Is something happening with Elowyn?
The knock sounds again, and Arisanna juts her chin toward the door.
Answer it. She wishes for him to answer it.
Of course he’s supposed to answer it. It’s not as if she can right now.
“Just a crack,” she whispers as he pushes himself to his feet and looks down at her where she’s trying to disappear into the water.
Definitely just a crack.
He crosses the floor that’s still littered with vines and clears his throat. “Who is it?”
“Room service, Your Highness. Your father asked us to deliver your dinner to you here.”
Thank the fates it’s not Arisanna’s mother.
“Just...leave the tray.” He pushes the words out. He should say all the niceties, like thank you and please, but hismouth isn’t eager to cooperate. Somehow, he adds a “thank you,” and the man soon leaves.
Cerian cracks the door open to ensure no one else is out there before collecting the tray and carrying it to the tub.
“Dinner?” Arisanna relaxes again, and he can barely look away as he lowers himself to the floor.
Whistling wind, she’s gorgeous.
But he tries not to stare. That would just make her uncomfortable.
“Are you still hungry after your apple?” she asks, and he shrugs.
“I could eat more. You should eat more than half a caramel apple.”
She sighs. “I don’t want to get out yet. I just got in.”
“I’ll feed it to you.” He glances her way again. “If you wish me to.”
“I feel very spoiled right now.” The hint of laughter in her voice draws out his smile.
“I like taking care of you. Here.” He lifts a bite of what appears to be a roasted turnip to her, and their eyes connect as she opens her mouth to receive it.
They sit quietly while he offers her bites of steak and turnips, and he eats a little more himself. The adoration in her gaze every time she looks at him makes his heart beat a little faster. She must feel it.
“Will you warm the water for me?” she asks tentatively, as if she’s afraid to ask for anything at all. But she does ask, and he could kiss her for it.
And he’s more than happy to have an outlet for the fire magic that encroaches on him every time he looks at her. He hovers his hand over the water near her feet and directs some of his heat into it. “Better?”
“Perfect. Thank you for this.”
As if he’s not enjoying this, too. The only thing better would be joining her.
He doesn’t rush her, and they sit and talk for a while about all sorts of random things.
Eventually, she sighs. “I should get out so we can check on Elowyn again.”
“Thank you for bringing me here. I believe you were right. I needed a break.”
“We both did. Hand me a towel?”
He helps her out the way he did this morning, cocooning her in warm air as he wraps the towel around her.
