Page 87 of Storm of Secrets and Sorrow

Tessa turned back to the mirror, lifting her shirt again. She ran her fingers lightly over where a scar definitely should have marred her skin. Instead, the only visible mark was the Bargain Mark along her ribs.

“It still hurts,” she said, meeting Luka’s eyes in the mirror.

He nodded, crossing his arms and leaning back against the counter. “Gia said the internal pain would be the last to fade. It’s because of the type of blade you were stabbed with. It’s meant to end a Legacy.”

“But it didn’t.”

“Jagger missed your heart,” Luka said. “Legacy or not, it would not have been fatal.”

“Oh,” was all she could think to say.

“The bath is about ready. I can help you in.”

Her eyes went wide. “You’re going to… I’ll be naked,” she blurted.

His godsdamn lips twitched, and she wanted to punch him right in the face. “Most are, in fact, naked when bathing. That is kind of the point.”

“Won’t Theon be upset?”

Luka shrugged. “Perhaps.”

“And you don’t care?”

“I am not going to delay your comfort for him. If you, however, are uncomfortable with being naked around me, you can wait for Theon.”

Her brow furrowed. “I don’t care if you see me naked.”

“Then I suppose it is settled,” he answered.

Right. Nudity didn’t bother her. She usually enjoyed getting naked with men. Or males. Or whatever.

But now her mouth was dry, and her palms were sweaty, and?—

This was stupid.

Moving to the side of the tub, she didn’t let herself think about it anymore. She pushed the loose pants over her hips, letting them fall to the floor, her undergarments with them. Then she pulled the shirt over her head, Theon’s scent filling her nose as she did so. The bond was even more confused and so was she, because she was pretty sure the bond should be having a fit about another male seeing her without clothing.

Without a word, Luka stepped forward. He held out his hand, and she took it, allowing him to steady her as she climbed over the high lip of the tub. The water was perfect, and she held in her moan as she sank into the hot water, going completely under. When she came back to the surface, she pushed her wet hair from her face, finding Luka had moved to the seat at the cosmetic table.

“Are you just going to sit there?” she asked.

“Can’t have you drowning now, can I?”

“Maybe I’m a brat all the time because you’re constantly an ass,” she retorted, settling against the back of the tub and running her fingers through the bubbles.

“Doubtful.”

She clicked her tongue, rolling her eyes. A comfortable silence fell between them, and that was even more weird. Why was she comfortable with Theon so far away? Yes, a part of her was longing for him, but she was also content in the moment.

“You fought,” Luka said into the quiet.

She glanced at him briefly before focusing on the bubbles again. “I did.”

“Why?”

“I…” She swallowed thickly. “I didn’t want to die where I couldn’t see the sky.”

“Is that the only reason?”

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