Page 212 of A Dance of Water

The threads were soothed, and she did not hear rainfall. But she couldn’t help but feel it was the calm before the storm.

Bastian pressed an achingly gentle kiss to her crown and urged her to step inside the bathing chambers. "Go. I’ll wait for you here."

She stumbled away from him, nodding.

The delicate chain of the amulet was tangled under Tharen’s shirt, and she tugged down the neckline, too sleepy to care that it revealed the soft, lacy mesh of her brassiere, as she straightened the silver chain. The stone was warm under her fingertips—either from her body heat or the inherent magic contained within it.

As she padded into the bathing chambers, the floor pleasantly warm under her bare feet, she recalled her dreams—her visions of the past.

Enora and Caliban, entwined on the serene shore of that gorgeous lake. He held her so sweetly, so lovingly, each touch laced with care. It was as if whatever granted her the visions knew how worked up she was and taunted her with things she couldn’t have. Affection. Peace. Intimacy.

Luella took a shaky breath as Ina and Osa turned to her. The dark water in the bathing pool rippled. She looked away.

Osa demanded she take off Tharen’s shirt, and Luella fisted the hem, throat tight. Why was it so hard to let this piece of him go?

But she did.

His shirt fell to the floor, and she tried not to look at it again—a losing battle.

Osa was quiet. She knew it was because Bastian was right outside, listening. Ina was her usual self, sweet and encouraging. It warmed something inside Luella to know that the female did not bother with false kindnesses. Her friend.

Her skin was cleaned with soapy cloths, each brush of the soft fabric making her almost dizzy as she tried to fight the exhaustion threatening to pull her back into dreams. Over the drip of water and Osa’s one-sided commands to Ina, Luella faintly heard voices from the cracked door of the bathing chamber: Bastian’s low, silky tone and Az’s gruff responses.

Her chin quivered. Why was she so melancholic? Why did she feel like this… this journey was the start of something new—something terrifying?

Ina pressed simple undergarments into her hands. Luella had to make do in the bathing chambers, as she did not want to enter her room and use the changing partition; though, Bastian had already seen most of her… Her pleasure lessons felt like a dream already, something that had not happened toher, but to someone else.

Luella tugged the tightly fitted leather pants up her legs. They molded to her skin, the band sitting just above her belly button. Her shirt was white and billowy with laces at the front. Luella struggled to tie them, and when she was finished, she tugged on the loose hem as she turned and faced the two maids.

Ina fit a corset around her waist—a dark leather that matched her pants—and tugged, leaving Luella breathless as the bones of it cut into her ribs. It hugged her waist and soft curves, and her white blouse billowed at the top and bottom, ruffles peeking out from under the corset. Her boots were sturdy and comfortable, the soles padding her feet.

In her tired state, it was all a blur to Luella.

Her white hair hung in loose waves around her shoulders, and her face was bare of paint.

Osa’s eyes narrowed, but she was silent, her resentment simmering just under the surface. Ina patted Luella on the shoulder.The two maids trailed after Luella as she exited the bathing chambers, leaving her room without a second glance.

Bastian and Az stood in the dim light of her room, waiting for her.

She swallowed under their twin scrutiny—both with solemn eyes, and both were dressed similarly to her, in garments fit for a long journey. She wondered when Bastian had had the time to sneak away and change…

"You’re ready, Lu?" Az rasped.

Why was she shaking so much?

"Yes," she whispered—an untruth. She could lie again, at least.

Bastian extended a hand, and her eyes dipped to it before she hesitantly placed her hand in his.

"We must hurry. The King is waiting," Bastian said as he led her from the room.

Az fell into step beside her, and she was caught between them as they walked through the darkened halls. The demon’s fingers laced with hers, and just at the simple touch, she felt tears prick at her eyes.

She hadn’t told him she loved him yet. She peeked over at him, seeing his deep skin and the curve of his horns in the dying blue light of the enchanted flames. He found her staring and gave a sweet smile.

He seemed not to want to say those three words in the companyof Bastian, so he simply uttered a soft, "Always."

She returned it in kind. "Always, Az." Her fingers tightened on his.

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