"You have a serious problem now," I told her smugly.
I leaned back against the headboard as best as I could with what little slack from the rope I had. No blood stained my sheets despite the giant gash in my pants, showing that she had tended to my wound. That meant that either all of my blood had been left somewhere else, or she had decided to ask someone else to bring clean sheets for us. If that was the case, it meant more people had already seen me tied to the bed, which made my face flame with embarrassment.
But if she had cared enough to send for fresh sheets, then she might be willing to let me clean up a little so that I didn't get blood and mud all over the sheets.
She sighed, finally dropping onto a stool next to the tub as she turned to face me. Ever since I had woken up, she had been strangely reluctant to look me in the eyes, and I could only pray that I hadn't said anything strange while unconscious. With that in mind, I was more than happy to make her question the situation as much as I was.
“And why, exactly, wouldIhave a problem?” she asked.
“Because if you put up the screen, you have to worry about me escaping while you bathe. If you don’t, you have to worry about me looking at you.” I cocked a brow and made firm eye contact, doing my best to let her think the redness in my cheeks was just a remnant from my exertion after waking rather than embarrassment.
Perhaps I could bluff her into thinking she could trust me. Or, like so many other things, it might go terribly wrong.
But honestly, at this point, what did I have to lose?
Chapter
Nineteen
Legacy seemed willing to risk her life to get a bath, and at the moment, I couldn't say I blamed her. I might consider it as well.
We had been arguing back and forth for long enough that I was sure the water was freezing cold. Too bad for her. I didn't regret messing with her. It was only fair.
"Enough!" Legacy barked.
I cocked my eyebrows as she dropped to her knees, digging in the bag against the far wall, too far away for me to do anything with. Probably why she had put it so far away. She wasn't a fool. Unfortunately.
For a moment, I wondered if she was going to stab me since the dagger she'd held to my throat had come out of that bag. Instead, she pulled out the shirt she'd been wearing before, the bottom shredded for the bandage wrapped tightly around my leg.
Holding one end in her mouth, she grasped the shirt in her teeth and ripped a long strip from it. Standing, she stalked toward me.
My eyebrows rose even higher. "If you think you're going to gag me with that, I suggest you think otherwise. I promise you will get hurt if you try."
My magic still slumbered beneath my skin and seemed reluctant to rise to my call, no doubt from the pain and weakness my injury had caused. She had also taken the bracelet I'd stolen from her, so it was even less likely that I could control the magic.
Better to bite if she tried anything. I wasn't above it.
Legacy rolled her eyes but didn't stop moving toward me. "I hadn't considered gagging you, although now I wish I had. But I know it wouldn't last long."
"And this will?"
She nodded, stopping in front of the bed. "Yes, because if you don't try anything and leave it on while I undress and get in the bath, then you can bathe too."
I hesitated for a moment, debating. But it was an easy enough request, and it wasn't like Iwantedto see her naked.
Besides, she wouldn't hurt me while I was blindfolded, and I was covered in blood and mud. A bath would be a minor miracle at this point.
When I didn't disagree, Legacy stepped forward to tie the cloth around my eyes. I blinked a few times to adjust to the feel of my long lashes brushing the fabric then opted to close them instead.
"I don't think we know each other quite well enough for this yet," I mused, trying to hide the strain in my voice.
Legacy snorted and moved away, then a rustle of clothing sounded. That must’ve been her getting undressed, and my cheeks flushed as my mind wandered. Not a safe path of thought.
I let my head fall back against the headboard, trying not to think about anything in particular.
“You know, I had never considered whether or not I enjoy being tied up,” I blurted.
Water sloshed, but it took a moment for Legacy to answer. “And now?”
