I heard the water splash as he stepped into it. “Hotter, please.”
Knowing I could hurt him, I slowly warmed the water.
“Thanks.”
Ripples lapped at my arm. I pulled it out and dried it off, keeping my back to him.
“Dacia”—he sounded like he was talking to a frightened animal—“it’s dark. I’m underwater. You can turn around.”
I walked to a boulder that I assumed came from Cash’s excavation and sat down, facing him. The fire lit up his face and nothing more. I leaned my head back and my eyes drifted shut.
“Dacia.” Cody sounded alarmed.
I opened my eyes, and the room was black. I ignited a ball of flames in my palm, growing it until it lit the chamber. “I’m sorry, Cody. I guess I fell asleep.”
He rinsed the shampoo out of his hair, then scrubbed the rest of himself. “Getting out.”
I turned away. Part of me wanted to peek, but like I’d said earlier, now wasn’t the time.
“Okay,” he said.
Cody stood with a towel wrapped around his waist, combing his hair. For a moment, I saw him standing in a real bathroom. The walls were pale yellow, and the woodwork looked like oak. Light from two big windows illuminated him. Then the cave returned.
The air rushed from my lungs, and my heart clenched. I wanted that future more than anything, but would it be like other premonitions and not come true? I steadied my breathing, then walked to the water, and purified it like Malcolm had shown me.
Standing at the edge of the pool, I stripped down to my underclothes. Cody watched me until I motioned for him to turn around.
The pool had a lip around the edge. I stepped onto it, and the water came to mid-thigh. There was no way I’d be able to sit and keep my head above the surface. Deciding I’d have to stand, I stretched my toes down, trying to find the floor. Jumping off the ledge, I sank to the bottom. The water was over my head.
When I surfaced, Cody said, “Shallower on the other side.”
I swam to the other side, settling myself on the lip. Realizing I’d left my bag where I’d initially gotten in, Cody brought it over to me. “Need help?” His eyes sparkled in the darkness. “I can wash your back.” He put his feet in the water, one on either side of me.
It would be so easy to yes. So much easier than it would be to say no. I bit my lip, trying to stick to my guns. I remembered the day we’d spent in the pool by ourselves. The feel of his wet body against mine.
Cody yanked his feet back. “Ow!”
I turned to look at him. “Are you okay?” I touched his foot, and he jerked it back.
“Water’s practically boiling.” Steam rose off the water, filling the cavern.
“Oh, God, Cody, I’m sorry.” I stretched my hand out, waiting until he moved his foot toward me. Then I sent cool, healing energy through him.
He sighed.
“Better?” I asked.
He smiled. “All good.” He stood up and walked back to the other side.
I used my powers to keep the steam from dissipating, blocking it in the same area that was soundproofed.
By the time I finished washing, the steam was so thick in the room that Cody wouldn’t have seen me if he was standing right beside me. I climbed out and wrapped one towel around my hair and one around my body.
The cold stone floor felt good against my feet. I let the air cool me off before getting dressed. As soon as I finished, I allowed the steam to dissipate.
Cody sat with his shirt off, leaning against a stalagmite. He stood and finished dressing. “You okay?”
I flipped the towel off my head and dried my hair as much as possible. “A little warm. You?”
“Same.” He stuffed our things into the duffle bag.
I walked to the edge of the pool and purified it again. If somebody or something came looking for me, I didn’t want them to find evidence that we’d bathed here. I needed to remember to ask Cash or Malcolm if they could remove my scent from the area or if they could teach me how.
When I stood, a wave of dizziness crashed over me. The flames dimmed. Cody rushed to my side. “What happened?”
“Used too much.” My words sounded slurred to me, but he seemed to understand.
He hung the duffle bag off his shoulder and lifted me into his arms. I leaned my head against his chest.
“Don’t sleep yet.” He jogged toward the cavern we’d settled in. “Need the light.”
I fought to keep my eyes open. “Sorry, Cody.” Malcolm, I thought right before I passed out.
Chapter 22
Starting Over
I woke up on a pile of cushions with three sets of eyes staring at me. The flames lighting the room were red, not blue. Sitting up, I pulled my hands through my hair. It was still wet, so I hadn’t been out that long.
“Sorry.” I looked down at my hands. “I haven’t used too much power for so long. I guess I wasn’t paying attention to the warning signs.”
“What were you doing that used so much?” Cash backed away from me.
I closed my eyes and lowered my chin to my chest. “I was soundproofing this room and that one. Creating illusions for this one and that. I had fires lit both rooms. I was heating the water and keeping the steam from leaving the room.” I looked into his eyes. He was staring at me with a dazed expression. “Oh, I purified the water twice and had to heal Cody.”
Malcolm and Cash both turned toward him. He lifted his hands. “I’m good.”
Cash pulled his hand down his face. “You ever heard of a human who could do all that at once?”
“Nope.” Malcolm shook his head. “It might even make one of us tired.” He stood up. “Since you exhausted yourself,
