Dryly, he says, “As in, I will show you how the pipes work and make sure there are clean towels, and you can use the bath.”
Aw. Less interesting. “What about you?”
“I just transformed yesterday. I haven’t been in human form long enough to need a bath.”
Huh. “But do you want one? Do you like baths?”
I feel more than see his shrug. “I haven’t really tried much, to be honest. I usually just take a dive into the lake when in dragon form.”
Oh.
Maybe I’m not the only one who has difficulty with softness; with letting down my guard. And we have reasons for that.
But maybe that’s also how he knew so intuitively what I needed last night.
“Is there a lake near here, then?” I ask. “I haven’t really been anywhere on the mountain except the path to the temple.”
“And some blackberry bushes off the path, now,” Zan reminds me.
I smile brilliantly at this reminder. “Andso many, many blackberry patches.”
“I can show you the lake later,” Zan offers.
“Later,” I agree. “Afterice cream.”
I sit up, and Zan stares up at me, his slight smile content.
I am almost overcome with the urge to lean back down and kiss him.
Is it too soon for that? I don’t know, and I’m scared of breaking this precious thing growing between us.
If there’s one thing wrath excels at, it’s destruction.
“I guess I’ll find out if I like baths,” I say, regretfully easing off of him. “But maybe you should find out, too.”
WhenI’mdonetakingcare of the most urgent business, Zan knocks on the door to hand me a warmed towel.
This time I have to ask, “Are you using dragon magic in human form for this?”
His eyes twinkle. “I’ll get breakfast started. Take your time.”
I meant to. I thought I was finally ready for this: To wash away my old life, to embark on the new.
Soaking in a hot bath was never something I did, before. Baths were utilitarian, to maintain my body’s health so it could continue to serve the Order. I want to reclaim this—
But in practice I am bored.
And I would rather be with Zan.
Maybe he’d rather have a break from me, but—who knows how long he’ll be able to stay, anyway? He hasn’t said when he’ll be forced to transform back into dragon form, but I know it can’t be that far into the future.
I want to soak in my time with him more than I want to spite the Order for the sake of it.
And as the Sage of Wrath, spiting people ishighlyrelevant to my interests.
Although for that matter, a sage having a real connection with another person—and especially with a dragon—is spiting them anyway. So, best of both worlds.
They wouldn’t approve of all the ice cream I’m about to embark on, either.
