“I wanted to tell you everything. And I would have, I would have betrayed Harold if it meant saving you. But they had my sister. They still have my sister.” I choke out the words. “I’ve wanted more than anything to see you, and to apologize. I didn’t think you would come back.”
He reaches across the table, not taking my hand, but leaving his there for me to make the decision. “I’ve wanted more than anything to see you too. And you don’t need to apologize. I understand why you did what you did. You aren’t the only person close to me who betrayed my trust.” He huffs out a humorless laugh. “Maybe I’ve been the problem all along.”
I take his hand, lacing our fingers together. Something tense inside me eases at the contact. “What do you mean?”
“My uncle has been working with the Uprising this whole time.”
I suck in a breath. “Did he know about the killing period? Before it was announced, I mean?”
Callum shrugs, and it looks as if the weight of the world rests on his shoulders. “I couldn’t bring myself to ask.”
My heart aches. Even with his faults and prejudices, Callum has proven to be nothing but good and kind, openhearted and open-minded. He didn’t deserve that treatment from his uncle any more than he deserved it from me.
Neither of us says anything for a long minute. I focus on the warmth of his hand wrapped around mine, the comfort of his thumb swiping over my knuckles. It’s a comfort I haven’t earned, and yet I relish it just the same.
“Take off your shirt.”
His eyebrows jump. “I’m sorry?”
I gesture to his ribs. “Let me see your other bruises, I have something that can help.” I can do this for him, if nothing else.
He obliges, gingerly removing his cotton shirt, wincing with the pain of the movement.
I lean over to examine his mottled skin, breathing in the woodsy sage scent I’ve missed over the past few days. “Come with me.”
I lead him into the bathing chamber, filling a tub with warm water and adding another one of Bianca’s tonics. I gesture for him to climb in. I know I should turn around so he can remove the rest of his clothing in privacy, but I can’t seem to force my eyes away. I drink in every inch of him, knowing full well this could be the last time.
He doesn’t seem to mind my attention, dragging his pants and undergarments over his thick thighs, never breaking my eye contact.
I suck in a breath at the sight of him, just as beautiful, even if he is slightly worse for the wear. “I’ll just be out there, let me know if you need anything.” I move to cross back into the main room, but he grabs my hand.
“Stay. Please.” He squeezes my hand before climbing into the tub, a moan of relief escaping him as he sinks into the hot water.
“Whatever you prefer.” My mouth goes dry. It almost hurts to look at him.
“I’d prefer if you’d join me.” It almost sounds like a challenge, as if he knows I can never back down from one of those.
Baring myself to him right now will only lead to more heartache. And yet I can never seem to deny him. I untie my robe, letting the silky black fabric fall to the floor, leaving me completely bare. Callum’s eyes linger, tracing me from head to toe.
“Has it really only been four days?” he mutters.
I climb into the tub, settling across from him. His legs rest on either side of mine, and my body flushes, either from the heat of him or the heat of the water. I rest my hands on the edge of the copper tub, not knowing if I have permission to touch him.
But good lord do I want to touch him. I knew how much I missed him, knew how the ache of missing him has been gnawing at me. But now he’s here and I don’t know what he wants. I don’t know why he’s come. I just know I don’t want to do anything to scare him away.
“How do you feel? Your bruises, I mean?” It feels like the safest question.
He leans his head back against the rim of the tub. “Whatever magic you put in this water, I’m grateful for it.”
“I’ll let Bianca know.”
“Bianca.” The name hangs in the air between us. “Was she there?”
“I don’t know.”
“There were two of them. I fought one. She distracted me while Harold killed my father.”
My lungs tighten. “I’m so sorry, Callum.” I can only pray Bianca wasn’t the one in the room with him, but in the end, I’m not sure it really matters. Someone close to me is the one responsible for taking his father’s life.
