Page 36

Isolation Lake

R iver had a headache, and it wasn’t because she’d stayed up far too late last night after texting Nikhail. No, the herd of elephants stampeding through her skull was courtesy of none other than her mother.

Tertia had returned from her meeting around four in the morning. She stormed into the house, stomping all the way to her office, which was inconveniently located directly beneath River’s old bedroom.

The slamming office door had woken River, and she’d been tossing and turning ever since. Her mother had been making loud phone calls for hours, rendering it practically impossible for River to fall back asleep.

Every snarled syllable, every bang of Tertia’s fist, and every angry whisper added to River’s headache. Pulling the pillow over her head, she moaned in frustration.

Gods, she was exhausted. She’d agreed to stay in Waterborn House because she wanted to spend time with her father before returning to Lakewater, but if she’d known her mother would have a tantrum of epic proportions, she would’ve stayed with Ryker.

All she wanted was a few hours of sleep. Was that too much to ask?

River wiggled in the sheets, trying to find a position that would ease the pounding in her head. It was just like Tertia to bang around in her office, uncaring that her daughter was trying to sleep upstairs. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think her mother had forgotten she was here entirely.

River’s gaze slid to her makeup chair, where Nikhail’s suit jacket rested over the back.

She’d placed it there last night after sniffing it for an ungodly amount of time, letting his unique aroma permeate her senses.

She probably should’ve been ashamed of the way her inner fae had craved his fragrance, but she couldn’t find it in her to care.

After changing out of her dress, she’d soaked in a hot bubble bath. There, she’d replayed every word, touch, and moment she and Nikhail had shared. When River finally pulled herself out of the soothing water, she had reached two conclusions.

The first was that Nikhail was a damn good kisser. She’d suspected as much, considering his reputation, but fantasizing about making out with her brother’s best friend was one thing, and actually going through with it was another.

River had never been kissed like that. Like she’d mattered more than anything else in the world. The kiss had been a claiming, but she’d also felt cherished. Treasured, even.

She’d never forget that embrace for the rest of her life.

Which brought her to the second, much more painful conclusion.

Last night might’ve been life-changing, but they still needed to talk.

Clearly, she’d lost her mind on the way to the solarium.

That was the only explanation for why she hadn’t left Nikhail when he gave her the necklace, hadn’t made sure he knew they couldn’t be together because she was dangerous.

She had to tell him about the curse, she decided as the water in her bubble bath cooled.

She had to make him understand that even though she cared immensely for him, he needed to get out now.

Obviously, denying her attraction to him would be impossible at this point, but she still had to warn him about her.

The next time they talked, she’d ask to meet him in person.

Then she’d tell him. This wasn’t the kind of conversation one had over text or a phone call.

It had to be face-to-face. It would probably be the last time they’d be alone because River was certain that once she explained to him what she’d done, he would see her as everyone else did.

A storm, always on the brink of exploding, a person to keep an eye on. Nothing more.

He would leave her alone, and that was…

Fine.

Well.

Maybe it wasn’t fine, but she would have to be okay with it.

At least she had their kiss. It was a memory she would forever cherish. At the end of the day, when it was all said and done, it would be all she had left. She was certain of it.

River stood on the banks of Isolation Lake, the blue glassy surface unmoving on this clear, windless day. The temperature was just above freezing, and the snow from the night before had melted.

The body of water sat at the northern edge of the Waterborns’ estate. Accessible only by the four-wheeler River had driven to get here, it was completely private.

A lush forest surrounded the lake, deciduous and coniferous trees growing side by side to create a thick sanctuary. A deer stood not far from River, lapping at the water. Birds flew overhead, filling the silence with their sonnets. Squirrels chittered.

As the name suggested, Isolation Lake was quiet and peaceful. Free from the tension that seemed to constantly permeate the walls of Waterborn House. Even the air was light.

River drew in a deep breath, allowing serenity to seep into her being as she extended her hands on either side of her.

Opening her palms so they faced the lake, she reached within herself to the dam that kept her magic at bay.

Her magic was eagerly waiting for her, giddy even, as she let her will seep into it.

Her skin tingled, and her lungs expanded as water streamed from her hands. A gift to the land. An offering.

For most fae, this would be enough. They’d get the edge off and go about their days. But this wouldn’t be enough to calm River’s curse. Not today.

When she woke up after lunch, her headache had been a dull throb. Tertia had still been yelling, which hadn’t come as a surprise.

After River had taken care of her personal needs, she’d checked her phone.

There had been an email with her upcoming schedule for the hospital—she was due to return to work in a few days—along with an apology from Ryker for not saying goodbye the night before.

She replied, letting him know it was all right.

She didn’t blame him or Nikhail for having to leave .

The air fae had messaged her twice, and River had read the messages so many times, she’d committed them to memory.

Nikhail

Morning, little storm. I wish I were there in person to ask how you slept, but it looks like I won’t be able to see you right away.

The timing is shit, but there’s been a situation, and I’ve received a new set of orders.

I’m not sure how often I’ll be able to check my phone, but I’ll do my best to message you as much as I can.

I’ll miss you so much.

So much for best-laid plans. River’s thumb had hovered over the keys, and she’d wondered if she should just text Nikhail all the reasons why she was dangerous and they could never work. Would that be better?

She’d even typed up the message, but before she could muster up the courage to send it, she deleted the whole thing. Was it ridiculous to want to see Nikhail in person one final time? To swim in his amber gaze once more?

