What kind of secret are we talking about, exactly?”

He held her gaze as he replied, “An ancient one.”

Now thoroughly intrigued, Brooke slowly nodded. “All right … on one condition. I don’t want anyone hunting me down for knowing about it.”

Blake’s lips twitched and he shook his head. “Don’t worry. It’s not life-threatening.”

“That’s good.” Brooke reached over to run her fingers along the collar of his shirt and tease his skin. “Because I’m ridiculously curious now.”

“The best way to explain it,” Blake began, pulling away and pushing to his feet, “is for me to show you. So watch closely.” He offered her a quick smirk before he took two steps backwards, away from her, and held out one hand towards the ocean. The wave, which had been rolling in at its steady, calm pace suddenly stilled, holding the line several feet lower than usual. Then, abruptly, the water reversed, rushing back into itself.

Brooke was confused as her eyes flicked between her companion and the strangely behaving sea. Was it possible for the ocean to be behaving like that? It must be, her brain told her, because otherwise I have to believe it’s possible for Blake to be doing that.

As if sensing her disbelief, Blake curved his hand slowly so that his palm was angled towards her, and then swept his arm in almost casually.

The flow of the tide seemed to return to normal, but as the water came up, a stream separated itself and continued moving forward even as the rest of the water receded. This stream lifted off the ground as it broke free and glided with an unnatural grace through the air until it had curved completely around Brooke’s seated form. It swirled around her, separating completely from the ocean and spiraling up.

Brooke was wide-eyed, and barely breathing, as she watched the seawater move around her. It was like magic, and she had no idea how to react. The water curved around her one final time before continuing on, this time flying toward Blake. She watched as he held out one hand, palm up, and the water gathered there, forming a type of puddle and hovering above his hand.

With a flick of his wrist, the water snapped quickly back to the ocean before collapsing, as if the spell that had possessed it had suddenly broken.

“Wh-what … was that?” Brooke asked shakily as she drew in a ragged breath. That was impossible, that’s what that was.

Blake stayed put, letting his arm fall to his side, and met her gaze solidly. “That was my power. I have the ability, if you will, to control water. It’s as natural to me as breathing.”

He said it with such a straight face, and such a serious, calm voice, that Brooke found herself inclined to believe him. Except that it was impossible. She just didn’t know how else to explain what she’d just witnessed. And that was a lot to take in. Did she—could she—really believe what he’d just shown her?