Symbiosis (Scintillate Series Book 2)

by Karen Tjebben

  “That was pretty good,” Nick said. “You took a lot of steps.” He ran his hands quickly up and down my back; the warmth from the friction felt great. “Now let’s go back in.” He pulled himself away from me.

  “What?” I replied in disbelief. “Nick, I’m not ready for this. You’re pushing me.”

  “Kate, you need a new mantra, an attitude adjustment. Tell yourself you can do this. Tell yourself the water is warm. Tell yourself that the water feels good on your skin. That’s all there is to it.”

  “That’s all there is to it?” I scoffed and chewed on my lip. How could he be so nonchalant about all of this? “So I’m just supposed to will the water to feel good?”

  “Yes. That’s all there is to it for an Asteri.” He took my hand and dragged me back towards the water.

  Once again I stepped into the frigid lake. It bit through my flesh as it lapped up my body, higher and higher. By the time my shoulders were submerged I was too cold to talk. My teeth banged together as I shivered. I clenched my jaw as I tried to control my shivering. I turned to head back to land, but Nick stopped me.

  “No. Tell yourself the water feels good.” His strong hands gripped my shoulders. I couldn’t move.

  “I…f. f. e. e. e. l…g. g. g.” I shivered and stared at him. I was too cold to even try and finish saying his stupid mantra. My fingers felt so thick and heavy. How long does it take to get hypothermia?

  Nick finally had mercy on me. One arm encircled my waist and the other lifted my legs as he carried me back to land. He placed me on the ground and pulled my body against his. The warmth of his body quickly fought off the icy chill that was overtaking me. I pressed my face against his chest and listened to his heartbeat. The peaceful rhythm took me back to our time together in Asheville. We were so close then — before this nightmare began.

  “You did better that time.” His warm breath circled in my ear.

  “What if you hold me when we’re in the water? Maybe your warmth will help me last longer. Maybe I’ll be able to overcome my human response to its iciness.” He wouldn’t possibly say no to my request.

  Nick exhaled and looked at the lake and then back at me. “That won’t work. You need to do this. You need to pull the power out of yourself.”

  Maybe he was punishing me for dancing with Alex. Was he really this jealous? Nothing happened between Alex and me. Couldn’t he see that I loved him? Couldn’t he see that I wanted him?

  “Come on.” He led me back to the water.

  We repeated this cycle of entering the water and warming up on land so many times that I lost count. I couldn’t seem to overcome my human weakness. I couldn’t seem to break through to him either. I seemed doomed to failure today.

  “Please, just hold me a little longer,” I pleaded as I snuggled into his chest. “You’re so warm, and the water is so cold.” I slid my arms around his waist. I wanted him so badly. I wanted to fix this mess that divided us. I gently pressed my lips against his chest and tasted the water on his skin. A warmth spread throughout my body as his fingers trailed up my back. He kissed my head, and his fingers wove into my hair. Was I beginning to break through? His breath warmed my cheek as his lips neared mine, and I moved my mouth to his.

  “Kate, stop.” Nick pulled away. “We can’t do this.”

  “We can’t do what? Kiss?” What was his problem?

  “Things are different now.”

  “No, they aren’t. Are you still mad that I danced with Alex?

  “No. I’m glad that you danced with Alex.” Nick shifted his weight and stared at the lake. “I needed to see you together.”

  My heart raced as I processed his words. I was right. Alex was the problem. Nick was jealous of Alex. What could I do about that? I couldn’t go back in time and undo my past with Alex. “You didn’t see anything except two friends dancing. Why are you punishing me?”

  Nick’s blue eyes studied mine. “I’m not punishing you. I’m helping you. Alex was right. I was rushing things with you.”

  “Stop! Don’t quote Alex. He’s not in charge here. You and I get to make our own decisions.”

  “I know.” Nick gently rested his hands on my shoulders. “But you are beginning your transformation. You have a lot to process, and I shouldn’t confuse that. You need to learn how to blend your two lives — your human life and your Asteri life. This will probably get harder before it gets easier.”

