Page 20 of Ties of Shadow

In all my days at the castle, even with the inferni heating water and the washers pushing water through plumbing in all the nobles’ quarters, I had never experienced such luxury as this. This bath could seat the king’s whole table, and the water was so hot, my soul boiled in pleasure. The room was filled with thick, happy clouds that wafted the perfumed oil I’d found lined up on the edge. The water was so opaque with minerals and fragrances that I could hardly see myhand an inch below the surface. All of it worked to clear my mind and cushion my heart.

Oh, my heart. The ache renewed its beating pulse behind my ribs. My mind ruminated on all that had passed. I had run from my prince and my father to the very person the court had accused me of colluding with. But they were the ones who had wanted to sacrifice me—not the Shade. I shook my head. A bead of water flicked from my chin. I couldn’t have said yes to that—no one could have—but what if it actually was the only way to save the queen and our kingdom? My stomach solidified in dread. What if my refusal killed her and I have doomed us all? Was my life worth more than everyone else’s?

The hot coal of indignant resistance within my chest that had ignited in the temple burned hotter. Who had determined that I was the prophesied sacrifice anyway? A cauldron? A set of isolated, wrinkled crones with fancy words? I had never doubted the seers before, but I had to in the face of my near demise. My chest grew hotter as I thought of my father. The one who had led me to the temple, who did so very little as the prince brought me to my death. Was my life so meaningless to him?

I clicked my nails along the edge of the bath. And then, I had raced to Death’s doorstep. I sucked in a slow breath. I wasn’t dead yet.

Cold prickles ran down my body, which erupted in goosebumps despite the heat of the water. What was I going to do now? Was I a prisoner? Was I trapped here? What would I do with my time? Sleep and bathe and…? I could run back to my homeland. I could escape if he would but supply me. Or I could steal what I needed and leave when he was sleeping. But the manor was filled with animals, it seemed. Could I even run without detection?

Perhaps I would explore then. Find the exits. Make plans. I owed him nothing. I scrunched my nose. Well, nothing except my life andmy health and my protection. Air hissed between my teeth. Then I would help him for a time. Clean the manor, care for…Jamison? Or something. Pay him back a little. Then run.

My plan set, I pushed up on the seat, about to emerge when the steam shifted and green eyes latched onto mine from the other side of the pool.

Squawking, I careened backward, caterwauling and dipping under the water like a deranged cat. I squeezed my arms around my chest and stayed low as I emerged. The rippling surface would have to obscure the rest of me.

The Shade rose slowly, water dripping off his very naked, very cut physique to his waist which—thankfully—was under the cloudy water. And he moved toward me. Water dripped down the curves of his chest and the leather bracelet on his left arm. His skin was tanned, unblemished, unmarked by a bond mark. Mercifully, he sat again, the water up to his shoulders, giving my eyes a chance to unlatch and regard something more appropriate like his face—his smirking, amused, teasing face. His eyes searched mine as the green flickered with a flush of black.

“Why do you hide?” The Shade’s voice rumbled through the room, echoing around me.

I blinked slowly. “I-I am naked.”

He furrowed his brow. “Jamison doesn’t care.”

A frantic laugh escaped before I could curtail it. “It’s not Jamison I’m hiding from.”

He idly searched about the empty room. Then raised a brow. “There is no one else.”

I gestured wildly at him, flicking water between us. “There is you!” My voice squeaked at the end, sounding shriller than I intended. “You are here!”

“But I do not care what you wear or don’t wear in the bath. That seems like a personal decision.” The Shade’s eyes glinted as mischief played across his lips. “I could leave now.” As he rose to stand, the water lowered.

My face was now as hot as the sun, and I flipped my back to him, hiding my eyes behind my hand. “No. No!” I cleared my throat. “That is. I do not presume to tell your…his…the Shade what he is to do or not to do. But, sir, if you are asking me,pleaseremain as you are!”

A low chuckle rumbled behind me. “As you wish.”

“And perhaps, I also wish…” I swallowed. “Would you turn, sir, that I might cover myself? Or move to the other side of the room? Please?”

A slow “hmm” was all I had as assent. I looked behind me, confirming that his back was indeed to me, before dashing out of the water and grabbing one of the robes that hung on the wall. Tying it with nervous force, I double-checked that the important bits were covered. Despite the robe being too large, my calves, once again, lay exposed. I could hear my father’s berating from here.

“Would your father be so startled to see you so clothed?” the Shade asked. He stood behind me in his own robe and casually slung the belt about his waist, his chest still visible and gleaming in the lamplight.

My mouth gaped; I didn’t think I had said that aloud. “My father would be convinced I was ruining the family’s reputation by the clothing, the company, and the room, sir.” My eyes widened. “Not that you’re not excellent company, it’s just that—I mean to say that—it’s my legs, sir. They’re exposed! And you, you are here!”

The Shade took his time evaluating my legs. I could feel his gaze sweep every curve, dip, and sway of my ankles. My hands clutched the robe at my neck and belly tighter. Nerves flip-flopped in my gut.

“They look like sufficient ankles. They helped you run here, didn’t they? Does your father not approve of ankles?”Sufficient? He continued, his eyes glittering, “And why wouldn’t your ankles be exposed in the common steam room? The hot spring is large enough for the whole manor. My bedroom is just there.” He indicated a far door on the other side of a tiled wall. In my haste, I hadn’t thought…hadn’t considered…a public bathing room?

I couldn’t bear any further scrutiny. “Excuse me, sir.” I dipped hastily into the roughest, shallowest curtsy of my life and rushed into my room, being careful not to touch him. Jamison only stirred long enough to open one eye before nestling back into his wings. I swept to the wardrobe, opened both doors, and ducked in as far as I could to hide my body. Oh, my sun and stars, what was happening?

Peeking around to be sure the Shade hadn’t entered my room, I slipped into a silken black dress, the length fully covering my ankles though its style was a few decades old. TheV-shaped neckline was a bit low, but it was very well made. I tugged the shoulders back and pulled on the sides of theV, but they wouldn’t stay together. It was fine. I was fine. It highlighted my necklace nicely; its swirls above and below the glowing gem lined up well with the deeper neckline. Plus, I tried to reassure myself that the exposure of skin was apparently nothing to someone like the Shade,

“It’s not nothing.” A murmur came from behind me. I flipped around, and he stood but three paces away, this time fully clothed in a long black tunic with an artful silver hem that swirled and slashed at the bottom and the sleeves.

“You-you need to wear bells.” My face heated again. “You startled me.”

“Apparently.” He took in my appearance. The smoke that hovered around him swirled for a moment before settling again. “Good, you’redressed. Let’s go.” He turned on a heel and strode to the door; this time, his heels clacked and clattered as shoes should. “Ding-a-ling, Dayspring. Ding-a-ling”

I peered at him, wondering briefly if he was stomping on purpose. And was that supposed to be a bell sound? A low chuckle echoed into the hall.

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