By the time they reached the house, she’d gone silent. Not calm—empty. Like she’d burned through every emotion she had and there was nothing left.
He carried her inside, kicked the door shut behind him, and she finally spoke.
“I can’t do this anymore.” The words were barely audible. “I’m so tired, Maelic. I’m so tired of pretending I can save this place. Of pretending I’m not drowning. I’m so tired.”
“I know,” he said softly. “I know. But you don’t have to pretend anymore. Not with me.”
Chapter Eight
Delaney
Delaneydidn’trememberhimcarrying her upstairs. Didn’t remember nodding when he asked about the bath. Everything felt distant and cotton-soft, like she was watching it happen to someone else.
But the sound of running water cut through the haze.
She was sitting on the closed toilet lid, and Maelic was crouched in front of her, testing the temperature with those clawed fingers.
“Can you even use a bath?” Her voice sounded wrong. Flat.
He turned to frown at her. “I was able to use your showering receptacle just fine this morning, after some trial and error.”
“Oh. Was that before or after you drenched the floor?”
His scowl would have made her laugh yesterday. Today she couldn’t muster it.
He turned back to the tub, adjusting the taps until steam rose in lazy curls. Then he paused.
“Do you possess bath oils or something fragrant?”
“Uh, well… let me see.” She moved to stand, legs shaking, but he was faster. He gently pushed her back down.
“Stay. I will find them.”
He rummaged through the cabinet under the sink, surprisingly careful with his movements in the small space. His wings kept catching on the doorframe.
“Here we go.” He pulled out a bottle she’d forgotten she had—bath salts, peppermint and cocoa scented. A gift from Grandma years ago.
Her throat tightened.
Maelic opened the bottle and poured some into the water. The scent filled the small bathroom immediately, sharp and sweet and wrong.
It smelled like Christmas. Like the holidays when Grandma was still alive and everything was okay and—
She couldn’t do this.
“Okay, so, I’ll see you in a bit,” she said abruptly, standing again.
Maelic frowned, turning off the taps. “No. I must aid you.”
“No way!”
He quirked a brow. “I have already seen you naked,astara.”
“That’s different!” Her face heated despite everything. “What if you go all crazy and decide to go feral again?”
Maelic flinched. Something pained crossed his expression before he schooled it away.
“I am a highly disciplined Axiom,” he said quietly. “I swear on that honor, I will not lose control again.” His voice was solemn. Sincere. “I would never hurt you, Del. Never.”