  “Being with you. Loving you. That helps me. How can you not see that?”

  “I do, and that’s why we need to slow down. We can’t be so physical. It’s too distracting. We need to wait until you’ve figured out who you really are.”

  The iciness of the water would be a welcome relief to the iciness of the words that flowed from his mouth. How could he just pack that part of our relationship away? How long would it take for me to complete my transformation? “So we’re like what… dating without benefits?”

  He laughed and pulled me close. “I love your sense of humor.” His lips pressed against the top of my head. “I’ve confused things. I allowed my emotions to affect my work and now we’re paying for it. You need to focus on developing your skills.”

  I glared at him, frustrated. “Don’t pretend you’re doing this to help me through my transformation. You had no trouble with the physical side of our relationship before I danced with Alex.”

  “Hey!” Alex shouted from across the clearing.

  My stomach flipped and butterflies fluttered in my core at the sound of Alex’s voice, yet anger rose within me as well. I was angry that Alex was ruining my relationship with Nick. And I was angry because that mysterious pull was there, drawing me to Alex, and the butterflies in my stomach flitted wildly whenever he was around.

  “You’re here just in time,” Nick replied.

  “You knew he was coming?” I said in disbelief. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I didn’t think it mattered.” Nick shrugged. “Alex is going to help you now. I’ll be back later.”

  Alex stepped closer and smiled at me. I clenched my abdominal muscles in an attempt to control the flittering butterflies that never failed to awaken in his presence since the night we’d danced.

  Alex pulled his shirt over his head. “How’s it going?” he asked.

  I purposely looked away as he stood there shirtless. I wasn’t going to give Nick any reason to think I was attracted to Alex’s perfectly chiseled body.

  “Well, she’s already convinced herself that she can’t do it. Maybe you’ll have better luck with her,” Nick said, winking at me. “She gets cold and then just wants to cuddle to get warm.”

  I felt the heat of blush wash over my face as I realized that without Nick, Alex was my relief from the cold. It was Alex’s arms that would embrace me when I couldn’t take the cold anymore. Would I be able to hide the effect he had on me? “Enjoy your walk,” I said sarcastically.

  Nick gave me a crooked smile. “Enjoy your swim.” He picked up his sweatshirt and headed towards the woods. I stared at him as he walked away, furious that he would just pass me off to Alex. Helping me was his responsibility. Didn’t it even bother him that Alex might make a move on me while he was gone?

  Alex pulled off his running pants and dropped them on the grass. With his hands planted on the waistband of his bathing suit he said, “Are you okay?”

  “No, we had a fight. It’s your fault.” I decided being direct with Alex was best. How else could the three of us get through this? Nick needed to understand that I didn’t have feelings for Alex. And if Alex knew where he stood in our relationship, then perhaps he would even talk to Nick and help me.

  “My fault?” Alex touched his chest with his fingertips and chuckled.

  “Yes. You put those ridiculous ideas in his head about rushing things with me. Now he thinks I need to complete my transformation before he’ll touch me again. He thinks we should stop being so physical.”

  “Wow, Nick actually listened to me.” A genuine smile graced Alex’s f
ace, and his green eyes brightened.

  “So that makes you happy?”

  “I think that’s a brilliant idea. You need more time to adjust to your new life.”

  I bit my bottom lip as I thought about how to reply to his intrusive statement. Why those two always thought it was their prerogative to make decisions for me drove me out of my mind. “It’s none of your business. What happens between Nick and me is between us. You need to stay out of it.”

  “I disagree.” Alex stepped towards me — his bare chest just inches from mine. My heart beat faster. “When we danced, everything changed. I’ve always been attracted to you, but that night, you felt something for me. It poured off of you. Nick saw it too. That’s why he’s different. It wasn’t me that changed his behavior. It was you.” Alex’s hands grazed my arms and sent the butterflies in my stomach into a frenzied state.

  OMG! He just admitted to being attracted to me! What was I supposed to do with that information? I tried to control the internal quivering that rippled through my body. “I didn’t feel anything,” I lied. “All we did was dance.” I stepped away from him, out of his reach. The way my body was reacting, I couldn’t risk another touch from him. “Let’s get this swimming thing over with.” I marched towards the lake, mentally screaming that the water was warm.

