Page 89 of Beyond Those Gilded Walls

His breath was warm as his laughter huffed against my skin. “Especially so, I find.”

The sound of running water had me pulling back to look at him quizzically. “Is there someone else here?”

He kept me to his body, fighting gently as I’d moved to pull away and cover myself. “No, there’s no one. Kalyx’s palace is not so different from Auretras in that it’s more than just a building of stone and metal. I requested it draw you a bath, and the magic responded.”

“Would you teach me?” I asked. Despite the exhaustion, the magic I’d performed at Auretras still burned in my mind, and I wanted to know more. Leaning back into his embrace, I let my eyes fall closed. His touch was a comforting anchor amidst the swirling currents of uncertainty. His warmth soothed the ache of Emyl’s letter that still lingered in my bones.

Tallon’s lips brushed against my ear, his voice a low whisper that sent shivers down my spine. “I will teach you that and more. Anything you’d like will be yours here, Odyssa. But for now, let me get you clean.”

With a gentle nudge, he guided me toward the awaiting bathtub, steam curling up from the fragrant water, filled with floating herbs and shimmering oils. Tallon held my hand as I stepped into the tub and eased myself down into the water’s embrace. Immediately I felt relaxed yet also strangely energized, as if the water had peeled away the exhaustion from my body and left behind only a content state of accomplishment.

“Will you not join me?” I asked. He’d pulled my blood-soaked gown from my body, but had yet to shed his own clothes, simply rolling up the sleeves as he settled onto his knees beside the tub. “You are more covered in blood than I.”

He leaned forward to capture my lips with his own, but the kiss was too brief and I chased his mouth as he pulled back, his silver eyes glittering as that smirk settled back into place. “Do not worry about me, my wolf. You first.” He ran his hand through the water, bumping into my thigh as he did so. “Besides, I do not think this tub could hold us both.”

I hummed, settling further into the water. He had a point, and though I’d expected his request for company to be fulfilled quite differently, so long as he stayed within my reach, all would be fine. I, too, didn’t want to stray far from him. While he was comfortable here in the Beyond, far more so than I’d ever seen him at Castle Auretras, I was not.

Tallon settled onto the floor by my side, his presence a steady beacon as he reached for a washcloth, dipping it into the water before gently running it across my skin, the remnants of blood and battle fading beneath his touch. The water swirled red and I fought to raise my eyes to Tallon’s face rather than watch the reminder of what we’d done. What we’d had to do.

“Relax, my love,” he whispered, his voice a soothing melody that wrapped around me like a comforting embrace. “There will be plenty of time for thoughts and questions later.”

Closing my eyes, I surrendered to the sensation, allowing myself to be carried away by the current of affection that flowed between us. In the safety of Tallon’s watchful presence, I found solace amidst the chaos of the Beyond, knowing that no matter what trials lay ahead, we would face them together. Water sloshed and the washcloth rasped over my skin gently, but with my eyes closed, surrounded by warm water and feeling Tallon next to me, I drifted to the edge of sleep, never quite falling over.

Some time later, I was pulled from my warm drifting by Tallon’s hand cupping my cheek. “My wolf, I’m afraid it’s time to get out of the bath. Your grandfather has grown impatient, it seems.”

Opening my eyes, I was surprised to find him in an entirely different outfit and completely devoid of blood. Now, he was dressed in a deep purple shirt with his sleeves pushed up to his elbows and left unbuttoned so I could see the way his marks dipped across his throat and collarbones. I wanted to tear the buttons off with my teeth. I blinked at him. “When did you leave?”

His smirk gave way to a full smile, one that showed his teeth and dimpled his cheeks. “You were quite out of it, my wolf. But I only left for a moment.” He rose from the floor gracefully, extending his hand out to me. “Come. If Kalyx must come fetch us himself, I fear it would not be a pleasant experience.”

I let him guide me from the tub and stepped into his arms as he held out a fluffy towel. Biting my lip as I grew wary, I wondered if we’d made a mistake coming back here. “What would he do?”

Tallon paused in running the towel over my body. “Oh, no Odyssa, not like that. He would not harm us, I swear it. I meant more along the lines of unbearable teasing. I apologize.”

Shaking my head, I pulled the towel from his hands and continued drying myself off as I avoided his stare. “No, I’m being silly. I suppose I’m not…” I searched for the right words.

His hand cupped my elbow and brought me to standing where his gaze captured mine. “You’re not used to being wanted. To being loved. It’s quite alright, my wolf. We will teach you.”

I dried and dressed in silence, pulling on the off-the-shoulder crimson gown that Tallon had laid out for me while trying to find the words to express just how grateful I was for him. I had no example of how to express my own love, my own want, but I wanted to desperately. To tell him exactly how much I appreciated his support and his care. Instead, I settled for cupping his face in my hands and pouring it all into a kiss. One that left my knees weak and my chest heaving.

Tallon had not fared much better. His voice was hoarse as he pulled away and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “We should leave this room. I certainly don’t want to be made a liar, but if your grandfather comes to find us now, I worry what he’d do if he found us in bed.”

At that, a laugh finally bubbled up from my chest. The absurdity of it, of me going from having no one to care what I did so long as I was useful, to having a grandfather. And one who would care enough to be upset at the thought. It was odd, but in a delightful way. “Let’s go then. I’d like to learn more about this place anyway.”

“We will teach you everything,” he vowed. He took my hand as we left the room. “I suspect he will want to introduce you to his court. Some of the other gods might be here, but he might not call on them so soon.”

My blood chilled and the smile fell from my face. “Cethin?”

“I plan to ask him about that later, but Cethin doesn’t often come here.” He brought my hand to his lips. “You will be safe, Odyssa. I swear, just as I swore it at Auretras, no harm will come to you.”

I didn’t point out that harmhadcome to me at Auretras, even after his vow. It wasn’t the time, and I knew that if he’d had more authority, more power, he would have kept it. “How should I act?”

“Be yourself.” His words were firm. “You do not have to wear a mask here, my wolf. Never again.”

“Never again,” I repeated. I liked the sound of that, though I knew it would never be as easy as he made it out to be. I’d lived my life behind a mask, and shedding it would be like shedding my skin. But I would do it. I wanted to do it.

“Ahh, my darling granddaughter has joined us,” Kalyx’s smooth voice boomed over the stone as we entered what could only be the throne room. Much like the ballroom of Castle Auretras, the floor was smooth black stone that reflected the lanterns that bordered it, set upon the face of black columns streaked with gold veins. It was regal in a way Eadric could have only pined for.

“She needs torest, Kalyx,” Tallon said through gritted teeth. “Not be paraded about. This could have waited.”

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