"Nothing... Just thinking about the other day on that field." Her lashes flickered up and down as though she were avoiding his eyes. "Prince, you scared me," she finally admitted. "You were dying."
Dorian's eyes narrowed at the comment. "I wasn't aware you cared that much."
She stared sideways at him, a soft smile daring to form on her lips. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but… You'rereallyhard not to like."
Dorian fought a grin, his stomach fluttering along with his heart. "Corbin, next time she tells me she hates me, remind her of this moment."
Corbin huffed amusedly, but he didn't move. "I'll remind her of her cradling you and crying on that field."
Reverie's mouth dropped, and she kicked Corbin’s shoulder. "I thought you were on my side," she exclaimed.
"Whoa—what did I miss?" Dorian asked, staring between them.
Reverie glared at Corbin, to which the Second grinned, but together they didn't speak anymore about it. Reverie suggested helping Dorian redress his wounds a few minutes later. Corbin helped him out of the pool and wrapped him in a towel to sit on one of the benches by the wall before going back and relaxing in the water once more.
Dorian tried closing his eyes as Reverie made the healing paste and gathered the bandages from another room in the Temple. And when she returned, Dorian immediately started grumbling about having to go through healing again. He hated it more than anything else.
Perhaps he was a bit spoiled after never having to actually endure elongated pain before.
"I am requesting another person to dress me next time I have a near-death experience," he said when she started blotting the paste over the burn from the beast's tail grabbing him.
"The next time you have a near-death experience, I'm putting you out of your misery myself," she said. "Or somehow acquiring waters from your mother so that we do not have to do this."
"Hey, kid—“ Mons called out, having heard the conversation. "Was that your brother's sword I saw the other day?"
Dorian frowned. "It was. Why?"
"The one your mother made?"
Dorian exchanged a glance with Corbin.
"Why?" Corbin asked, and Dorian could see the worry on his features.
Mons rose from the bath, stark naked, and Dorian watched Reverie's eyes widen at the sight of his display before quickly averting her head back to mending him.
Dorian watched Mons as he crossed the space and sat on the bench beside them. Reverie's cheeks were red, and honestly, Dorian could also feel a twinge of heat on his own face.
"Could you put on anything?" Dorian asked, forcing his eyes to Mon’s face and not the graciously endowed length Mons apparently had no intentions of covering up. "Anything at all. Perhaps a bandage even."
Mons grinned. "Modesty is not exactly a Blackhand's strong suit," he said. "Why? Do I make you uncomfortable?"
"Not me, but I'm sure Corbin might need to excuse himself soon. And Reverie's face might explode—ow!" She'd punched his side, and he nearly limped into the wall. "Fuck—I’m injured, woman."
"And you'll be a lot more injured if you speak for me again," she snapped.
Dorian grunted but settled himself again while she continued working. Mons was smirking delightedly between them when he looked back, as was Hagen and Corbin.
"Why did you want to know about my brother's sword?" Dorian asked, ignoring the others.
"You can turn any water into your mother's waters with it," Mons responded as though it were obvious.
Reverie tensed on his arm, and Dorian locked eyes with Corbin. Corbin shook his head, but Dorian needed to know.
"How do I do that?" Dorian asked.
"No," Corbin said firmly.
"I'm not saying we have to use it," Dorian argued. "But it would be nice to know how."
