The Spark in the Water
The estate was alive with the buzz of summer, the air thick with the scent of blooming flowers and fresh grass. Today, there was an unusual sense of carefree joy. It was the one day a month when the upper house mandated "compulsory fun," a day when the estate's ruling family and their servants had to take a break from their usual responsibilities to enjoy leisure. It wasn't often that the family got to be fully together without the burden of leadership or responsibilities hanging over them, but today was different. Today, they would focus on fun.
Elara sat on the edge of the pool, watching the rest of the family interact. Cassian and Rylan were in the pool, laughing, joking around, while Aria swam gracefully, as if born in the water. The sun glinted off the surface of the pool, making the entire scene feel almost surreal. She should be enjoying herself, but there was something keeping her back, a hesitance she couldn't quite shake.
"Come on, Elara!" Aria called out from the pool, flipping onto her back and floating effortlessly. "You can't sit on the edge all day. The water feels amazing!"
Elara chuckled but shook her head. "You know I don't do water like that," she said with a teasing grin, though she could feel the cool temptation of the water.
Cassian, who had been lounging on a pool chair, lazily turned his head to look at her. "You've got to be the only person on this estate who doesn't like swimming, Elara. What's the deal? Afraid of getting your hair wet?"
"Hey! My hair is very important!" Elara shot back, though she couldn't help but smile at the lighthearted teasing.
Rylan, leaning against the pool's edge, his arms folded over his chest, raised an eyebrow. "The water's not going to bite you. Trust me, the pool here is safer than a pond in the woods." He was always the quiet one, speaking only when he had something worthwhile to say. He didn't mock, but his dry sense of humor was often cutting.
"You guys are terrible," Elara muttered under her breath, but she couldn't deny the pull of their fun atmosphere. Despite herself, she could feel her lips curve into a smile.
"I'll give you a bribe if you get in," Cassian said with a grin, fully enjoying how his playful jab was riling her up. "You want me to send you snacks? A whole buffet?"
Elara raised an eyebrow. "That's not a bad deal," she said, already standing up. "But you'd better make it worth my while."
Before any of them could respond, Kael's deep voice broke through the noise, pulling Elara's attention.
"I think we might have to start smaller with you, Elara," Kael said, his tone easygoing but knowing. He was standing at the edge of the pool now, dripping wet from his swim, and despite her best efforts, Elara couldn't help but notice how the water clung to his defined muscles. His gaze softened as he observed her sitting at the poolside, still hesitant.
Elara's pulse quickened, and she quickly turned her gaze back to the water. It wasn't that she hadn't noticed how attractive he was—she had, of course, but she never let herself linger on it. Kael was her friend... her future mate... but he wasn't something she was ready to acknowledge. Not yet.
"I'm not a great swimmer," she said, quickly deflecting his attention. "I'm good here. On land."
Kael chuckled and took a step closer to her. "You know, I can help you. I won't let you drown," he teased, his eyes sparkling with amusement, though there was something deeper there—an unspoken connection she couldn't ignore.
Elara swallowed, but before she could say anything, Zoey's voice pierced the air, dripping with sarcasm from the other side of the pool.
"Isn't it sweet, Kael?" Zoey called out, her voice too sweet to be innocent. "Always looking out for the little human."
Elara's jaw tightened at the sound of Zoey's voice. She could never seem to escape her. "I'm not little," she muttered, but Zoey had already latched onto her new target. Zoey was like a snake—always circling, always seeking an opening.
Kael's expression didn't change as he glanced toward Zoey, who was sitting on the other side, eyeing him like a predator. But he didn't rise to her bait. "Elara's just not used to the pool, Zoey," he said simply, a calm, almost dismissive response that made Zoey's eyes narrow.
But Zoey wouldn't let up. "Oh, I know. She's always been shy when it comes to being around real men. But I guess Kael's the exception."
"Zoey," Elara said, her voice a mix of sharpness and restraint. "Not everything has to be about you, you know."
"I'm just making sure you don't drown," Zoey shot back, feigning innocence, though the malice in her eyes was clear. "Someone has to look out for you, considering you're all alone."
Elara's frustration flared, but she refused to let Zoey see it. Instead, she stood up from the edge of the pool, brushing her hands off. "I don't need anyone looking out for me," she said with a bite to her tone, her eyes glinting with defiance.
Aria, who had been lazily floating on her back, smirked. "Zoey, you're just jealous that Elara can get Kael's attention so easily."
"Oh, please." Zoey scoffed, her gaze snapping to Aria. "Kael's just playing the good Samaritan, nothing more. He knows his responsibility." She threw a pointed look at Kael, but his gaze remained on Elara, focused and unfazed.
Cassian, ever the instigator, chimed in, his voice playful. "Come on, Zoey, don't be bitter. We all know Kael's the nice guy around here. He probably just wants to keep Elara from getting bored."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Cassian," Elara muttered sarcastically, crossing her arms. She didn't need their help to make her feel better, but the last thing she wanted was for Zoey to keep dragging Kael into her snide remarks.
Rylan, still leaning by the pool, glanced at the situation and gave a slight chuckle. "I think you're all trying a bit too hard," he said, his tone dry, as if everything around him was a mild inconvenience.
But it was Kael's silence that drew Elara's attention again. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. He hadn't said anything, but there was a faint smirk on his lips, as if he found some amusement in the ongoing exchange.
"You don't have to get involved, Kael," Elara muttered, turning away.
He moved closer without hesitation, his hand brushing lightly against hers. The electric touch sent a ripple through her, but she didn't pull away. He knew exactly what he was doing. He knew the effect he had on her.
"I think I do," Kael murmured, his voice low. "You're not getting out of this pool unless I help you."
Elara's heart skipped a beat. She was trying her best to ignore the sparks dancing between them—trying to maintain the distance that her mind told her she should—but it was getting harder by the second.
Just then, Zoey cut in, this time with a bright smile that didn't reach her eyes. "How sweet. Kael to the rescue." She turned to Cassian and Rylan. "Looks like the perfect pair."
Cassian let out a low whistle. "Ouch, Zoey. You're really trying to start something, huh?"
"Not like it matters to her," Zoey muttered under her breath. "She's already got Kael wrapped around her finger."
Elara's cheeks flushed, and she turned to walk away from the poolside, her frustration bubbling to the surface. But as she moved away, she could feel Kael's gaze still on her, following her like a shadow. It was hard to ignore the pull—the bond—between them, even as she tried to convince herself she didn't care.
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