ran after me and latched on tight. The poor thing. I could only assume she didn’t want to be left with Wolf, even with Alex around. Together we made our way through the trees, eventually arriving at a wide lake with a surface like a mirror. A set of mountains pointed into the sky beyond the trees on the other side, echoed in the quiet lake waters. A few birds chirruped in the branches above me. I closed my eyes for a moment. Relaxing. Sunny. Warm. For a moment I made myself believe I was at home, in my world, finishing my recent checkup on the Blue Royal Wolf Pack. That I’d named the pups and had all my notes. That I wasn’t scarred up and trying to figure out magic.
Then I gave up, filled the one water bottle I had, and we returned to our camp.
Chapter 15
They already had a fire going, and Wolf was rummaging through my pack in the search for food. I pondered our situation. I wanted to shower. I was covered in dirt and dried blood and sweat and felt gross in every way. I could hop into the lake, as cold as it might be, and try to scrub some of the grime away. Yet at the same time, I wasn’t comfortable leaving Marianne for any length of time. As Wolf pulled items out of the pack, an idea hit me.
I picked up the small leather pouch he’d set on the ground and circled around everyone, sprinkling salt on the ground.
“What are you doing?” Alex asked.
“Making a barrier. That way nothing can get us when we sleep tonight, and I can go for a swim in the lake to try and clean up and not worry about you guys.”
“You think that’ll work?”
“Salt was listed everywhere in those books. It’s practically an ingredient for every potion ever made.” I’d seen it enough times in multiple books to feel safe about using it. I cinched up the pouch, satisfied. I tossed it to Alex. “Okay, I’ll be back. Thirty minutes tops.”
I walked away, but didn’t make it more than ten feet before Marianne latched onto my arm.
“You’re leaving?” Her eyes were wide and frightened.
I smiled and kneeled down, setting a hand on her head. “I’m just going to wash up. I’ll be back. Don’t worry.” I touched the new strand of morning glories I’d woven around her neck. “Keep these on and stay inside the circle. Alex will look after you until I come back. I’m your Guardian, so if any magic comes near us, I’ll know it.”
Then I realized I’d just mentioned my Guardian status aloud. I looked over at where Wolf and Alex sat. Wolf was staring in my direction, but the moment my eyes met his, he glanced down into the fire. Had he heard me? I didn’t know what it might mean if he had. The witch warned me not to tell him. I sighed inwardly and patted Marianne’s shoulder.
“Go back and get something to eat, honey. I’ll be back in just a little while.” Then as an afterthought, I added, “And I promise Wolf won’t hurt you.”
After a few more moments, she finally nodded and returned to the inside of the circle. Alex handed her some slices of jerky.
Once at the lake, I stripped down and did what I could to wash my clothes in the water. They’d dry fast enough under the sun while I washed. I spotted a clump of lavawort nearby and rubbed it into the fabric. Lake water wouldn’t get out the scent of week-old unwashed me, but lavawort could at least mask it. Then I laid them over tree branches in the sunlight to dry and without another thought, ran straight into the lake.
It dropped down quickly and I went under, but I welcomed it. The cold water shocked my skin, but at the same time I felt vibrant, alive. I scrubbed more lavawort into my hair, on my skin. The lake was incredibly blue where the water went deep, clearer near the surface. I swam, twisting and water dancing like an excited kid in a pool. My feet indulged in the relief of having hiking boots and thick socks off. I was free to kick and feel water rush between my toes. I would have to tell Alex he should go for a dip. I dove deep, laughing under the water from the sheer rush of feeling good.
Finally I got out. I had to chew