Chapter 78

It was another night, and they had snuck out again. Rowan held Rosalind’s hand in his as he led her down the stairs. “Watch your steps,” he said softly.

Rosalind could feel her heart pounding heavily in her chest as she looked around the dark and eerie staircase they were descending.

A few torches flickered at the beginning, but the light had long since disappeared, and now he was guiding her through complete darkness. That alone made her nerves tighten. “Rowan, are you sure about this?” She asked.

“Yeah” He replied, then asked, “what’s wrong p>

Rosalind shrugged slightly, her voice quieter now. “It’s just… a bit creepy p>

Her eyes scanned the darkness fearfully, half-expecting something to jump out at her at any moment. “I’m here, don’t be scared,” he assured her.

But Rosalind was not fully convinced she could relax. Dark places like this were never something she enjoyed, and Rowan was leading her deeper into what he had described as an abandoned place. She trusted him, but that didn’t stop the unease settling in her chest.

“Rowan,” she called again when a faint squeak echoed nearby.

“That’s just a rat,” he replied instantly, tightening his hold slightly when her fingers instinctively clung to him.

“We’re here,” he said shortly after.

Rosalind exhaled in relief as they stepped out of the narrow passage. The space opened into a vast, hidden clearing beneath the night sky. Moonlight poured down onto a still pool of water at its center, the surface glowing softly as if it held pieces of the stars.

Slowly, she stepped forward, her breath catching as she took it in. It was breathtaking, too beautiful to belong in an abandoned place p>

A sudden flutter made her flinch, and she ducked instinctively as a bird flew overhead. Her heartbeat spiked again, only for her to realize it had landed on Rowan’s shoulder. A white bird, its feathers almost glowing under the moonlight.

“Relax, Rosalind,” he said, a smile touching his lips.

It was the first time she had seen that expression on him, and it made her pause. She watched as he lifted his finger, allowing the bird to perch on it as he stroked it gently.

“Are you familiar with animals?” Rosalind asked.

“Just this one,” he said simply, continuing to caress the bird.

Rosalind eyes narrowed slightly at the white bird. She was certain she had seen it before, but the memory slipped away before she could grasp it.

“Go now,” Rowan said after a moment, lifting his hand. The bird fluttered away into the night and disappeared completely.

“You must be fond of it,” Rosalind said, noticing the subtle change in his expression as he watched it leave, like someone seeing an old companion depart.

When his attention finally returned to her, she had already turned toward the water. She extended her hand over the surface carefully.

“Do you think this is safe?” she asked.

“Yes,” he answered, but his voice caught slightly when she suddenly stood upright and began removing her cloak, letting it fall to the ground.

Underneath, she stood in a simple nightgown that barely reached mid-thigh, and for a brief moment Rowan froze.

She truly had no sense of caution when it came to situations like this.

Rosalind, however, was already thinking about nothing but the water. Without hesitation, she submerged herself, the cool surface immediately washing over her as she let out a small breath of relief. She moved through the water, her movements slow, as if she had been holding in exhaustion for too long.

Rowan tried to look away, but it was impossible to ignore her presence under the moonlight. She looked unreal with her wet hair clinging to her skin, the way she moved without hesitation, unaware of how she was affecting him.

She drifted closer to the edge, resting her hands on it as she looked up at him. “Are you just going to stand there?” she asked, lifting a brow.

He exhaled slowly. Rosalind looked like trouble without even trying.

He remembered how she once searched for books on how to attract a man’s attention, and yet she clearly had no idea she didn’t need any of it.

Or maybe it was him who was the problem.

“Yes,” he finally answered.

He didn’t step in. He couldn’t.

Rosalind pressed her lips together, clearly unimpressed. “Tsk,” she clicked her tongue, before turning away and swimming on her own.

He watched her shift into a backstroke, moving effortlessly through the water. Something hard strained through the wet fabric and his gaze accidentally caught it. He immediately looked away, jaw clenched.

This was a mistake. Bringing her here had been a mistake.

Rosalind switched into a forward stroke, splashing gently through the glowing water as the night stretched on around them.

Now she saw Rowan take a seat, looking occupied with something distant enough that he wasn’t paying attention to her. She had thought they might share the moment together, but who was she kidding… he didn’t seem like the playful type at all.

Slowly, a thought crossed her mind, her lips curved slightly as she held her breath before slipping beneath the water.

A few minutes passed, and Rowan no longer heard the sound of splashing. He lifted his head and looked in her direction, only to realize Rosalind was no longer swimming as she had been earlier. His brows pulled together immediately as he stood up without hesitation.

“Rosalind,” he called, but there was no answer, only the faint rippling on the surface.

Panic hit him instantly, a dangerous thought flashing through his mind as he moved forward. “Rosalind?” he called again, urgency sharpening his voice, but still there was no response.

He dove into the water without another thought as he searched frantically. That was when he saw her near the bottom. His heart jolted as he pushed himself forward, swimming hard until he reached her.

He grabbed her firmly around the waist and pulled her upward, breaking the surface with a sharp breath. Rosalind’s pale face looked back at him. Anger and fear tangled inside him, not at her, but at himself for looking away even for a second.

“Rosalind,” hee cupped her face lightly, tapping her cheeks, but there was still no response.

Then, without warning, Rosalind spat water directly into his face.

And then she laughed.

“Is this funny?” he asked, a slight frown forming on his face. He had genuinely thought something terrible had happened to her, and the idea alone made something heavy settle in his chest.

“Forgive me,” she said, still smiling. “I forgot you’re such a serious man that you rarely joke or have fun p>

He went still.

“I was scared,” he admitted, his voice lower now. “I thought something bad had happened. And you call this a joke p>

“Are you mad at me?” Rosalind asked, her brows dipping slightly as her expression softened. “I never meant for it to go this far p>

“No,” he said quickly, then exhaled. “I’m not mad at you. I was just… scared. For you p>

“You could’ve just said you wanted to play,” he added after a moment.

She tilted her head slightly. “But you didn’t come in earlier,” she reminded him.

The words landed sharply, and for a second, he looked like he wanted to disappear on the spot.

Silence passed between them before Rowan suddenly splashed water in her direction, catching her off guard. Rosalind blinked, then quickly steadied herself before splashing him back.

And just like that, it escalated.

He moved further into the water, swerving away as she chased him, splashing again and again until the seriousness between them dissolved into laughter. They continued splashing, and at one point even held hands without saying anything, circling each other in the water while their eyes did all the speaking.

Eventually, Rosalind stepped out first, wringing water from her hair as it clung to her skin. Rowan’s gaze followed her without restraint because he couldn’t look away even if he tried.

The fabric was heavy with water, outlining her shape under the moonlight. Something in him hardened and he knew he was losing the control he had left.

Rosalind,” he called.

She was just about to turn around when his arms wrapped around her waist suddenly, pulling her close enough that her breath caught. The heat of him settled around her, overwhelming her senses in a way she wasn’t prepared for after the coolness of the bath.

“What is it?” she managed to ask, her voice unsteady.

Rowan drew in a slow breath, his lips almost brushing her bare shoulders. “I want you p>

Her heart skipped a beat.

His hold tightened, “And it’s becoming harder to pretend I don’t p>