I cursed myself for assuming he would have a shower. I trusted Cam and yet…
“I can hand you a blanket,” he added at my hesitation. “My only intentions are to clean your wound, Princess.”
“It’s not that. It’s… Just promise you won’t say anything.”
Cam frowned. “Say anything about what?”
“My back. Just don’t say anything at all. To anyone.”
He placed a hand across his chest solemnly. “I would never betray your confidence, Princess.”
Resigning myself to the inevitable, I took a seat in the chair facing away from him and pulled off my tunic.
There was no mistaking his choking noise for anything other than dismay. I should be used to it by now, but the reminder still hurt every time.
Thankfully, he kept silent as he poured water into the tub and wet the cloth. He ran it over my back, and I suppressed a shiver at the cool touch.
The silence started to eat at me as I waited awkwardly while he cleaned up my wound. “So, don’t take this the wrong way, but it’s a little weird talking to you without Ram around. I feel like you guys should have teased me at least four or five times by now.”
Cam let out a sardonic laugh. “My brother certainly likes to find the fun in life. It can be very infectious at times. When I am alone, though, I am a bit more… reserved, I suppose.”
I thought back to the few times I’d spent with them. He wasn’t wrong. Ram was definitely more outgoing, but Cam was an idiot if he thought he wasn’t also amazing. “Well, I honestly think you’re both great,” I said, not liking the slightly sad tone I’d heard in his voice. Jenn had always been the fun one between the two of us, and I knew the hint of resentment that could build from that.
He tossed the bloody rag on the table when he was done, and I cringed at how much red was on it. I knew the dagger was sharp, but it hadn’t felt that painful at the time. I guess I had been more lost in the feeling of Sin’s body pressed against mine than I realized.
“Are you all right, Princess?” Cam asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I said, getting to my feet. “Just didn’t realize the cut was that deep.”’
“It was likely afenite dagger then. It is the same metal that Sin’s sword is made of.” He hesitated, then added quietly, “It is the same metal they used for the Sonaria.”
I shuddered, thinking back to the awful feeling that had slithered under my skin when I had been near the dungeons. Iffenite prevented healing, then no wonder the small jab bled so much.
“I should probably get going,” I said, breaking the uncomfortable silence. “I need to drag that sword back to the arena before Sin freaks out again. Any chance you have a shirt I could borrow? Preferably a non-bloody one?”
Cam chuckled. “Yes. I think I can find something for you.”
He pulled a tan tunic from the wardrobe on the right and handed it to me. It was practically a dress with how big it was, but at least I wouldn’t be making a scene wandering through the castle in my bra.
“Thanks,” I said, heading to the front door with Cam close behind me.
“I will escort you back to the castle, Princess. I am due to relieve Ram soon anyway.”
We left the small cottage behind and made our way back to the front entrance. When we hit the glittering courtyard, Cam gestured to the left. “I need to go this way. Take care of yourself, Princess. Do not let Sin push you around. As they say in your world, he is all bark and no bite.”
Images of the kiss flashed through my mind. The rough way he had pushed me against the rack of daggers.
“He definitely has bite,” I muttered under my breath as I left Cam and headed off to collect Sin’s sword.
“Here’s your damn sword,” I huffed, tossing the heavy weapon at Sin’s feet.
He looked up from where he lounged on a bench in the arena, the picture of calm and collected with his legs crossed and his arms folded behind his head.
“Why do you even have a fenite sword?” I demanded.
“It was a gift.”
“And?” I pressed, refusing to give up. There was no way he actually fought with that thing just because it was a gift.
