Chapter 1024:
With her eyes fixed on him in that expectant way, Brad leaned in without thinking and took a small bite from the fruit she held out.
The moment the tangy-sweet juice touched his tongue, the flavor burst open, fresh and wild, so good it surprised him.
“Careful,” she joked. “Eat like that and you’ll poison yourself with enthusiasm.”
He broke into an amused grin. “If you actually wanted me dead, you wouldn’t go through all this trouble. Just tell me, and I’ll pass you the knife myself.”
He was teasing, but his eyes carried a sincerity that softened the joke.
She fed him another piece before continuing, her voice bright. Unlike Brad, she understood the entire forest like an old friend, and the spark in her eyes said she loved talking about it.
She explained the plants’ names, traits, and tricks with animated enthusiasm, and Brad listened like a student hanging on to every line.
𝘓a𝗍𝗲𝗌𝘵 𝖼𝘩ар𝗍e𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝘯 𝘨𝗮𝘭𝗇𝗈𝘃e𝘭𝗌.𝘤𝗈m
Light slipped through the leaves, scattering over her skin in soft, moving patterns, making her look almost ethereal, like knowledge itself clung to her.
Watching her, Brad couldn’t shake the feeling that she was a rare find, someone he was unbelievably lucky to have beside him.
Rylie stepped into a shaded patch, her eyes narrowing on a small waterfall in the distance.
“You’re a walking encyclopedia,” Brad murmured, sliding his arms around her waist from behind and gently resting his chin against her hair. “Tell me, what else don’t I know yet?”
His voice carried warmth and quiet happiness, his breath brushing her ear.
She relaxed into his steady hold, savoring the peace of it. A grin tugged at her mouth. “Plenty.”
“So, was this supposed to be a surprise?” she asked, catching the strange mineral scent drifting over from the falls. “You never mentioned a whole hot-spring waterfall hiding out here.”
In the bright sunlight, the water crashed down into the pool, sending up not just mist but a swirling fog that drifted upward like steam.
“Right. I might’ve left out one detail,” Brad said quietly. “There’s an old volcano under the island. It’s dormant, but the heat still circulates underground. That’s how this hot-spring waterfall formed. The water stays warm year-round, full of minerals.”
He tightened his arms and gently lifted her chin toward the dense fog. “See that thick patch? That’s where the spring comes up from underground.”
Resting comfortably against him, Rylie stared at the surreal sight.
The falls roared into the bright blue pool, sending bursts of white spray into the air. Warm mist rose in curls, catching sunlight and scattering it into delicate, glittering rainbows.
The air carried a faint wisp of sulfur, braided with the thick, humid sweetness of tropical greenery, creating an oddly soothing scent that settled deep in the lungs.
“Want to wash up? Water’s pretty limited on this island, and neither of us has had a real shower since last night,” Brad murmured as he leaned in and brushed a soft kiss over Rylie’s hair. His voice was low and affectionate. “Don’t worry. This water’s clean. I had it tested. They even handed me a neat little certificate.”
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