“Ok then, let’s keep this buttoned up and keep training for the war until we know for sure.” My voice rings with an authority I hadn’t realized I possessed, and the power of it sends a thrill down my spine.
That could be dangerous.
The quote “absolute power corrupts absolutely” rings in my mind, and I make a mental note to always put everything to a vote in the future.
As they file out of the room with farewells, Lachlan lingers close to where I stand.
“Ye did amazing today, Key,” he says quietly.
My stomach fills with butterflies as his voice deepens, his accent becoming thick. Heat blooms in my chest. He’s standing close to me, his back resting on the fireplace mantle. Both of my hands are outstretched in front of me, gripping the wood of themantle. I bend down, using my arms to support me, and stretch my lower back.
“I just feel like I can’t catch a break,” I mutter.
He moves to stand behind me, his deft fingers working the knots out of my lower back that my stretch wasn’t releasing. His knuckles push down into me and send waves of goosebumps down my arms and legs. My blood thrums in my veins, and my pulse accelerates. His touch does wonders, not only for my sore muscles but also for the lingering anxiety in my chest. I bite my lip to stifle a moan as his hands travel up my spine, carefully avoiding my wing buds that have pierced my skin and the gaps of my leather top, but still working the soreness out of each muscle.
“Geez, your back is like a gravel path with all these knots,” he mutters, pushing on a particularly sore spot.
“Ouch,” I cry out, as it sends a sharp pain down my back.
His hands release their assault on my back immediately, but then he grabs my hand and drags me out of the room and up the stairs. He leaves me standing on the threshold of my room while he walks into my bathroom.
“I’m running ye a bath,” he calls over his shoulder.
The sound of the water turning on and splashing into the copper bathtub fills the space, and the aroma of lavender floats out the open door. I follow the smell to the bathroom and find him measuring out vials and pouring them into the bathtub.
“Mathilda says the Valkyries like this stuff in their baths,” he says over the sound of the tub filling.
I lean against the doorway, taking in the spectacle that is Lachlan Freysson drawing my bath. Since my stubs of wings have protruded even further from my skin, the itch has become unbearable.
Lachlan grabs a handful of pink salt and sprinkles it into the steaming water. “This is what they use for the children who aregrowing wings; it helps with the itch,” he says before looking back at me.
It’s like he can read my mind sometimes. Satisfied with his handiwork, he places his hands on his hips, watching the tub fill up more before turning the water off. Steam floats up from the tub, fogging the mirrors above the white marble sink.
Lachlan saunters towards me and pauses beside me. “Enjoy your bath and get some rest.” His voice tickles my neck from his proximity, and I want more than anything to finish our moment from last night.
But the pain from my wings is still there, writhing under the surface. I bite my lip and stare up into his eyes. There is so much longing reflecting in them, I freeze. He leans towards me just the tiniest amount before he kisses my temple, murmuring, “Good night, Key.” Then he’s strolling out of my room.
The suspense bursts with the door closing, and I hang my head. I have an entire realm to save, a war to stop, a throne to take back, and yet, here I am holding my breath, wondering if some man is going to kiss me again.
Pathetic.
I strip down and ease into the bath, the aroma and heat unknotting each of my wound-up muscles. The itch from my wings subsides, and the water washes away the grime from the day. Peace and relaxation quiet my nerves, and I close my eyes, resting my head on the lip of the copper tub. It’s not too often that I’m granted these moments of quiet reflection, and I do my best to enjoy every second of it.
It isn’t long before the sun drops out of the sky, dimming the bathroom. As I rise from the tub, water sloshes up and almost over the side. I shiver lightly before wrapping myself in a fluffy, warm towel.
The lit candles in the bathroom and my bedroom cast soft light in the growing darkness. I relish the coziness, but tread carefully with wet feet to the attached closet to locate somenightclothes. Dressed in a light linen set and my wet hair wrapped in the towel, I walk to the window by my bed.
The smell of food drifts from the tray that has been left on my nightstand, and I roll my eyes; he thinks of everything.
The sun has been replaced with a bright full moon, lighting the grounds completely, rendering the blazing torches useless. A few warriors are still lingering on the training grounds, using the night as a training technique. I smile to myself, hope flickering in my chest as I reflect on the positives in my life.
Odin picked me, showed me I was on the right path, and blessed me not only with powers but with an amazing support system that I have found in my new friends.
My whole life, I had wanted friends such as these, and I finally found them, or rather, they found me.
28
ALLIANCES