Maybe it was, but it didn’t stop her from wanting it. This wasn’t a conversation to be had over text, she decided. It didn’t seem fair to either of them.

Before she could second-guess herself, she had replied.

I’ll miss you, too.

It had taken approximately two seconds after she pressed the send button for panic to roll through her.

That was stupid. So gods-damned stupid.

Why had she replied? She should’ve ignored his messages. It would’ve been mean, but maybe then, he’d think she hated him. Maybe that would’ve made their next face-to-face conversation easier.

And then, proving that it was a traitor who didn’t care about her curse, River’s mind had wondered where Nikhail was. What had happened last night? Was he on a job? What if he got injured? What if she never got to see or talk to him again because he died ?

That last thought had chilled her to the bone and caused her magic to roar awake. The calmness from the night before had been nowhere to be seen. Panic had dug its claws into her heart, and her magic had crashed through her veins, a tempest in the making.

She barely had time to react. She’d shoved back against her curse, sweat beading on her brow, as she reinforced her dam and bolted from her room.

Somehow, she’d made it out of the house, unnoticed by the crew her mother had hired to clean up after the party. She’d grabbed a forest green hoodie hanging by the back door, and her feet had landed in a pair of black flats she vaguely recognized as hers.

Taking the four-wheeler’s keys had been instinctual, and before she knew it, she’d arrived at Isolation Lake.

Nikhail couldn’t die. He just… couldn’t.

That was the thought that swirled in her mind as she poured water into the lake. It flooded out of her, an endless supply of magic. Her well of power had always been effectively bottomless. There seemed to be no limit to what she could do.

She hated that. Limits existed for a reason, and she’d love to have some.

Water streamed from River’s outstretched palms until dark shadows fell above her, blocking the sun. Her skin pebbled, and she craned her neck. Charcoal clouds were sweeping in, replacing the clear blue sky. Drizzle fell from them, dampening the air.

A full-blown storm was minutes away, if that.

River inhaled deeply.

Stop! she commanded her magic, willing it to cease pouring from her hands.

Her curse resisted. It pushed back, begging her to allow it to remain. To let it keep flowing from her.

More, more, more , it sang in her veins, a symphony of power.

It was always like this. It never wanted to stop, never wanted to be held back. Like the tempest it was, her curse wanted to unleash itself upon the world so the depths of her power would be known from coast to coast.

River would never let that happen. She’d sooner lock herself in a prohiberis cage and throw away the key.

“My magic does not control me,” she declared out loud. “It is a tool I’ve been given. I control it.”

The mantra gave her strength as she pushed back against her power. It fought her every damn step of the way, but eventually, she wrestled the curse back under control. The water slowed, then stopped.

Thank the gods.

She couldn’t leave yet, though. She hadn’t expelled nearly enough magic. Extending her right hand in front of her, palm facing the sky, she reached for her power once again.

Summoning a storm was one thing. She could do that without thinking. Gods above, that was exactly what had led to the Incident all those years ago.

But directing her magic and forcing it to do her bidding took far more skill. It was one thing to call a storm, another entirely to send it away without hurting anyone.

River’s eyes fell shut as she reached within herself, taking hold of her magic. She imagined that it was a sphere, floating in her palm. Malleable. Eager to be shaped.

She grabbed it and twisted her fingers, infusing it with her will.

You will not break or let a single drop fall unless I tell you, she commanded before opening her eyes.

A gentle sigh slipped from her lips. Water hovered a few inches above her outstretched palm, a perfect globe twice the size of her hand. Currents spun inside, tiny streams running through the ball.

While the sphere hovered, River raised her other hand towards the clouds. She had called them forth, so she had to send them away.

Her magic tugged at her insides, making its displeasure known. For something that Eliza Fern insisted wasn’t sentient, it certainly didn’t want to listen to River. Pouting and fighting back like a petulant child, it refused to obey easily.

Beads of sweat rolled down River’s forehead and the back of her neck. She widened her stance, splitting her focus between the perfect sphere and the dark sky overhead.

Go away , she told the storm.

Her magic was strong-willed and pushed back.

Her stomach cramped as she shoved more of her will into her magic, commanding it to leave. It argued, but she would not be swayed. The clouds would not burst on her watch—she refused to let a single drop of water fall if she didn’t allow it.

It felt like hours passed before a shard of sunlight burst through the clouds. Then another. And another .

River didn’t stop until the cloudless blue sky had returned, and the waters of Isolation Lake were as smooth as glass once more. Only then did she return her attention to the sphere. It remained perfectly balanced above her palm, just as she’d commanded it.

Her lips twitched, eager to form a small smile, but she wouldn’t let them. Not yet.

Shifting her concentration, she focused on the sphere. One moment, the ball was liquid. Next, it had transformed.

Ice hovered in the air. The sphere had frozen so quickly that the currents were immortalized within it.

Grabbing the ball with her left hand, River turned it over, studying her creation. The surface was smooth and unblemished, without a single imperfection.

Pleased with herself, River peered at her magic. It was slumbering in her veins, and she knew it wouldn’t cause her any trouble for the next few hours.

Thank the gods.

She threw the ball into Isolation Lake, willing it to dissolve moments before it hit the surface with a splash. Now, everything was back to the way it had been.

Satisfied, River allowed herself the smallest smile as she wiped her brow with the back of her hand. She might’ve been destined to be a bringer of death, but she wouldn’t be killing anyone today.

Not if she could help it.