8
Avery rolled onto her back and floated in the water. She looked up through the opening in the ceiling of the cave. The stars were beginning to come out. The walls of the cave glowed with lustrous colors.
“This is so beautiful. You were right. It is magical,” she murmured.
Core treaded water next to her. She could feel his eyes on her instead of the cave. She lowered her legs and turned toward him. Winding her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist, she let him keep both of them afloat.
“I could watch you all day long, every day, as you learn more about my world, and never grow tired of seeing the joy reflected in your eyes,” he said.
Avery’s throat tightened with emotion. She slid her hands up and cupped his face. For a moment, she did nothing more. She wanted to burn th
