Page 138 of Wrath

“Can’t the answer be all of the above?” As Ryland spoke, he began to shuffle me forward from behind, his arms iron bands around my waist, wisps of shadows emanating from his brown skin.

He moved the two of us towards the bathroom, where a soft glow emitted.

“What is this?” I asked.

The door slid open on silent hinges, revealing two more of my mates.

In the very center of the room was a claw-footed porcelain tub that wasn’t there prior. Steam wafted from the bubbly water,and a few rose petals floated across the surface. Candles—the source of the light I’d spotted earlier—were positioned around the room, their flames casting ambient shadows on the wall.

Killian smiled sheepishly when he saw me, and Bash smirked.

“What’s going on?” I whirled towards Ryland, but he had already left, the door swinging shut behind him.

I faced Bash and Killian, who both stared at me intently.

I always loved the juxtaposition of these two particular men. Bash was snarky and confident. Killian was shy and timid. Bash was loud and combative. Killian was soft-spoken and gentle.

Their hooded eyes moved over me as I stood there, speechless.

“Seriously. What’s happening?” I was so damn confused.

“We thought you needed a little break.” Bash’s voice sounded like a sinful purr that traveled straight to my core.

“What type of mates would we be if we didn’t look after you?” Killian asked, awkwardly fiddling with one of the horns on his head.

When he caught me looking, he dropped his hand with a timid smile.

My heart threatened to burst. “This is sweet, guys, but we don’t have time?—”

“Nonsense.” Bash waved away my protest. “We have hours before the…”

He swallowed, his throat bobbing, and I waited for him to continue, to say “execution.” He didn’t.

“Let us take care of you.” Killian’s long lashes fluttered, sooty twigs against his high cheekbones.

“Now disrobe, woman!” Bash adopted a haughty voice and snapped his fingers impatiently. “Let us see what we’re working with.”

I snorted, and Killian leaned forward to whack Bash across the back of the head.

“Ow.” My mage pouted dramatically.

“Are you sure?” I bit my lower lip.

Technically, I knew that we had time, but it felt…strange to do something as mundane as bathing or relaxing with everything going on. Wrong, almost. I shouldn’t be enjoying myself when battle was on the horizon.

Yet…

I stared at the steaming water and then at the earnest faces of my mates.

Before I could change my mind or second-guess my decision, I began removing my clothes, one article at a time. I didn’t mean for it to be sensual, but by the way my mates stared at me, it was as if I were dancing on a pole. I felt beautiful and desirable. Loved.

“Motherfucker,” Killian breathed, his cheeks on fire as he hungrily devoured my body.

“Mate fucker,” Bash corrected.

Ignoring them, I stepped into the bathtub and slowly lowered myself into the steaming depths. It was hot, but not too hot that it felt uncomfortable. The heat caressed my skin in ways that felt almost decadent. Wicked.

Or maybe that was just the stares of the two men before me.

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