Page 73 of Desire

“Despite the wonders we shared earlier, I doubt you’re ready to view me as I was born. Close your eyes, Princess, lest I cause you to scream again.”

“Braggart,” Edmund grumbled. “Get your arse in the water, and she won’t see anything.”

Darian chuckled and leaned around me to test the water. I scrunched my eyes closed. The splashes and hissed exhale told me he had indeed stepped around me to get into the tub.

I turned away, ready to retreat.

“Princess, will you bring me the soap, please?” Darian asked.

I opened my eyes and looked down at the soap waiting on the low stool within reach of the tub.

“No.” He quickly caught me by my skirt when I would have retreated.

“Won’t you wash my hair?”

“Wash your own hair,” Edmund growled.

“I think my brother needs a distraction, Princess. If you go to comfort him, though, I fear he’ll tear his stitches. Let me help you distract him.”

Darian tugged on my skirt hard enough that I lost my balance and went tumbling backward. My backside landed in hot water with a splash. He laughed at my gasp and let my weight settle on his lap.

“Are you mad?” I asked, twisting to glare at him.

“Mad for you. Bathe with me, Princess.”

“Don’t forget how I taught you to drive your forearm into a throat,” Edmund said.

Since Darian was expecting it, I knew it wouldn’t work. Driving my elbow into his gut instead, I pulled myself free of his hold. Water drained from my heavy skirts, leaving a trail in my wake as I strode toward the door.

“Where are you going?” Darian asked.

“To tattle,” I said.

Edmund’s chuckle followed me out.

Brandle looked up from the fire at my approach. His gaze swept over my soaked gown, and he arched a brow.

“Darian pulled me into his bath,” I said.

“Judging by your expression, you did not want to join him.”

“I did not.” The dropping temperature and cool breeze stole the lingering heat from the bathwater. “I’m wet and cold and annoyed.”

Garron approached from behind me. “I believe Darian needs a taste of his own mischief.”

I looked back at him. “How?”

“You can heat water. Can you cool it?”

Pleased with the idea, I closed my eyes and opened myself to the energy around me. It came to me as naturally as breathing now. The bathwater’s energy shone more brightly than that of the tub it occupied and duller than Darian’s. Focusing, I connected with the energy and moved the heat from his water to my skirts.

Opening my eyes, I looked down at the steam rising around me and grinned at the sound of Darian’s cursing and splashing.

Brandle and Garron chuckled.

“I believe he will take more care with the mischief he causes you in the future,” Brandle said.

Garron turned me toward the cottage. “Let’s go back in and get you changed. I’ll hold up a blanket for you.”

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