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They trail off, listening to cascades flood the area. Although water separates them, the distance isn’t sufficient. They sit near enough for her toes to graze his, for their limbs to tangle, if they so wish.

Once, they’d found themselves in this predicament. Isolated in a similar environment, they’d been too riled up to ignore one another any longer. That’s how they’d gotten into a nasty, lusty mess in the first place.

It happened a couple of years ago, shocking them to the core. In the end, taking leave of their senses hadn’t panned out well, and it won’t now.

That doesn’t mean they have to remain at each other’s throats. In retrospect, what good has it done? Their cat fights have been stressful and confounding, and she doesn’t want to analyze why he’s the only one who, with a flick of his wrist, succeeds in getting under her skin.

After their mutual, half-assed apology, she doesn’t want to be the one who speaks first. Shewon’tbe the one who speaks first.

Glancing in his direction, her gaze trips across his. Those hazel eyes blaze a path from her mouth, to her throat, to inflated tops of her breasts. Her throat goes dry, far too dry in this wet place.

“How long have you been watching me?” she demands.

Those orbs leap upward to meet hers. “I’m not sure.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means, I’m not sure.”

Why does that sound less literal than it should? Why does his reply sound over two-hundred years old?

Okay, never mind. She doesn’t want him to give a solid answer.

Her neck muscles constrict as she rifles through the potential comebacks in her arsenal. Except he doesn’t deserve that. Curse him for saving her life. Curse her for being indebted to him. If she could feel less beholden for what he did in the rapids, she could return to a level playing field.

But she’ll grant this: If they have to spend these days together, it might as well be filled with enclaves and tastings and prattle. And if they have to spend who knows how long fighting side by side, kinship will improve combat. It will strengthen them.

Growing up, respect and loyalty had been drilled into them, yet bonding hadn’t stuck for their class. Not until the last few years. Now they’re thick as thieves, with one vital exclusion. Sorrow and Envy had failed to deal with each other, and maybe that’s the weakest link.

Remorse cuts through her. If they want to live up to the elite class of archers they’d once been, they need a tighter connection.

Envy’s finger taps the side of his head. “What’s going on in there? Can I have a look?”

“It’s forbidden territory,” she says.

“My nymph, you don’t know Uncle Envy well, if you think the wordforbiddenwill discourage him.”

“Please don’t talk about yourself in the third person. That’s setting a low bar.”

“But the first person is cliché. As to the third, I would’ve thought it’s the height of pretension. Hence, I’m a perfect candidate.”

“Have you ever been humble, a day in your life?”

“Perhaps I need someone to teach me. I’ve been trained in many things, so my portfolio speaks for itself. I’m an apt pupil. I learn fast.”

Mirth tumbles from her lips. “I hate to break this to you, but you couldn’t be humble to save your wardrobe.”

“I’m hoping you’ll be there to save me instead. Wouldn’t that be nice? Saving me? I could pass out in your arms like a damsel and everything.”

“I’ll rephrase. You couldn’t be humble, or platonic, to save your wardrobe.”

“And my offer still stands. You could teach me to be serious, to be the wounded, brooding hero like Anger.”

“In order for that to happen, you have to be brave enough to do battle with pain. In order to do that, you would have to endure sadness. And in order to do that, you’d have to know humility and sacrifice. You’d have to lose something precious to you.” She leans forward, getting in his face and whispering sweetly, “And baby? Your closet doesn’t count.”

Her breath skates across his mouth, which parts a fraction to expose a blushing tongue and a bottomless throat. Fireworks dance in her belly. If she scoots any closer to him, she’ll go cross-eyed.

There are certain traits that she appreciates in Envy. He’s unreserved. He’s decisive. He doesn’t allow others to use him.