“Wow,” I breathed, soaking in the view.
From the balcony, sweeping vistas of the flora awaited us. Pops of color dotted the ground, and Angels appeared no larger than cats as they moved about. Smoke from cooking fires curled upward, whispering through the far-reaching limbs covering the canopy. As it was, we were nearly level with it.
Vaeron swung the door inward, and I entered the room. Inside was a large bed suspended by hanging ropes. A lounger waited beneath the window, giving unparalleled views just like the balcony.
My brows raised as I hobbled toward an arched entry,finding a private privy and tub. “How is this even possible?” I asked as I felt my mate approach.
“Magic,” he replied like it was obvious.
Guess it should have been.
“Skilled craftsmen imbue their light into every plank and pipe to reinforce them. The secrets of the master craftsmen haven’t been leaked in centuries. The guild in Sivy is highly regarded, like many other artistic ventures,” he continued, passing me and running his fingers along the rim of the tub. “Would you like to bathe?”
There was nothing I’d love more, especially with how salt slicked my skin.
“Yes,” I said, failing at keeping the desperation from my tone. With my knee and not wanting Vaeron to touch me, I’d been left with nothing but cloths to clean myself. My hair was a wild tangle, knotted and scarcely contained by the leather holding the twist atop my head.
And honestly, my mate was no better. He could use a bath too, especially with us set to share this room.
Wordlessly, he turned the taps, and the sound of rushing water pulled a sigh from my lips. I hobbled to a stool, setting my crutches to the side, and reached for the wrap around my knee.
I winced as the muscles of my thigh tightened, though it wasn’t nearly as painful as it had been since we departed the apothecary in Stadur. Carefully, I unwound the fabric, which stunk as much as I did.
All of my clothes needed a thorough washing too.
Vaeron cleared his throat, and I straightened. He gestured to the tub. “I think you’ll need help getting in and out of that.”
I studied the stone. The lip on it was thin, definitely not thick enough for me to sit on and twist. While I wasflexible and agile from dancing, I didn’t have a wall to steady myself on so I could lift my bad leg.
Fuck me.
But I so badly wanted to be clean.
“I’ll keep my tunic on until I’m in the water,” I said, wracking my brain for a way that wouldn’t leave my mate touching me with the barest amount of fabric between us. But there was none, not really. And besides, Vaeron had seen me in only that much before.
Cheeks heating, I leaned forward again, if only to hide the scorching in my cheeks. He thankfully turned his back, giving me an opportunity to slide the leggings down over my hips.
When my skin was bare, I took a moment to examine my bad knee.
The exercises certainly had helped with the swelling. It was the same size as my other, though the color was still an ugly purple.
Vaeron stepped in front of me, and I glanced up at him again.
Something that looked a lot like yearning undercut his otherwise cool expression. “The bath is ready.”
Indeed, the heady scent of ghostflower filled the air. Bubbles floated atop the water. I accepted his help in rising, then leaned on him for support as I hopped to the tub. I started to lift my good leg, shifting most of my weight into him, when he said, “Let me.”
I paused, tilting my head toward him.
His hands slid around my waist once again. Like he was my partner executing a Vaelaï lift, he took me airborne. I cleared the lip, then stuck my legs out straight so he could lower me into the water.
We moved with the ease of partners mid-routine, a dancechoreographed by fate, tangled in steps neither of us had chosen, and yet somehow still perfectly in sync.
The thought sent a jolt of fear straight to my heart.
Water—the perfect temperature—enveloped me, soaking my tunic. I planted my hands on the lip so I didn’t completely submerge it.
Vaeron retreated, but only a step. “I can take your clothes for washing. Everything in our packs is already there. I’ll fetch you a robe and fresh wrap for your knee while you bathe.”
