“The gowns you bought,” Auryn said. “They’re safe now. They were cleansed.”
“I’ll buy you as many more as you need. You shouldn’t have had to mend any of them in the first place,” he murmured.
His hands tightened at her hips, anchoring her, grounding himself. For a heartbeat, he didn’t speak. Didn’t move. Just breathed her in. Let her heartbeat flutter in his chest, right beneath his ribs. His lips traced a path from her shoulder to her upper arm.
“I’ve been negligent.”
Then trailed lower, to the tender curve of her elbow.
“Let me take care of you now, starlight.”
He straightened, meeting her eyes. They were wide, reflecting all of him. She wore an expression of wonder. Of awe. Her lips thinned, then parted again.
“You already do.”
“Not enough,” he lamented. His thumb brushed over the edge of her mouth. “If you’ll let me, I’ll build you a new wardrobe. Worthy ofyou. Worthy of my Sokâr.”
“Kailorien—"
“No protests tonight,” he warned, kissing her once. Then again. “Go to the bath, sweetfire. I’m right behind you.”
She nodded, and he followed her to the bathing pool. As he strode across the chamber, he kicked off his boots and unclasped his cloak. Theclickof a buckle accented each step until a trail of armor remained in their wake. Like shedding skin.
In the adjoining chamber, steam ghosted up from the deep-set bathing pool, rich with lavender oil and softened against the light of Lustrals glowing beneath the surface. His eyes settled on glowing spheres set inside the crystal Runewell.
Phir, for aches and pains.
Sörna, to counter mana depletion.
Rith’pa, for settling the mind.
Lu’ma truly was skilled in her art.
He knelt beside the water and held out his hand. When he was sure Auryn was settled on the ledge, he removed the rest of his clothes and waded in after her. He knelt behind her to support her back, brushing the curls from her face, wiping the sweat from her cheeks with calloused fingers.
“There,” he said gruffly, pressing a kiss behind her ear. “We’ll soak the heat from you. Then I’ll carry you to bed and tuck you so deep into the pillows that even the Destroyer himself would have to beg my permission to touch you.”
She made a pleased humming sound, but a frown tugged at her lips.
“I don’t like it when you worry so, especially now when I can feel how your heart hurts when you do.”
“Good,” he grunted. “Maybe you’ll start taking better care of yourself.”
“I wasn’t neglecting my safety,” she protested.
His hands paused. Settled on her shoulders for a moment.
“Auryn, don’t ever go to him alone again.”
Her breath snagged. She leaned back.
“…Had I known that he would…”
“Don’t think about it now,” he cut in, pulling her against him. “You’re safe. I don’t intend to let that situation repeat itself.”
“But what if he summons me?”
“Then I go with you. No matter where duty places me, I will come.” He paused. "If you just call for me."
