Page 48 of Frost Bound

All she wanted wasto crawl into the steaming bath and warm up.

It was a bloody miracle that she’d been able to stitch up the giantess at all. Lia flexed her fingers toward the roaring fire, but they continued to burn. It seemed like the cold had settled in her bones. The tightness in her chest wasn’t ideal either. Sickness was lurking in her lungs, she could tell.

“You stink,” a growly voice stated, his rugged accent rounding vowels a human mouth could not.

Dahlia flinched, and glanced over her right shoulder at the brute who glowered at her from near the doorway. What had she done to get on his bad side? Since the moment she’d appeared in the Asteran throne room, he seemed to have it out for her.

Was it because of their first encounter? Did he think she would bring it up?

She rotated until her back faced the flames and stared him down. “I beg your pardon?”

He nodded toward the steaming bath in the corner. “Bathe.”

Lia balked at the order. She glanced toward the giant with the long scar down his cheek—Olwen. He continued to pump hot water into the deep basin, looking utterly bored. Dahlia quickly scanned the room for a screen or divider for privacy.

Nothing. Did they expect her to wash with everyone watching?

Not on your life.

“No, thank you.”

Olwen blew out a heavy breath. “Whyever not? Arun isn’t wrong.” He touched the bridge of his crooked nose. “You need to bathe.”

“It’s not proper,” she replied tightly. Even if she were desperate enough to crawl into the steaming warmth the bath promised, there was no way she’d disrobe amongst a bunch of monsters.

Well, King Neve didn’t seem so monstrous. She glanced his way, watching as his chest rose and fell in the slow breaths of someone in deep sleep.

“What does propriety have anything to do with washing?” Arun growled, pushing away from the door. “It’s basic hygiene.”

Her jaw dropped. “Everything. It’s not seemly for a princess to disrobe amongst the other sex.”

He scoffed, the strong line of his jaw ticcing. “I forgot about the stupid rulessaloeshold themselves to.” He reached over his shoulders and tugged off his tunic, revealing an expanse of smooth, muscled skin. “Fine, I’ll enjoy the bath.”

She stared at the scars that spread out like roots down each shoulder toward his pierced pectorals. Just what had happened to cause those? She didn’t remember those from the time at the palace.

Her gaze trailed down his chest over his sculpted indigo abdomen, stopping at the waist of his trousers, where his claw-tipped fingers began to unlace them.

A blush raced to her cheeks, and she jerked her attention away, only to catch him staring at her as he began to remove his leathers. His words finally penetrated her mind.

He’s going to bathe while we’re all in the room.

Dahlia had never considered herself a prude, but she’d never been in a room with a bathing male. She spun on her heel and faced the fireplace, focusing on the flames.

The wet slap of his pants landed at her feet, and she closed her eyes, listening as the giant brushed behind her and stepped into the tub. He groaned, and more heat filled her cheeks when water splashed onto the stone floor.

He was really bathing while she was in the room. While everyone was in the room.

“You sure you don’t want to stare a little more,valles? To help me wash my back?” Every word dripped with disdain and mocking. Maybe a touch of taunt. “Maybe use that rusty blade on me that you keep hidden?”

This is no way to treat a princess. Don’t back down.

She bent to pick up his trousers and faced the tub with a scowl. Arun leaned back in the tub, his arms bracketing the sides in a relaxed pose, his scarred knees popping out of the soapy water. It was a marvel how he made the massive tub look downright tiny.

Lia stormed closer to the tub and tossed his pants into the water. She kept her eyes on his expression and grinned inwardly as the smug smile was wiped from his face. Carefully, she clasped the edge of the basin and leaned over the edge, her damp locks brushing the surface of the bath.

“If you think for one second that you can order me around, think again.”Bastard.

He reached out, curling a strand of her hair around his finger. “I would never presume to,my lady.”

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