The Almost One Night Stand

Chapter 40

Silas's POV

She'd looked so tempting standing on the stairs, spying on my brothers. Owen's shirt looked good on her, but one of mine would look better. When I picked her up and realized she didn't have pants on, I wanted to drag her back up to my room and lock the world out. Instead, I set her down and walked away. Gods, I'm an idiot.

I heard Gabe walk up next to me, leaning on the porch railing, "She thought you were mad at her," he told me. I groaned, running my hands down my face. Fuck. "Don't worry, I explained it to her, then Brandon helped," he gave a wicked laugh.

I looked at him, "What did you do, Gabe?"

He grinned, "What you wanted to do." My eyes went wide and I sputtered, but couldn't seem to form real words. He laughed louder, "You're too much of a gentleman for your own good sometimes, Silas. Poor Snow was crying because she thought she'd upset you by not having on pants, so I made sure she felt better. Of course, then Brandon walked in and decided to watch..."

I gripped the railing so hard it creaked. "Where is she?" I asked between clenched teeth.

"Brandon went to help her find pants." He slapped my shoulder, still grinning like a fool, "Don't worry about it, man. She's not upset and hey, Brandon got his mark." Then he spun around and walked back into the house. Damn, he's such an ass sometimes.

I felt too embarrassed to go back into the house, so I headed toward the pond. Even if it wasn't the ocean, I felt calm around the water. Maybe that's why I'm so drawn to Nimue considering her connection to the water. I sat down, my back against the massive Willow tree, its branches skimming the surface of the water. The air was thick and humid as I listened to the insects and moving water. Leaning my head back, I closed my eyes.

A splashing sound made me bolt upright. I rubbed my eyes, trying to see clearly. It took me a few moments to realize I wasn't in the backyard anymore. The air was now cool and shrouded in fog, and I saw dozens of willows near the edge of what looked to be a lake. My feet were slightly submerged in the water and my shoes were now gone. I reached out to steady myself, feeling my hand press against the rough bark, then gasped as my hand seemed to melt into the tree. I started to cry out, but my voice was cut short as the branches of the willow pulled and pushed at me. The pain was mind-shattering as stems embedded into my skin, my feet sank into the waters, shifting and spreading out like tree roots.

I tried to breathe but only felt my body sway in the breeze. I had become a willow tree, standing alongside the others, guarding the lake. I felt time pass but had no idea how much. My branches grew full and long, twisting and dipping between the shore and water. I watched as children played along the shores, lovers kissed beneath my branches, and young initiates were blessed in the lake by a priestess. I felt tired, yet I remained standing, watching, and waiting for something just beyond my grasp.

As centuries passed, I saw a young woman with long flowing black hair step into the lake. She looked so much like Nimue. My branches dipped beneath the surface and I watched as she picked up a sword, then rose from the water as if lifted by an invisible hand. Her feet grazed across the surface of the water and when she stepped onto the shore, her hand pressed to my trunk. "Witness," a voice said softly. I watched the scene unfold before me as a young man, clad in armor knelt before her. She placed a hand on his head and spoke a blessing then placed the sword in his upturned palms. "Arthur Pendragon, son of Igraine, child of the Isle, we place our trust within you. May the blade Excalibur serve thee well," her voice rang out across the lake and grove as young initiates stood clad in white gowns, and Druids stood in their woolen cloaks. Taliesin stood, leaning on his staff, silently watching, his face set with a concerned grimace, and a red-haired young girl glared as the woman placed kisses on the cheeks of Arthur before he departed.