AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Arata wasstunned. “They wouldn’t?”
She got anotherheavy tingle. Ivetha sighed. “That’s enough for now. I am notuncomfortable, but I am strong enough to take on another fortyassassins.” She chuckled. “I bet this time I could pop theirbrains.”
He blinked.Right. Why are you not a defender or agent?
She smiled andsigned. Effect of my activation is unpleasant. No one wants towatch folks explode. Messy.
But you canabsorb my healing.
Yes. But I canonly hold it so long before it would begin to have an effect on me.I need to release it.
How much do youthink you can hold?
She looked athim and kept her expression calm. “We don’t need to find out.”
He frowned, andthen his expression cleared. How are you feeling?
“Better. Thankyou. Now I just need to find a shower and clean clothing, and Iwill be good.”
May I carry youagain?
She flexed hertoes and nodded. “Fine. Thank you.”
He nodded andgot up, scooping her out of her seat and straightening. She didn’tspeak or comment on him not eating. It would have been rude to talkwhen his hands were under her thighs and back.
Arata found aset of steps and walked down the stairs and then another flightdownward. Ivetha held her questions until the moisture hit her.There was low splashing ahead, and a blush crossed her cheeks.“Communal bathing?”
He nodded, andthey rounded the corner where the soaking pools were occupied by afew people, and the scrubbing area was empty. “I can scrub myself.Promise.”
He smiled androcked his head in a maybe kind of gesture. He set her onone of the low stools. His hands went to open her robe, and shesmacked his hands away.
Arata pausedand blinked as if no one had done such a thing before.
Ivetha openedher robe and let it drop off her shoulders. She sat in a puddle offabric and said, “Can you help me get the soap?”
He stared.
“YourMajesty?”
He stared.
She sighed andslowly got to her feet, looking for the soap and a bucket of water.The wall had showers, and she took advantage of the shower to soakher body. She leaned one hand against the wall and bent to grab hersoap. She had to straighten quickly, and the fast move made herhead spin. Arata caught her and frowned while his hands wrappedaround her waist. His disapproving expression was unmistakable.
“What? I losthalf my blood volume, had to use my activation to get back tosafety, and then slept for two days. Pardon my lack of grace.”
He shook hishead and drew a finger down her spine from left shoulder to righthip.
“Oh. That. Igot it when I was a little girl. Our previous owners were not nicepeople, and when we activated, all hell broke loose.”
He froze, andshe looked at him. “Oh, they died. Don’t worry. The power wave gotthe attention of the neighbouring country, and that is how we metAunt Bex. She took care of us, and all survivors.”
He tapped thescar and frowned.
“Ah. Plasmawhip. It was the only one that landed through my clothing.” Sheshrugged. “Can you help me back to the stool and hand me the soapand maybe the bucket? I need to clean up.”
He nodded andcarried her back to the stool, setting her down carefully. He thenrefreshed the water in the bucket for her so that it was nice andwarm, and he procured a clean cloth from somewhere.
She reached forthe stuff, but he snorted, wetting the cloth and soaping it beforerubbing his hand over her back. She felt the heat creeping backinto her face, and he draped her hair over her shoulder and madesure that she was squeaky clean. Then, he worked on her arms,carefully rinsed the cloth, and washed her face, and then he soapedit up again and worked on her torso with care.
