’d already shown someone the worst sides of you, the ones willing to lie and hurt them, there was no room left for shame.