“We’ll only be hunted if they know our identity. Speak their language, dress like them, keep your head down, and you won’t rouse suspicion.”
Something she’d said on the road returned to me. ‘What do you want to see, when you look back, at the end?’
“It’s a deal.” I decided. “I’ll have to consider what I want.”
Sighing in bliss, Seth emerged from the bath with a loud splash followed by wet footsteps. I peeked around the dividing wall, expecting him to pull a towel around himself before stepping into our view.
Instead, he strode by, completely naked.
Once, I considered myself a woman of class, unmoved by pretty faces and charming words. Maybe in a few hours, I would think back to this moment and have the decency to be ashamed of how I gaped.
Water droplets trickled down his tanned muscles, outlining a deep scar running down his side. A pleasant V-shape beckoned my eyes to fall from his abs to his waist, and below.
Grabbing a towel from a hook on the wall, Seth swung it around himself, warding away my depraved eyes. He smirked at me. “See something you like, princess?”
I opened my mouth to say no, but changed my mind. “Yes, actually,” I said.
A smug light gleamed in Seth’s eyes as he glanced back towards the men’s bath. Percy scoffed. “Shove off. Take your vanity elsewhere.”
Beaming, Seth winked at me and swung out the door. Eleos groaned. “He wanted to enter that way, too.”
“Of course he did.” Percy audibly rolled his eyes.
Eleos breathily laughed. “Well, Percy? Want to grandstand for the ladies?”
“Irespectthe ladies, thanks.” Percy denied.
I turned back to Seraphim to see her grinning at me. “Life’s all too short.” She shrugged. “Why not take what we want while we still have the time?”
Sinking into the water, I pushed the soapy bubbles around. Did I want lust and simple fun? Maybe once we reached Duath Nun and the end grew near, I would change my mind.
Foolish and stubborn, I still desired love.
* **
The housemaids had gifted me a beautiful gown upon my return from the baths. Feeling like a proper princess, I strode down the grand stairwell, gleefully watching the skirt flow behind me. Jumping the final two steps, I grinned as the fabric swirled around my sandals.
A golden clasp secured the over-the-shoulder, pale blue gown in place, and flowers adorned the layered skirt. Adjusting the ribbon binding back my curls, I walked into the dining room, where the lord of the house awaited me.
Phaedrus leaned on the back of the head chair, red locks tied in a half-bun. A silver cloak draped his shoulders, framing the deep blue vest he wore beneath. With the chandelier burning bright above the dark wood table, I could see lines of age framing his eyes, but like his sister, they did not diminish his beauty.
“Good morning, Lady Aethra.” He said warmly, his voice deep and inviting. “I hope the traditional Cynthus bath didn’t frighten you too much?”
“No.” I laughed. “It was kind of nice.”
“Seraphim used them as excuses to bring other girls home.” He shook his head.
“Did you not?”
“Themis was an uptight statue. Seraphim was a depraved maniac. I tried to be thenormalchild.” He picked idly at his fingernails, gazing behind me. “I, of course, say that with love, dear sister.”
“Mhm.” Seraphim touched my shoulder as she passed, grabbing a honey cake from a plate and popping it into her mouth. Her charcoal coat once again concealed the tapestry of art she’d painted on her skin.
Folding my arms, I raised my eyebrows. “Baths aren’t sexual, hm?”
Growling between mouthfuls of crumbs, Seraphim glared at her brother. “I was a teenager.”
Seth snuck up behind me, wet hair clinging to his face as he rolled up the sleeves of his tunic. He glanced down at me. “Don’t you look cute?”
