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‘Then I’ll bid you goodnight.’

Thea stopped herself from thanking him a third time and simply watched as his outline disappeared down the room to his own bed.

Then, she began the long wait into the night.

Hours had passed, and the air was thick with snoring of various volumes and other… noises. It was like being housed with a bunch of animals. Thea did her best to tally the distinct sounds to the number of men. When she was almost certain they were asleep, she gathered her things and tip-toed to the door.

She winced as it creaked open and shed a beam of light into the dorm, but she was too far out now. Making quick work of it, she was out in the hallway in under a minute. She paused on the other side, waiting for her inevitable discovery.

Either they were all asleep, or those who weren’t didn’t care.

Both suited her.

Clutching the sack with her clothes in it, she crept down the passageway, following Cal’s instructions to the last door on the left. She held her breath as she pushed it open, praying there would be no one within.

There wasn’t, and she almost cried with relief.

It was a far more luxurious bathing room than she was used to. Glowing torchlight illuminated mosaic tiles along the walls, depicting the legendary cyrens from the lands beyond the veil. Beautiful women with waist length hair in clinging wet shifts were detailed amidst the waves. Audra had spoken of their kind before, creatures who with a single song could reduce a man to a pile of bones. Thea had always liked that.

Thea gazed upon the art in wonder, hardly daring to imagine what else lay beyond those towering walls of mist across the seas. She moved further into the bathing quarters to find several large wooden half in-ground tubs dotted around the tiled floor.Cauldrons of simmering water were also placed around the room on small stoves, along with a number of privacy screens.

‘Thank the gods,’ Thea murmured, moving towards the bath furthest from the door and setting her belongings down on a bench by a stack of clean towels.

She set about preparing the tub, pouring steaming water from a cauldron, and adding several buckets of cold water so she didn’t scald herself. There was a little shelf nearby that housed countless bottles and soaps and Thea took her time selecting a scent she liked. She brought it to her nose and inhaled deeply…Rosewood. Warmth flooded through her as recent memories came rushing to the surface, her chest fluttering —

‘What are you doing?’ she muttered to herself, practically throwing the bottle back on the shelf and picking another at random.

This stops now, she decided. She was here for one reason and one reason only. Wilder Hawthorne did not factor into it, nor would he ever.

At last, she dragged a privacy screen in front of her tub and surveyed her handiwork. Ribbons of steam drifted up from the water and the aroma from the soap was near-intoxicating. She couldn’t wait any longer. She was dying to feel clean,properlyclean.

Thea peeled the Warsword’s shirt from her body, cursing the fact that she’d have to have it laundered and returned to him. She unbound her braid and made quick work of her boots, trousers and undergarments before approaching the edge of the tub. The only thing she didn’t remove was her fate stone. The piece of jade was her constant companion, a permanent reminder that death always walked beside her.

Tentatively, she dipped her toes in the water and let out a soft cry. It was hot, but that was how she liked it. Slowly, she steppeddown into the bath, easing her body in and wincing against the initial heat.

At last, she gave a deep, gratifying sigh, and submerged herself.

The warmth soaked into her aching muscles; both the ride and the sparring match had taken a toll on her and she sent silent thanks to Kipp and Cal for telling her about this place. Finally, she could wash the grime from her skin and the dust from her hair; nothing had ever felt so satisfying. She ran the soap through her long tresses, inhaling the rich scent of lilies, though it didn’t smell as good as —

She pushed the thought aside in favour of ducking under the water again. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had the luxury of an uninterrupted hour to herself like this, nor the indulgence of a tub this large and water this hot. As Thea floated, the world outside faded and she considered all that had happened over the last week. She had left Thezmarr and seen Harenth and its capital for herself, something few women of the fortress got to experience. She had ridden alongside a Warsword… And met the rulers of the midrealms. She had felt their magic, their power, wrap around her. And she’dsaved King Artos’ life…A fact that seemed so distant now. Only to return to Thezmarr to be runt of the shieldbearers —

‘What the fuck are you doing?’ a familiar voice cut through the serenity.

Thea’s eyes flew open to see Hawthorne looking down at her, his lips parted at the sight of her wet, naked body.

She jolted in the water, scrambling to scoop as many bubbles in front of her as possible. But he’d seen. He’d seeneverything.

‘What the fuck areyoudoing?’ she bit back, cheeks flushing. ‘It’s called a fuckingprivacyscreen.’

‘I called out. Twice.’

‘So?’

His usual brutal glare was hooded as his gaze explored the tub. ‘All the masters and commanders are with the Guild Master…’ He took a measured breath, his eyes lowering to her lips, her collarbone. ‘No one else is supposed to be in here.’

A flush of warmth that had nothing to do with the temperature of the water spread through Thea’s body, her skin suddenly sensitive to the cool air that kissed the nape of her neck and her exposed shoulders.

‘At least have the decency to turn around,’ she snapped, her heart pounding.