Dravik clears his throat, reminding me I never answered his question. “Well?”
“Um, nothing. Just talking to myself…”
“Oh. Okay.” With a shrug, he steps deeper into the bathing chamber, stripping his suit as he goes, exposing the bulging muscles along his back and arms.
My jaw hits my chest when he stops at the edge of the pool to slide his armor down over his toned ass, and I’m finally able to pull my eyes away—ashamed, but not regretting a single moment.
Dravik submerges himself in the water, and when just his head peaks over the surface, I feel brave enough to speak.
“So… did you have a nice hunt?”
He turns slowly in the water to face me. “Sure.”
“Did you catch anything tasty?”
“I suppose.”
“Do you have a favorite meal? Or do all souls taste the same?”
He sighs. “Is it normal for humans to watch others bathe and pester them with questions?”
I shrug. “Hey, you were the one who interrupted mine and Kevin’s bath time.”
“I needed to clean myself. It couldn’t wait.” He reaches up, cringing as he attempts to drag a clawed hand through his hair. “I hate it when my hair gets tangled and sticky after a hunt.”
My fingers itch to reach out and help him untangle some of the knots. The sunset coloring is absolutely stunning, and I have a feeling it would look even more so if it was properly styled and cared for. “You know, if you want me to braid it for you next time, I’ve gotten pretty good at it.” I grab my rope of hair and hold it up to show him. “It’ll keep it from knotting so badly, at the very least.”
His eyes flare bright orange as a look of longing flashes across his expression. It’s so swift, I wonder for a moment if I imagined it.
“No, thank you.” His voice is stern. “I have managed it so far.”
Sure you have. Stubborn, stubborn man.“Okay. Let me know if you change your mind. I’d be happy to do it.”
He nods, and we fall into a charged silence. After a while, Dravik looks around the room, his brows narrowing in a question. “Where are Nyx and Rhune? Shouldn’t they be hanging around you like a bad smell?”
“I’m not exactly surewherethey are at the moment.” I drop my eyes to my lap. “I sent them away and told them I needed space after… you know. I haven’t seen Nyx, but I imagine he’s sulking around here somewhere. Rhune left two cycles ago, but I don’t know where or when he’s coming back.”
“Hmm. That’s troubling.”
“Why?”
The corner of his lip quirks—the first hint of a smile I’ve seen. “Because those two are incredibly persistent and clingy—despite what Nyx willtryto tell you about himself. If they’re nothere pestering you, then I’d say they’re off thinking of ways to make you forgive them. Especially Rhune,” he adds, the smile dropping off his face. “He’s probably going out of his mind knowing he can’t be next to you. The mate bond is new, and at its most powerful, so he will do quite literallyanythingto get in your good graces.”
I cross my arms over my chest, trying to ignore the stab of guilt that Dravik’s words bring. “You think I’m being unreasonable?”
He shakes his head. “No. I think you’re beingveryreasonable, considering the circumstances.” His eyes soften at the corners as he adds, “I’m sorry it happened this way, but now that it has, there’s nothing you can do to make it go away. The more you fight the bond and push him away, the worse it will be. For both of you.”
With that, Dravik goes back to detangling his pretty orange hair, seemingly unaware of how his words have affected me. I know he’s just being practical and trying to help me, but damn. He could have delivered the news a little softer.
“I think I’m gonna go hang out in Cin’s workshop for a bit…” I slowly pull my feet from the pool. “See you later…”
Dravik dips his chin in goodbye, and I hurry from the bathing chamber in the direction of Cin’s workshop.
As soon as I step inside, my gaze falls on Cin’s frame at the back of the room, standing square in front of the wall of welwig roots. His shoulders and back are tense, his chin raised slightly and eyes unblinking. If I didn’t know better, I might have mistaken him for one of the sculptures littered around the space.
Slowly, I walk to his side, needing to make sure he’s okay.
“Hey Cin,” I greet, holding my hand up in a little wave. When he doesn’t acknowledge me, I slowly lower my arm, my brows creasing in a deep frown. “Cin? You okay?”
