Page 153 of Ruthless Scoundrel
An hour later, and a few grunted screams, we’re testing her work. The bathtub is filled with cool water that Lily warms with her magic. I step in and before I can rethink it, submerge myself completely.
I open my eyes and look up at the watery image of Alyse and Lily watching me. The rune at my temple activates, sheathing my eyes with a clear film that protect them from the water. Then blue glows along the sides of the tub from my chest and I feel my skin part. Like a knife carving out a new space, something worms between my ribs and into my lungs.
The air escapes me as I scream, and then I hold my breath, fear compelling me not to take in the water.
“It’s going to work. Just relax, open your mouth, and breathe,”Alyse whispers through my mind.
I open my mouth and the water fills it quickly. Primal fear begs me to jolt out of the water, but I press my hands to the sides and hold on.
Just breathe.
I open my throat and let the water in. It’s cold and my first reaction is to cough. I convulse under the surface as the thickness in my chest grows and feels heavy. I nearly throw myself from the tub, but after a few seconds, the ache subsides.
I breathe.
Lily claps, jumping up and down with excitement as she says, “Sel-kie sex! Sel-kie sex!”
After a few heavy breaths and getting used to the way water moves in and out of me, I get up. I lean forward and let the water drain out through my mouth with a weird retch. When it’s all clear, the gills seal up with a magical blue flourish, and I breathe air again.
Lily uses her magic and rune-scripting in midair to pull the water from my hair and clothes, depositing it back in the tub. She is incredible.
“Well, my work here is done, and I need to get fucked numb by my husband, so please get out,” Lily says, ushering us to the door.
“Thank you. Really,” I say, wrapping my arms around her in a tight hug. “It’s about more than just the sex, by the way. I want to be able to see him in his gods-given shape. I want to be able to swim with him and…and okay, I want to be able to fuck him, too.”
Lily laughs and pats my shoulders. “I know. You want to be closer to him, more like him, so he can be more like himself.”
I nod.
“That’s wonderful, and we can talk more about it later because I can relate, but seriously, get out,” she says, pulling open the door.
We laugh and leave her to her nightly affairs.
Alyse walks me to a door at the end of the hall next to a well-warded window. “Here is your and Jasper’s room.”
I turn the handle and look inside. It has the same amenities as Lily’s room, but it’s blank, ready to be customized and made into something that’sours.
I look back at Alyse, my throat suddenly tight with emotion. “Thank you.”
Her smile is soft and understanding. “We’re in this together. Family.”
“Always,” I whisper.
She hugs me tight. “I have to get going, too. Jasper is coming.”
I look down the hall, but no one is there.
“He’s just outside with Scarlett and Zane,” she says, either reading my mind or the confusion on my face.
“Right,” I say. “I forget just how powerful you are now.”
She grins. “You too, Miss Fire Starter. I wouldn’t want to stand against you.”
“Good thing you get to stand beside me.”
“Yeah, good thing.” She pushes my hair behind my ear in a loving gesture. “Okay, I’m just over here,” she says, pointing to a room across the hall and down a little way. “Knock if you need anything.”
“I will,” I say, holding onto her forearms a little longer, aching for another hug.
