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Pulling something dark and long from the bundle, he faced me. “She’s…Bele.”
I laughed at that because it told me what I needed to know. She was fine. “And Aios?”
Ash went completely still. “She is okay, too. But she was not in the Bonelands.” His lips parted as he watched me approaching the earthen steps. “She stayed in the Shadowlands.”
“Is it safe for her?”
“Yes.” His gaze moved as the swirling, frothing water dipped lower and lower, dropping first to my navel and then my hips, and then even lower as I climbed the steps.
A heady warmth gathered in my chest, moving down where he’d fastened his heated stare. I saw the tips of his fangs again. Intense pleasure darted through me, and…so did something else—something colder.
Ash’s gaze lifted, the wisps of eather in his eyes stilling. My heart stuttered.
“I also grabbed a blanket,” he said before I could speak. He came toward me, spreading it out. “To use in place of a towel.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, feeling…gods, I didn’t know how I felt.
Ash was quiet as he began drying me off, wringing as much wetness from my hair as he could. I started to tell him that I could do it but then stopped. I thought maybe he needed to do this, and I enjoyed it—how gentle he was, how thorough. It reminded me of another time.
I glanced at the wrapped diamond, cringing. I really hoped his father wasn’t so aware that he’d heard our earlier conversation. Or could see any of this.
Actually, it was probably best I not think about that.
“Thank you,” I said when Ash finished.
He rose as our eyes met. “My pleasure.”
I smiled as he turned, tossing the blanket where I’d left the gown. As he walked past them, a spark ignited the small pile. My eyes widened as silver flames washed over the blanket and gown, leaving nothing behind. Raising a brow, I looked over at him.
“I really don’t ever want to see that gown again,” he remarked, picking up what appeared to be black breeches.
I quietly dressed as Ash pulled on a loose, linen tunic he must’ve grabbed for himself. It hung untied at the collar, leaving a tantalizing glimpse of his golden-bronze skin. The breeches he brought were on the tighter side, but the shirt was several sizes too large, easily able to fit him. It fell to my knees. Honestly, it could’ve doubled as a nightgown.
I lowered my arms, watching the sleeves flap several inches past my fingers.
“Cute,” he drawled.
“Uh-huh.”
Joining me, he took hold of one sleeve and started rolling it up. “I saw Elias while I was there. Only briefly. He said Attes should be arriving soon.”
“Good.” I breathed out, ignoring the pulse of pain skating across the back of my head. “Do you think he found Keella?”
“I’m sure.” He glanced at the diamond.
“We’ll have to…release your father before anything else.” I held still as Ash tucked the sleeve in at my elbow. “What do you think will happen when we do that?”
“His soul will be free.” Head bowed, he moved on to the other sleeve. “He should enter Arcadia.”
“Will you…will you be able to see him then? His soul?”
“I should be.”
“Talk to him?”
“Souls don’t speak like we do. You may hear them in your mind.” He folded the sleeve up. “But I don’t know what will happen.”
“I hope you hear him.” I pressed my lips together. “Afterward, we need to remove Sotoria’s soul from me.”
