The Agrista (Between the Lines Book 1) by Shannon Lamb Page B

often wondered what she was thinking; though right now, it was obvious.
      Marie made short-work of the mile walk to their destination. She kept a brisk pace in rhythm with the thrum of angry thoughts swirling through her head, reflected in her aimless glare. If the rest of her siblings were anything like Fallon, she sure didn’t want to meet them.
      “Here we are,” Alex announced as they approached the hot springs. “Take as long as you need. I’m exhausted,” he admitted reluctantly. “When you’re finished, follow the path back to camp and come find me.”
      Alex struggled to suppress a yawn as he wearily dragged his feet back up the dirt path. Marie stared at his taut honey skin, stretched thin over wide shoulders and clear lines of muscle. She briefly entertained the thought that she wouldn’t mind him joining her in the hot springs before quickly shoving it away. No need to complicate things.
      I still can’t believe Fallon’s my… Marie ground her foot into the dirt. She refused to even finish the thought. I’m here to relax, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do! Her angry determination directly contradicted her good intentions.
      Marie nearly ripped her clothes as she angrily tore them from her body. She threw them in all directions, not caring where they ended up. She’d most likely regret it later, but she could only focus on this single moment.
      She wrapped the towel Alex had given her around her and clinched it closed over her breasts. She didn’t trust Fallon not to do something terrible to her when she was her most vulnerable. The wretched woman seemed to have no inhibitions and thrived on irritating Marie. What better opportunity than when she’s naked and alone?
      She harshly adjusted the towel, grinding the rough, grainy fabric over her tender flesh as she ground her teeth. Leaping before she looked is how she wound up here, and she certainly wasn’t taking any more chances.
      Marie charged through the fog, letting out a blissful sigh as the hot water rushed over her feet. She immediately immersed herself in the warm rushes of silk, and all her cares melted away. Every negative thought piggybacked on every bead of sweat that rolled down her rosy cheeks until she finally felt calm. This was exactly what she needed.
      She took slow, deep breaths, letting the steam fill her lungs and soothe her soul as her limbs undulated softly beneath the water. The subtle pressure felt like a full body massage that sent her to the edge of euphoria.
      She spent hours soaking, refusing to think of anything outside of this moment. That was a challenge all on its own. It was far too easy to stay here forever, for her mind was at ease and the water would never chill.
      “I guess I should get out before I turn into a prune,” she sighed, examining the puckered skin on her fingertips.
      Marie lazily dragged her hand through the water, hypnotized by the ripples pulsing from her fingertips as they languidly stretched across surface of the water. She wished everything in life was so predictable.
      “What’s wrong with me?” That was exactly what Marie was running away from: predictability.
      She draped her head forward and sighed wistfully, bringing her knees to her chest. She’d gotten exactly what she’d spent years wishing for – adventure – and now that she had it, she wasn’t so sure she wanted it anymore. She was beginning to miss the mundane, and she hated herself for that.
      A peculiar image slithered into her periphery with an ocular shudder, abruptly disrupting her pity party. Marie tersely looked away, feigning ignorance. She convinced herself that there was nothing there, and that she was simply imagining things. Because that worked so well the first time , she scoffed.
      She kept her eyes closed as she slowly turned her head. Each shallow breath imbued her with courage. “There’s nothing there, right? Right. Okay, I’m going to open my eyes now.”