She waded to the bath’s edge and sank onto the submerged seat. Bubbly water rose to her collarbones. As she gathered her wet curls atop her head, I took in the chamber and realized it was the first time I’d been in here.
It was a grander, larger version than the ones belonging to the guardian chambers. Red geraniums grew along the veined, black walls, their fallen petals sprinkling the surface. Small mirrors of various shapes were scattered around the edge. Mirrors, like water, were reflective and thought to be symbolic of truth and illusion in water queendoms. They were often a common object used when bonding with the element.
Iron sconces and candelabras cast restless shadows. Aromatic mist rose from the bath, fragrant with lavender and almond. Wooden stools, smooth and dark from years of use, sat beside low tables strewn with neatly folded towels, crystals, and vials of shimmering oils.
Rahzlyn was at the center of it, her long neck now resting against a slightly raised platform. A waterfall gently trickled from the hewn rock wall behind her, the source of the bath’s water, with temperature-controlling knobs.
Being in here with her shouldn’t have felt as intimate as it suddenly did.
“If you have something else you wish to say, go ahead. I have no intention of removing myself from this bath anytime soon. Letti added something that’s soothing on my skin.”
“Magnesium salts,” I confirmed. “Among other anti-inflammatory oils.”
“Such as?”
The room brightened a fraction from my glowing glyphs and eyes. “Lavender, chamomile, helichrysum, tea tree, neroli, and geranium. Smells like she even included some ground oatmeal in there.”
Her head cocked to the side. “You can really smell all of that?”
I found it comical that she doubted me. Then again, upon studying her unguarded features, she didn’t understand how guardian abilities worked. Her naivety was refreshing in a way. “All Chosens bathe in a similar blend to help their glyphs heal.”
She nodded once, continuing to stare at me curiously. I shifted on my feet as she pursed her lips. “Was that bath rescue an excuse to spy on me and see if I’m corresponding with my apostate friends yet? Or have you finally decided to follow through on your innocuous threat?”
“If I wanted you dead, I wouldn’t have rushed in here to save you from drowning.”
“But I wasn’t drowning. How do I know you didn’t come in here to finish the deed?”
I suppressed a groan. She was insufferable.
As if she could read my thoughts, she snorted. “Right back at you.”
Alarm coursed through me. No one had ever read me so easily. People saw what I wanted them to see—which was usually nothing.
Her head tilted back. “I’m clearly fine, so you can leave now.”
“Are you?”
Her puffy eyelids and reddened nose clashed with her casual tone. She’d been crying at some point tonight. I didn’t particularly like the idea of tormenting her to the point of tears, no matter what secrets she may have been harboring.
Rahzlyn frowned under my scrutiny, then recovered by rubbing at her eyes. “Just tired.”
“Felaf and I are leaving to get your grandparents,” I told her. My boots scuffed along the damp stone as I strode casually around the bath.
Rahzlyn straightened. “What about Maryn?”
I scanned the mound of thick textbooks stacked to the side, perilously close to the pooled water. “Normally we send a skyship for Chosen family members. Given the need for discretion, especially with the apostai’s latest attack on Cyrene’s family, she agreed to let both Felaf and me retrieve your grandparents personally after Gregorios told her he found their location through Blood Sight.”
Rahzlyn massaged her temple. “It’s getting hard to keep track of all the stories we’re concocting.”
“I only planned to come in here to warn you. We shouldn’t be gone long.”
She didn’t say anything, but fear crept into her honey eyes.
“Similar to the observatory, the Chosen rooms are magically shielded to only unlock for Chosens,” I said. “Only those with verbal permission from a nearby Chosen are granted entry.”
Her brows drew together at this. “How does that work?”
“Same way arches work. It’s ancient magic, imbued from the Astrals themselves. Don’t leave your chambers, or let anyone else in, until we return. Guards will be posted in our absence just in case.”
