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Taking a strand of my hair with his fingers, he sniffed then scrunched his nose.
“What?” I asked, yanking my hair back from him.
Without a response, he swung off the bed and to my side.
“What are you—”
Lifting me off the bed, he walked toward the door, snatching the wine with one hand as he passed the table.
“Where are you taking me?” He kicked the door closed behind us and headed across the hall to my room.
“You need a bath.”
“Now?”
He laughed, his smile wide and refreshing. “I’m sorry, but we both need a wash. Darkthing blood reminds me of rotten mushrooms.”
“It is not that bad . . .” I said, sniffing a piece of my hair. We hadn’t stopped to rest or clean ourselves since we fought the darkthings in the Borderlands.
“I love you, but you deserve a proper kiss with no holding back. The stench on both of us is becoming a bit rancid.”
Love.
He said he loved me and in such a casual way, I didn’t feel awkward or uncomfortable. In fact, warmth caressed my chest and tingles filled my belly.
Ignoring his scrunched nose, I looped my arms around his neck and tugged him closer. “If you hurry, this time I may let you do the washing.”
A low rumble sounded from him. “Don’t tease me, little sparrow.”
“No, seriously, I need help with these bandages. I don’t think I can untie them all by myself.”
Callum growled and nibbled my ear as we entered the room. “If I wasn’t sure, I’d think you were jesting me, but my little sparrow doesn’t know how to tell a joke.”
“No, but I’m willing to learn.”
With that one declaration an understanding passed between us. My emotions were a mess I buried long ago, but each day with Callum the girl who existed before her family died started to re-emerge. He claimed I saved him when it was reversed.
Tomorrow, we would leave for the surface and straight into an uncertain war. I didn’t know what would happen or if any of us would survive, but for today, I would leave duty at the door and let myself fall headfirst into love.
I deserved that.
And so did he.
