“Andrik, what did you just do?”
“Rhavari magic,”I say softly. “Shared breath. It cools you from the inside.”
“And you thoughtyou’d wait to share that with me until now... because?”
“It only works immediately after a climax,”I admit, my hand slides down the back of her neck to hold her steady. “But... your Saelûn must be the one to give you the climax. I didn’t know ifI’d be able to stay in control long enough—but I couldn’t watch you like that anymore. I had to try.”
The silencethat follows is heavy. The water settles, and for the first time in hours, she isn’t writhing in pain.
She reaches out,her small, wet hand covering the mark on my chest, where her soul already lives.
“You stayed in control,”she whispers, a tiny, tired smile tugging at her lips. “Mostly.”
I lookat the gouges my claws left in the tub. “Mostly.” I shrug.
“You broke off your antler again,”she whispers, reaching up to touch the place where the tine used to be.
“I’d breaka thousand more if it meant easing your pain,” I tell her honestly.
She’s quiet for a moment,then whispers, “Thank you.”
I pullher tighter against me, pressing another kiss to her damp hair.
“You don’t needto thank me for taking care of you.”
We stayin the water a little longer—until I’m certain her fever won’t spike again.
Finally,I lift her from the tub. She’s exhausted, clinging to me as I wrap her in the softest towel I can find.
“Can you stand?”I ask gently.
She shakesher head against my chest.
“Alright, Hold on.”
I carryher back to the bedroom and set her on the edge of the bed. She sways slightly, so I steady her with one hand while reaching for one of my tunics with the other.
“Arms up,”I murmur.
She obeys without question.I slide the soft fabric over her head. Something in my chest tightens at the sight of her in my clothes. She smells like my magic, she's sitting on my bed, and Rhûven is purring like a hellcat.
Kaemorin.
“Stay here,”I say, trailing my fingers down the side of her neck. “I’m going to get you something to eat.”
“I’m not really—”she starts, but I press a finger to her lips.
“No arguments,lûn’veshka. It's my job to nourish you. Let me.”
She sighs and nods.
I leave quickly—downto the kitchen, grabbing whatever I can find. It’s not the blessed meal from earlier, but cheese, fruit, crackers, and some water should do the trick.
When I return,she’s exactly where I left her, sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at her hands.
“Here,”I say softly, sitting beside her.
I offerher the water first. She drinks slowly, but finishes the entire thing.
