Page 40 of Room for Three
It was as if the store wanted to set a certain mood.
Jamie would have to have a talk with it about that, once all of this was over. He almost shook his head at himself.
Was he seriously considering lecturing his store so as not to meddle in his love life?
How strange had his life become?
"We'll need to remove the bandages," Azelon said, breaking Jamie out of his thoughts. The Tideborn's gaze fixed determinedly on the herbal mixture he was stirring into the water. "The cleansing won't work properly otherwise."
Jamie glanced down at the white strips of cloth wrapped around his torso. "Will that be safe for the wound?"
"The bath itself has healing properties," Azelon assured him. "It won't cause harm."
Jamie nodded, bracing himself as Azelon's fingers found the edge of the bandage. The Tideborn worked with clinical efficiency, yet each brush of his fingertips against Jamie's skin sent pulses of that strange energy between them.
Jamie had no words for it, but his skin tingled and his own fingers itched to touch Azelon's blue skin in return.
It wasn't enough just to have the Tideborn's hands on him. He needed more than that; he wanted to get into the bath and draw the Veridian into the water along with him.
Was that the influence of the magic that whispered between them?
It had been a long time since Jamie had had such thoughts about anyone—and now he felt himself drawn to both Corin and Azelon? Who were clearly meantfor each other?
No, it was just the strange magic of this place.
"You look conflicted," Azelon observed.
"It's nothing."
Jamie could tell the Tideborn didn't believe him. Hell, Azelon probably knew he was lying because of this strange and unintended connection that had formed between them.
They needed to get rid of that.
"I can handle the rest," Jamie said when the bandages were removed.
"Very well." Azelon turned away, busying himself with arranging towels while Jamie awkwardly removed his sleeping pants.
When Jamie finally lowered himself into the tub, the water felt like a warm embrace. It seemed to seek out his injuries, cradling them with unusual gentleness. The herbs released their scent more strongly now. Something like mint and sea salt, with undertones of a spice he couldn't name.
"This feels..." Jamie searched for the right word. "Soothing."
"It should be." Azelon knelt beside the tub, his markings glowing more intensely now. Where they reflected in the water, the liquid took on the same luminescent blue. "The mixture contains elements that respond to Tideborn magic."
Jamie studied Azelon's handsome face, noting the tightness around his eyes, the careful way he controlled his expression.Through their connection, Jamie sensed concern, guilt, and something deeper that Azelon seemed determined to suppress.
"Earlier," Jamie began, "during the healing, I saw fragments of your memories."
Azelon looked aside. "I know. The connection was stronger than intended."
"Tell me about that person you saved."
For a moment, he thought Azelon wouldn't answer. The Tideborn's tail flicked once in agitation, then went still.
"They broke the law," he finally said.
"What did they do?"
Azelon's hands moved to the water, drawing patterns across its surface. Wherever his fingers touched, the water glowed more brightly.
