since I was a kid. We don’t have water like this in the Shadow Caverns.” I could hear the longing in her voice. She wanted to jump in, didn’t she? “It’s all gray and murky subterranean lakes. And there are things that live in the deep caverns, creatures that feast on the flesh of elves, and worse.”
I smiled slyly at her. Maybe a little detour wasn’t the worst thing in the world. At that moment, I wanted nothing more than to swim with her. Could I convince her to join me, even without the ability to speak?
I pulled off my coat and draped it over the balcony. Then I started to unbutton my shirt.
Ali shot a glance at me. “What are you doing?”
With a slight smile, I nodded at the pool.
I didn’t miss the fact that her eyes were lingering on me, though she tore them away fast when I started to take off my trousers.
Once I was undressed, I climbed over the balcony and leapt in.
She stared down at me, drumming her fingertips on the stone ledge. I could see how much she wanted to join me, though, like any sensible person, she was wary of me.
I lay back in the water, swimming backward. I closed my eyes to show her how much I enjoyed it. The water rippled around me, enveloping me in a cool embrace.
When I opened my eyes again, I saw her pulling off her shirt. And as I watched her slide off her leather trousers, my body felt completely electrified. Under her clothes, she wore a simple white bra and underwear. She was beautiful, and she was mine. Gods, I wanted to sink my teeth into her neck and taste her soul…
I swam away from her, mastering control of myself. But when I heard the splash of water, I turned to see her in at the other end of the pool.
She grinned at me, the water rippling around her perfect shoulders. “The water is amazing. This was a truly good idea.”
My gaze drifted lower, to her neck and the faint heartbeat under the skin. With her eyes locked on me, she moved closer in the water. My seductive aura was drawing her in. Water trickled between her breasts in little rivulets, entrancing me.
When she was only a few feet from me, I breathed in her scent. I imagined how she would tilt back her head, opening her throat to me. I’d trace my fingers over her waist; my lips would graze her skin.
With a jolt of horror, I realized I needed to pull myself away from her before I ruined everything. Before I ripped out her soul and mine and destroyed them both.
I turned abruptly. Climbing from the pool, I headed back up to the Emperor’s chambers.
After drying myself off, I dressed on the balcony again. When I turned around, I saw Ali, her damp silver hair draped over a black shirt. She held a notepad and pen out to me. Somehow, I could tell what she was about to say next was important to her.
“Can I ask you something?”
I nodded.
She took a deep breath. “When the High Elves caught me, I wasn’t alone. I’d been working with someone named Barthol. I haven’t seen him since. Do you think they could have put him somewhere else in the Citadel?”
Barthol. That name again.
The unspoken subtext of her question was clear. She desperately wanted to know if this friend of hers was alive. Unfortunately, I didn’t have much of an answer for her.
I’m sure he is fine, I wrote, my fingers tense with irritation. I half hoped he wasn’t fine. If the High Elves had caught or killed him, King Gorm would have brought him or his body out to throw into the Well of Wyrd along with you.
She smiled. “You think so?”
I nodded.
“I have another question.”
I didn’t respond, but Ali plowed ahead anyway.
“How did you become a lich?”
I tensed. This was dangerous territory. I was cursed. And now I’m alive, but only in a manner of speaking. Obviously, I’m dangerous.
I wasn’t sure why I wanted to emphasize that last part. Maybe it was that I’d let her get too close to me.
She crossed her arms, curiosity lighting up her eyes. “But what was your life like when you were human? Your home looks like you were rich.”
Ahh… she’d assumed I was human. It certainly would have been better if she continued to think that, but… Not human, I wrote.