Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Seventy-Two: Blinding

"You've proven your point!" I shouted at her. She finally evened out, allowing Thorn and Murtagh to catch up to us. Of course, I shot him an annoyed look which he only grinned at. Shaking my head, I adjusted myself in the saddle, so I wasn't gripping Alethea to death.

As predicted, it only took us about four hours to reach the location of the hot springs. As Thorn and Alethea slowly descended, I looked down at the spring. It was well secluded as said, with high rock walls enclosing the space.

The spring itself bubbled in a small hole with a waterfall slowly pouring water into the hot water. Steam rose from the area where icy water met hot water, providing a wall of privacy for those swimming.

Not too far from the hot spring grew a group of trees sung into an overhang. That must be the shelter Yirlitá mentioned. There was furniture underneath the overhang along with several heavy looking blankets at bedrolls.

Yirlitá had said it wasn't much, but she also said that the point was to enjoy being out in nature. Alethea landed and sniffed the air.

"We are secluded!" Alethea said, surprise in the voice.

"You didn't think she spoke the truth?" Alethea twisted her head to look at me.

"I did not doubt her words, but I did doubt the mentions of how secluded this place was."

"True," I responded out loud as I unstrapped my pack from the saddle and slid off Alethea's back. My feet hit the forest floor as I marveled at the temperature. "is it just me or is it quite..."

"Comfortable?" Murtagh suggested as he grabbed his bag and jumped off Thorn. "it feels warmer than it should, maybe the hot springs contribute to the temperature here?"

"Well, I won't complain," I muttered before heading for the overhang. Ducking underneath the branches and leaves that covered part of the overhang, I dropped my bag on the floor and flopped face-first onto the large bedroll with a moan. "freeeeddddoommmmm."

Murtagh walked into the overhang and dropped his bag before climbing onto the bedroll lay beside me.

"As much as I want to explore, I really could use a nap right now." He mumbled as he slung an arm across my back. I opened one eyelid and looked at him. He looked as tired as I felt.

"I'll fine with that." I replied before yawning and snuggling closer. "we are on vacation."

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Sitting on the edge of the hot springs with my lower legs in the water, I looked up at the waterfall and sighed as the sun slowly went down. Not having to worry about Fen or Selene made it almost seem like I was back in the time before Eragon, Murtagh, and I had reached Farthendur.

"Just like old times," Murtagh muttered from where he trod water. I looked up at him and smiled.

"I just thought this felt like that," I replied, moving my legs through the soothing hot water. Murtagh swam over to where I sat and grabbed onto my legs.

"You know, this is a hot spring," He said with a smile. "you are supposed to swim in it."

"What if I just wanted to enjoy the view?" I countered, raising an eyebrow. The hands that were grasping my ankles slowly slid up my legs in a tantalizing manner. Narrowing my eyes at him, I pressed my lips together as his fingers brushed across my thighs. He wouldn't...

He did.

Fast as lightning, Murtagh dragged me from my seat on the edge of the hot springs, and into the pool. My swimming tunic instantly became soaked with hot water as my body was enveloped in the spring water.

When my head broke the surface of the hot spring, I sputtered at Murtagh who was laughing.

"I am going to kill you!" I screeched before lunging at him. Laughing Murtagh swam away from me as I darted after him, splashing water into his face. I chased after him as best as I could in the water before ultimately giving up with a final growl.

Once I had gotten over my short rage, I swam to the small shelf of rock just under the waterfall. The mix of icy water and hot spring water made the temperature of the water just right for relaxing.

Standing in the waist-deep water with steam rising up around me, I wrung the water from my hair as I looked at the rock formation behind the waterfall. Years of water trickling down its surface had eroded it back, forming the shallow pool I now stood in.

It was apparent why Yirlitá and her family kept this place a closely guarded secret. This hot spring was a getaway of a lifetime. As I was admiring the water-carved stone, arms wrapped around my waist. I twisted around in Murtagh's arms and pressed my palms against his beard.

"You know," I started a devilish smile crossing my face. "Yirlitá did tell us to enjoy this place, and I have a feeling that didn't just mean appreciate the view."

"Oh, I appreciate the view, alright." Murtagh countered before placing a hand behind my head and pulling my lips up to his.