“Last one.” I pick up the copper pail and walk it into the washroom, pouring it into the tub.
“Thank you.”
She shifts past me and holds my eyes for a moment before closing the door behind her.
I wait in the small sitting room adjacent to the washroom and tend the fire. Stand. Sit. And despite my best intentions, I drop my shields to check on Ever.
Gently, I cast the web toward the door and beyond, sensing for anything from Ever, but there’s nothing, as if she’s not even in the room. I’ve always been able to feel her, so I push a little harder, forcing my magic to respond.
I’ve practised this. I’m good at this, yet there’s nothing.
My heart begins to race, thudding in my ears, and I creep towards the wooden door and place my palm against the wood and try again—still nothing.
“Ever?” I call out, but there’s no answer.
My hand is on the doorknob, and I’m opening the door before I can rationalise the situation.
Her knees are poking up at one end of the bath, and as I step closer, Ever’s darkened tresses swim over the surface of the water, camouflaging the rest of her. I sink my arms into the water and pull her up.
“Hey,” she splutters. “What was that for?”
She blinks water from her eyes and scowls at me with a familiar fierceness that brings me to my knees, literally, next to the iron tub.
Relief crashes through me, closely followed by a host of wicked thoughts that have no right to be flitting into my mind.
Ever continues to stare at me while pulling her hair back and out of her face, and I let my heart stop its rapid beating, taking in the fact that Ever is breathing. She’s well. She’s right in front of me.
“Ten?” Her voice is barely a whisper.
“I’m sorry.” I swish my hand through the water, sending ripples lapping at her skin. “I couldn’t sense you, couldn’t feel anything, and I panicked.”
“You panicked?” She smiles, and it cracks my fucking heart. “I was in the bath.”
“Under the fucking water, and I couldn’t feel you, Ever.” My temper snaps, no longer able to keep it trapped down inside. “I had to pull you from the river only a couple of nights ago. You were unconscious for days. I’m not going to apologise for checking you’re still fucking breathing.” I’ve been in a constant state of fear for her, for all of us. I don’t care if she is only on the other side of the door.
“I’m okay, Ten. I promise.” She takes my hand in hers and squeezes, pushing some calm back into me. I reach out with my power again, desperate to feel something from her, and there it is, warm and pulsing, a sense of calm from Ever. It’s not as potent or strong as any of the other emotions I’ve so readily picked up, but I’ll take it over the void I felt a few moments ago.
She lets my hand go and kneels up in the tub, the water cascading down her creamy skin. It’s a feast for my eyes, and she shows no sign of hesitancy at being this exposed to me.
“You’re healed?” My voice croaks as I take in the plains of her soft skin. The same skin Fenix forced me to stick and cutwith my blade. My jaw clenches with the force I shove around that memory, desperate for it to shrivel and die. I built a fortress around any memory of hurting Ever. They are not welcome between us.
“I am.” She takes my hand and moves it along the dip at the side of her stomach where one of the worst of her injuries was. The pad of my thumb skims over the soft skin, feeling only a tiny rise where the wound knitted back together is now evident.
“Unlike you.” She looks up at me, the light illuminating the stars in her pale green eyes, banishing any thought of darkness lingering.
She’s here. Safe. And so fucking beautiful.
Her arms run around my neck, trailing water in their wake. But that’s all. No surge of pain, no stutter of images or visions. Just us.
It sets my pulse racing for every good reason I can think of, and I watch in rapture as Ever’s skin begins to cool. I suck in a tight breath, forcing myself to be patient.
Before Nehandun, I’d have relished every single touch or slide of my hand over her and been ravenous. Now, with nothing between us, no barriers, no flare of magic, we have an opportunity, and I don’t want to fuck it up.
“You’re wet.” I look down at the water dripping from her hair.
“You’re not.” Her hands move towards my shirt, pulling at the buttons and sliding them loose. She pushes the material from my shoulders, happy to let her run her hands over my skin as she exposes more and more. And there is nothing but the feel of her skin against me.
No pain. No heat. No need to shield. And I smile, eager to embrace this.
