Chapter 41 Hitching

Isla
MY BREATH HITCHES AND MY HEART THUMPS painfully. Kyan has been underwater for a while now and he is not coming up. Frantically, I pull off my sandals and run into the water, hitching up the skirt of my dress. Seeing there is no point since water splashes up the entire length of my legs, I let the dress capsize.
I push through until I am waist deep in the water. I don't realize that I'm crying until a tear drops into the river causing ripples.
"Kyan?"
He isn't drowning at all. He rises out of the water like a god and ire grips what is left of my weeping heart. "You!" I spit out with fury and relief rolled into one.
Kyan throws back his head laughing loudly, his shoulders shudder and his chest heaves. He wipes his eyes will the heel of his palms and gives me a mocking smirk. "You are quite caring, aren't you?"
I bite my lip to prevent a spill of curses and insult. Instead, I spin around and begin my journey back to shore. His wet hand grabs me and I tug hard for my release.
"You are already in the water!" He says. "Just stay."
"No," I hiss.
"I'm sorry, Isla."
I freeze. My heart is still beating frantically but for a different reason. "You are drunk!"
His expression turns sour. "No, I'm not."
"Yes, you are."
"Why do you say so?" He grabs my other hand too making the bracelet press into my wrist.
"Because... This laughing, swimming, joking Kyan isn't you," I say quickly before I can stop myself.
His eyes harden and he drops my hands suddenly like I have burnt him. I'm both relieved and hurt.
"You don't know me then," he whispers. "You can go." He turns his back to me and begins to swim away.
The skirt of my dress is drenched and heavy, pulling me down. "I'm not going anywhere."
"You better go," he growls. "Or I'll make you."
I cross my arms across my chest in a show of defiance. "You better get ready then." I have no idea on what I'm doing or why I'm doing it.
Kyan remains still, staring off at nowhere and completely ignoring me. Sighing, I let my arms drop and I start to draw circles on the water. I get bored of it quickly and result into something else. I close my eyes and envision the ripples, opening my eyes I'm met with such an extraordinary sight; ripples grow from nothing and expand quickly reaching the ends of the river.
Giggling, I let my concentration deepen. The sound of water lapping against my arms makes me open my eyes.
"Isla." I hear Kyan gasp. He stares at me wide-eyed at the fast growing but small waves that slap against me repeatedly.
"Kyan". A huge wave grows from under him, he yells as it pushes him downstream and I throw my head back in a fit of laughter.
"Nicely done, Isla."In no time, he is next to me. I'm impressed at his swimming skills.
"Thanks."And the ripples continue, growing from nothing and swallowing up the whole river.
"This... This is beautiful. I'm in awe." He sprays his fingers out trying to follow the ripples. "It's amazing what you can do."
My heart is pounding against my chest so loudly that I hear it echoing in my eardrums. I'm sure Kyan hears it too. My fingers tingle and goosebumps erupt from my skin, I shiver realizing I'm cold. Something churns in the pit of my stomach.
"Let's go," he finds my hand in the water and leads me out. My dress drips a torrent unto the ground and Kyan proceeds to dress up.
He eyes me carefully. "You must be freezing, let's go back inside so you'll get a change of clothes."
I open my mouth to protest but my teeth clatter instead. Kyan peels off his shirt in one fluid motion and offers it to me. I shake my head. "No."
"You want to freeze on our way to the Palace?" He sounds amazed that I rejected his shirt. I'm sure lots of girls will kill to wear his shirt. But not me.
"You swam too. You need your shirt." I run my hands against my arms grateful for the small moments of warmth.
"This is ridiculous," I hear him mutter. He picks up something from the table and stretches his hand to me — his goblet. "Drink. It will make you warm."
I know I shouldn't but must times I don't listen to myself. I collect the goblet from him, the scent of the wine hits me before it touches my lips. I swallow a mouthful and sigh at it's delightful sour sweetness.
"Thanks," I mutter and drop the goblet back on the table. He doesn't reply. "I don't want to get back to the party just yet," I hear myself say.
I think he nods. We sit at the table just like we did days ago but this time it's different. We are under a blanket of shining stars and bursting light rather than a sunny day, we are freezing rather than warm.
"All right."
"Why did you come out to swim?"
"Because I wanted to."
"Why?"
"It clears my head."
I'm tempted to ask why again but I know that would be pushing Kyan. My hand finds the goblet again and I take a healthy gulp.
"Why do you need to clear your head?" I can't resist the urge to dig him up till I can see him from all angles.
"Are you usually this inquisitive?" He doesn't sound irked or angry. I think I hear a chuckle from him.
"No."
"Then why?"
"Because I want to know about you." My heartbeat stops for a second and it's the longest second of my life. It pauses painfully and the world seems to pause with it. I wring my hands on my lap while nibbling on my lower lip.
"Why?" He asks when everything resumes again.
Because.
Because you make me think, wonder, spectate.
Because you don't seem like how I thought you to be.
Because I'm your betrothed.
Because I'm going to be your wife.
Because I'm not going to stay long enough for that to happen.
"The wine is making me curious," I rap.
He doesn't laugh or chuckle the way I expected him to. He is perfectly still like the statue Kyan I'm familiar with. Seconds stretch into minutes and I gulp down another mouthful of wine. My eyelids are becoming heavy and I feel lightheaded.
"I hurt Lyza." He grunts and buries his head in his palms. I remind in my seat clueless on what to do. Do I try to convince him otherwise? I don't even know what he means.
He raises his head again. "I don't know why I'm rambling about this, the wine must be pretty strong but if I hear this from another—"
I cut him off immediately. "You can trust me, Kyan. I promise."
"I sent Lysia's lover away. I'm the reason she is heartbroken."He pauses and rakes a hand through his hair. I hiccup but other than that, I don't react the way I would in a more sober state. "It breaks me when I see her with this sorrowful look on her face but I had to do what I did. You see, he was a guard and if they were discovered the consequences would have been grave. She's my little sister and I have to look out for her." He stops talking and stares at the shimmering river as it reflects the river's light and the stars glow.
I empty the goblet in one last gulp. My insides feel fuzzy and warm, my eyelids threaten to close anytime soon. I open my mouth to say something but instead of comforting words, a nasty hiccup jerks my body making me jolt in my seat.
Kyan glances at me, worry etched in his features marring his face. "Let's get you inside."
In no time, he scoops me in his arms and begins to stroll back to the Palace. I lay my head on his shoulder and wrap my arms around his neck. My breasts press against his hard chest and the steady beating of his heart reverberates through me.