I close the door before he can respond.
Renan is leaning against the wall when I turn around, arms crossed, looking delighted. "You're a bastard," he says. "He's going to gut you."
"He's welcome to try."
"What's so important about this bath, anyway?" His gaze slides to Iowyn, standing near the door with her arms crossed. "Actually, don't answer that. I can guess."
"Unless you want details about exactly what I plan to do to her in that water, stop guessing out loud."
Iowyn makes a choked sound.
"Tempting, but I'll pass."
I cross to Iowyn. She takes a step back and I take two forward.
"What are you doing?" she asks.
"Taking you to the bathhouse."
"I don't need—I can walk—"
I pick her up.
She makes a sound, startled and indignant, and her hands grab my shoulders for balance. I'm already moving toward the door.
"Put me down—"
"No."
"I can walk. I just said I can walk—"
"I know."
"Then why—"
"Because I want to. Because you squirm when you're embarrassed and I want that too. Because if I don't keep my hands on you I'm going to do something worse before we get to the bathhouse."
Behind us, Renan snorts. "Try not to drown each other," he calls after us.
Iowyn's fingers are digging into my shoulders, her body tense in my arms, and I can feel her heartbeat against my chest. Fast. Getting faster.
"You're impossible," she mutters.
"Yes."
I carry her down the corridor.
The bathhouse is mine. Not Discord's. Not the estate's. Mine. A chamber carved deep into the rock at the far end of my territory, fed by hot springs that run through the mountain's roots. I had it constructed centuries ago after I got tired of sharing.
I don't share anymore.
The steam hits us when I push through the door and Iowyn's hair curls in it immediately, little wisps escaping around her face. I set her down on the tiled floor and she steps back, putting distance between us.
I close the distance.
"Koshin—"
"Arms up."
