Destiny's Fire (Kythan Guardians 1)

ere did you even get this? And how did you guess my size?”

“I think with only three sizes to choose from at the market, I could safely assume you were the smallest one.” He gave me a little wink. “And the water is perfect right now.”

My face flamed, but I shook off my embarrassment and headed behind a tree to change. The suit was different than the one-piece I normally wore, but it fit. I stepped from behind the pine while Reese laced his black swimming trunks. He’d already removed his shirt, and my eyes scanned his upper body. He was toned with solid, tight definition. His muscles flexed as he tied the string of his trunks.

“I’ve never seen guys wear black before,” I said, averting my eyes.

“Well, if you were a guy and ever tried swimming in all-white trunks, you might dye yours, too.”

I blushed. Girls definitely had it easier in that department. We had more of a choice when it came to swimming clothes. But looking over the suit Reese had picked for me, I felt almost naked. I wished he would’ve told me we’d be going swimming. I could’ve saved myself some humiliation and brought my own.

“Where did you find this thing?” I wrapped my arms around my midsection. “It barely covers anything.”

Reese walked over and scooped me into his arms. “That’s kind of the point.” Then he waded into the river up to his waist, and lowered me into the cold water. I bounded up with a gasp as the icy water swept past my skin.

The river wasn’t very deep, and the water level only came to my midsection. After a moment of getting used to the chill, I sank beneath the glassy top, resting my knees on the river bed. Reese grasped my waist and floated me closer to him.

He looked deep into my eyes. “Shift for me,” he whispered, then dropped his lips beneath the water.

I wrapped my legs around his torso, forcing him above the surface so I could rest my chin on his shoulder and avoid his eyes. “Not yet.”

He pulled back, making me look into his red eyes. When we were close like this, his eyes always took on their Narco color. “Why are you so frightened of it?”

I tried to swim away, but he held onto my waist. “I’m not,” I said, giving in to his embrace. “I just don’t want to confuse my body. I’ve come so far with controlling Charge…I don’t want to lose focus.”

“That’s not it.” Reese tilted his head, his eyes squinted. “You know you have that down. What’s really bothering you?”

“Nothing,” I said, exasperated. “I’m just not ready, okay?” I finally pulled away and half-swam, half-walked toward the bank.

Reese stood in the center of the river. “Dez, I’m sorry.” I watched as water beaded and ran down his ripped chest. It was impossible to stay upset with him.

“It’s not your fault.” I looked at my bunched clothes on the blanket and plopped down. “You’re right. It scares me.”

He slugged through the river toward me. Seating himself next to me on the blanket, he ran his hand down my arm. “Then wait until you’re ready. I won’t push anymore.”

“All right.” I gazed into his warm violet eyes. I was still amazed at how they changed with his mood when he didn’t pay attention. We were becoming comfortable around each other—allowing our guards to fall.

Reese dried off and slipped back into his clothes while I hid behind my pine to change. After I hung my wet swimsuit on a branch near our blanket, I began tying the top of my blouse.

“We’ll be at the Academy soon,” he said as he laced his boots. “I won’t be able to spend as much time with you. Let’s go out and do something tonight. Like a normal couple.”

“A normal couple?” I laughed. “We’ll never be that.”

“You know what I mean.” He latched onto my waist and pulled me close to him. “I want to take my girlfriend out. Someplace nice. What do couples do in Haven? Dinner? Dancing? Your pick.”

“Girlfriend?” My face heated. It was strange hearing him use such a simple term. We were so different than anyone else. “Girlfriend” didn’t seem powerful enough for what we meant to each other.

“Yeah,” he said. “Got a problem with that? Want to fight, little Shythe girl?” He slapped my butt and moved quickly away from my retaliation.

I chased after him and kicked my leg out to drop him to the ground, but he lunged, dodging my blow. “That reminds me,” I said, panting. “You owe me a match, Narco Slime.”

He grabbed me and lifted me off the ground. “That I do. But not today.” He brought me to the ground with him, hovering above me. “Tonight I just want to be Dez and Reese, strange but normal couple, going out and having a good time.”

“Fine. You win.” I twirled a strand of his hair between my fingers, watching his copper eyebrow stud glint in the sunlight. “We’ll go out. But we have to be careful. Even though Jace, Lana, and Nick are still going through the change, I think most Kythan would still have a problem seeing us making out. Don’t you?”

He rolled his eyes. “You forget I can go incognito. We can go somewhere you don’t know anyone, and I can wear my Shythe costume.”

“Oh, good idea.” I smiled. “Now move. I have to go get dolled up.”