Chapter 1: The Sapphire Veil

The mist from the waterfall kissed Evelyn's bare shoulders as Dan's hands traced the curve of her waist, their bodies pressed together in the shallow edge of the sapphire lake. Water droplets clung to her dark hair like diamonds, and her hazel eyes held a wildness she'd never felt before—a hunger that matched the intensity burning in his blue gaze.

"We shouldn't be doing this," she whispered against his lips, even as her fingers tangled in his sun-streaked hair.

"I know," Dan murmured, his voice rough with desire. His thumb brushed along her jawline, and she shivered despite the warm mountain air. "But I can't stop wanting you."

The roar of the cascade above them drowned out her soft gasp as he pulled her closer, their wet skin sliding together. Here, hidden in this secret paradise with walls of granite rising around them like cathedral spires, nothing else existed. Not Rachel. Not the complications waiting back at camp. Just this moment, raw and electric and inevitable.

But how had they gotten here? How had twenty-four hours turned her safe, predictable world completely upside down?

---

Eighteen hours earlier

"Come on, Ev, it'll be fun!" Rachel had insisted, bouncing on her toes beside Evelyn's car. "When's the last time you did something spontaneous?"

Evelyn had laughed, shouldering her hiking pack. "Spontaneous? You planned this trip three weeks ago."

"Details." Rachel waved her hand dismissively, but there was something forced about her usual enthusiasm. Dark circles shadowed her brown eyes, and she kept glancing toward the campsite where her boyfriend Alex was setting up their tent with mechanical precision. "The point is, you need this. All that freelance stress, living in your apartment like a hermit—"

"I don't live like a hermit," Evelyn protested, though the words felt hollow. When was the last time she'd done anything that made her pulse race? Her latest relationship had ended six months ago when Mark suggested they "take things to the next level" by getting a joint savings account. The most exciting thing in her life lately was trying new coffee shops.

"Sure you don't." Rachel's grin was strained. "That's why you haven't been on a real date since—"

"Hey there, stranger."

The voice, warm and edged with familiar mischief, made Evelyn's breath catch. She turned to find Dan emerging from behind an SUV, and her traitorous heart did that stupid flutter it always did when she saw him. Two years of being friends with his sister, and she still couldn't look at Daniel Sterling without remembering she was supposed to be a good girl who didn't lust after her best friend's older brother.

He looked like he'd stepped out of an outdoor magazine—hiking boots, cargo shorts that showed off his muscled calves, and a fitted gray t-shirt that clung to his broad shoulders. His hair was tousled like he'd been running his hands through it, and that crooked smile that had probably broken a dozen hearts was aimed directly at her.

"Hi, Dan." She managed to keep her voice steady, even as heat crept up her neck. "I didn't know you were coming."

"Last-minute addition." His blue eyes held hers for a beat too long. "Rachel thought the group needed some adult supervision."

"Adult supervision?" Rachel snorted, but her laugh sounded brittle. "You're barely two years older than us, and you're definitely not more mature."

Something flickered across Dan's face—concern, maybe—but he covered it with that easy grin. "Ouch. And here I brought my good camera to document all your mountain adventures."

"Speaking of adventures," Alex's voice cut through their banter like a blade, "shouldn't we get moving? It's already past noon."

Evelyn turned toward Rachel's boyfriend, surprised by his sharp tone. Alex had always been quiet, more observer than participant, but today he seemed almost hostile. His jaw was tight as he hefted his pack, refusing to meet anyone's eyes.

The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. Rachel's face crumpled for just a moment before she plastered on that brittle smile again.

"Right! Adventure time!" she chirped, but her enthusiasm felt as fragile as spun glass. "Everyone ready for the best camping trip ever?"

Nobody answered.

The first night passed in uncomfortable silence. Alex barely spoke during dinner, picking at his food while staring into the fire with hollow eyes. Rachel tried to fill the quiet with forced chatter about work, the weather, anything that might resurrect their usual group dynamic. But her efforts only seemed to make Alex withdraw further.

Dan caught Evelyn's eye across the flames and raised an eyebrow in a silent question. She shrugged, equally puzzled by their friends' strange behavior.

By morning, the atmosphere had grown even more strained. Alex emerged from his and Rachel's tent looking like he hadn't slept, and Rachel's eyes were red-rimmed despite her cheerful proclamations about the "gorgeous morning."

"So," Dan said carefully over instant coffee and granola bars, "what's the plan for today? That lake hike you mentioned, Rach?"

Rachel's face brightened with what looked like genuine excitement for the first time since they'd arrived. "Yes! Sapphire Lake. It's supposed to be absolutely gorgeous—this hidden gem about four miles up the trail. There's a waterfall and everything."

"Sounds perfect," Evelyn said, eager for any escape from the campsite's oppressive mood.

"Actually," Alex's voice was flat, "I think I'll stay here. I'm not feeling great."

The lie was so obvious it made everyone uncomfortable. Alex was probably the most athletic among them, a runner who could hike circles around the rest of them without breaking a sweat.

"Oh." Rachel's face fell. "Well, maybe we should all—"

"No." Alex's tone was sharp enough to make her flinch. "You should go. All of you. I just... I need some space."

"Alex—" Rachel started, her voice small and hurt.

"Please." He stood abruptly, coffee sloshing from his mug. "Just go have fun. I'll be fine here."

The silence stretched until Dan cleared his throat. "Actually, you know what? Maybe Alex has the right idea. I could use a lazy morning too. Why don't you girls go enjoy your lake adventure?"

But Rachel was already shaking her head, tears threatening. "No, I... I can't leave him. Not when he's..." She swallowed hard. "I should stay."

"Come on, Rach," Evelyn said gently. "You've been talking about this hike for weeks. Don't let—"

"I said no!" Rachel's voice cracked, and she pressed her hands to her face. "I'm sorry, I just... I can't."

She fled toward the trees, leaving the three of them in awkward silence.

Alex stared after her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he muttered something under his breath and stalked back to his tent.

Dan and Evelyn looked at each other across the cold remains of the campfire.

"Well," Dan said finally, "this is officially the most uncomfortable camping trip in history."

Despite everything, Evelyn found herself smiling. "Your sister's been looking forward to that lake for weeks."

"I know." Dan ran a hand through his hair, messing it up even more. "But I'm not leaving her here with whatever's going on between those two."

"What if..." Evelyn hesitated, knowing she was about to suggest something dangerous. "What if one of us went? Just to scout it out, take some pictures for Rachel. That way she'd know what she's missing when things get... better."

Dan's eyes sharpened, and she could practically see him working through the implications. The two of them. Alone. For hours.

"That's actually not a terrible idea," he said slowly. "I did bring the good camera."

"And I've been dying to try out my new hiking boots."

They stared at each other, both knowing this was a bad idea for reasons that had nothing to do with trail safety.

"Just a quick hike," Dan said finally. "There and back. Take some photos for Rachel."

"Right," Evelyn agreed. "Just for Rachel."

The lie tasted sweet on her tongue.

An hour later, they were heading up the mountain trail, leaving behind the wreckage of their friends' relationship and stepping into something infinitely more dangerous. With every step that took them further from camp, Evelyn felt the careful boundaries she'd maintained for two years beginning to crumble.

Dan walked beside her, close enough that she could smell his cologne mixed with mountain air, close enough that when their hands accidentally brushed reaching for the same tree branch, sparks seemed to dance across her skin.

By the time they reached the sapphire lake, breathless and exhilarated from the climb, those boundaries had become nothing more than mist on the water.

And like mist, they were about to disappear entirely.