  As the frigid water rose above my waist, the chaotic butterflies in my stomach settled down. “Kate, I’m sorry,” Alex said as he caught up with me. “I shouldn’t have said that.” The water lapped gently against his abs. “It was presumptuous of me to assume that I know what you were thinking or feeling.”

  I continued deeper into the cold water in an attempt to extinguish the fire burning in my core. “Nothing happened that night.”

  “You’re right,” Alex replied, moving his hands fluidly atop the liquid surface. “Nothing happened.”

  The cold sunk into my bones. I clenched my jaw shut in order to keep it from chattering, but I couldn’t get out. I wouldn’t wrap myself around Alex in order to warm up. What would he think if I snuggled into his bare chest? How would I react? How would my body betray me? So instead of getting out, I repeated my new mantra. The water is warm. The water is warm. The frigid water continued to lap against my body, but I wouldn’t give up. My teeth clicked against each other as they tapped out an unusual rhythm.

  “Kate, your lips are turning blue. You should get out and warm up.”

  “No, I’m fine.” I shivered and wrapped my arms more tightly around my chest. Alex stared at me. I continued to shiver. There was no way I was giving up.

  Alex’s arms slipped around my waist and under my legs. “I’m done watching you torture yourself.” As he carried me towards land, everywhere our skin connected instantly warmed. His warmth flowed into me, heating me both externally and internally. Even as we made our way out of the water, confliction over my feelings for him grew. I wanted his warmth. I even enjoyed his touch, but it really wasn’t him I wanted. I wanted Nick. If only Nick would give me the affection I wanted, I wouldn’t be so attracted to Alex. Nick was complicating all of this.

  The cold grass tickled my feet as Alex set me on the ground. His arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me close. “We can’t do that,” I snapped. I pressed my hand into his chest and shoved him away.

  “Do what? Get warm?” Alex spread his arms wide. Life and joy filled those green eyes as he smiled.

  “I don’t want to hug you like that. It’s just weird, especially after what you said.”

  “What? That I’m attracted to you?”

  Duh… “Yes, that’s what I’m referring to.”

  “Look, I’m here to help. If you don’t want to warm up, then go back in the water and fix the problem yourself.” He pointed to the lake. The sun shone down on the water from high in the sky. How long had I been here? How many trips into this torturous lake had I taken?

  “That’s exactly what I’m going to do,” I shouted as I marched into the water. The anger rose within me as the water crept up my body. All the reasons for my anger swirled through my head. First, Nick basically downgraded our relationship to platonic friends. What guy does that? Second, Nick left me here with Alex, the guy who’s putting the moves on his girlfriend. What kind of logic is that? Third, Alex had the nerve to tell me that I’d poured some sort of feeling all over him when we danced. That doesn’t even make sense. And fourth, Nick may have seen the alleged pouring of my feelings onto Alex. Uh, I just don’t get men. Argh!

  “Kate!” Alex yelled from the water’s edge.

  “What!” I yelled, waist high in water. “What do you want now?”

  “How do you feel?”

  I shook my head in disbelief. What is with this guy? “How do I feel? I feel angry!” I smacked the surface of the water and sent a tiny wave rippling towards land. “My boyfriend won’t touch me, and you’re happy about it.”

  “Good to know, but not what I meant. Are you cold?”

  “No, I’m not… cold.” Amazement shoved the last trace of anger from my body as the realization set in. No goose bumps prickled my skin. The water didn’t feel hot, but it didn’t feel cold either. It felt… fine. “I’m doing it!” I shouted.

  “Yeah, you are,” Alex waded towards me. “I’m really proud of you.”

  I immersed my head and the water seeped between the strands of my blonde hair. My arms cut through the water as I somersaulted into deeper depths. When I stood, a wind blew across me, and for a second I felt cold, but then I told myself I wasn’t cold, and the chill was gone. It was like I’d flipped a switch in my mind that controlled my temperature readings. “This is so cool!” I quickly dragged my fingertips through the top of the water and felt a light spray fall on my arms.

  “You’ve mastered an important skill,” Alex said. That mysterious pull beckoned me to step closer to him. I resisted the pull and dug my toes into the soft sand beneath my feet. As the water lapped against Alex’s chest, I noticed his leather cord and pendant.

  “Is that yours?” I pointed to the thin gold wand that lay on his chest. A snake spiraled around the wand.

  “Yes. It’s my amulet. It’s not nearly as fancy as yours.” He glanced casually at the butterfly resting on my chest, “But it does the job.”

  “What does it mean?”

  “It’s the Rod of Asclepius. It’s the symbol for Greek healers.”

  “Makes sense,” I said. “I’ve seen it before at doctors’ offices.” I wanted to touch it, but I knew our skin would brush together. I couldn’t let that happen. I was doing my best to minimize his interest in me. “I’m gonna get out of the water and see if I get cold. Then I’ll get in again.”

  “Good idea.” Alex walked beside me as we silently cut our way through the water. The water glistened in the sunlight as it snaked down his body.

  Earlier the ground felt cold under my feet; now I was indifferent to its temperature. The forecaster said it was supposed to be cold all day, but as a wind blew over me, I didn’t shiver or have any trace of goose bumps on my skin. I was perfectly comfortable. I headed back into the lake, leaving Alex on land, as I willed the water to a comfortable temperature. I submerged myself and did a few under-water somersaults before coming up for air.

  “So I guess Alex was the trick to your success,” Nick called out to me. He stood at the lake’s edge, his hands on his hips.

  I glared at him, not amused by his implication. I dove under the water and swam away from shore. When I came up for air, Nick and Alex stood in the distance, in the clearing.

  “You had better luck with her than I did,” Nick said.

  “Ha,” Alex scoffed. “That’s only because she’d rather freeze than touch me. She blames me for what’s going on between the two of you.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “Yes, I do,” Alex said. “She flat-out told me.”

  “That must have been awkward.” Nick looked over his shoulder at me. My hands cut through the water as I swam towards shore.

  “Lo
ok, none of this is going to be easy,” Alex said. “This is still going to take some time, but I’m going to be as honest with her as possible. And by the way, she knows how I feel.”

  “What do you mean?” Nick shifted his weight onto his other leg.

  “I told her that I’m attracted to her.”

  “What! Why did you do that?”

  “She deserves to know. I’ve stood by long enough, but now… things have changed.”

  “Alex, don’t forget…. You don’t want to rush her. She’s still in her fledgling stage,” Nick mocked.

  “Precisely, she’s becoming who she was always meant to be.”

  “Just watch yourself,” Nick mumbled. “You can mess this up if you put too much pressure on her.”

  “Really,” I seethed as I stomped closer to them. “You two should have had this conversation in the woods or later when I’m not around. And since we’re being honest and all, don’t you think it’s a little insensitive to talk about me like this when I’m right here.”

  “You heard us?” Alex tilted his head and raised an eyebrow.

  “Yeah, you’re standing right here.” I narrowed my eyes and dug my hands into my hips.

  “Yeah, we were here — in the clearing — and you were over there — in the water.” Nick chuckled as he pointed out the distance. “Kate, we were whispering. You shouldn’t have been able to hear us.” He wagged his finger in my face. “You’re a little eavesdropper,” he said with a smile.

  “What do you mean?” My emotions flew from frustration to concern to awe.

  “You wanted to hear us, so you focused your mind and listening skills on what we were saying,” Nick said.

  “You mean… I have like… super-hearing?”

  Alex nodded his head.

  “I have super-hearing!” I repeated.

  “Yes, but you better learn to control it, or you’ll go out of your mind with the constant bombardment of sounds,” Alex warned. “It’s kind of like vision. When you want to see something, you focus on it. When it’s out of your sightline, you can’t see it, even if you’re in the same room. You’ll have to learn to put certain sounds out of your sound periphery so you don’t get overloaded.”