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“I was in too much of a rush.Besides, it’s easy enough for me to dry my clothes.It only takes a moment.”

She perks up a little.“How do you do that?”

My smile stretches.My little inquisitive mate.“The same way I fabricate water from the air but just the reverse.”

“You’re awesome,” she says, already sounding sleepy.

Grinning, I tighten my arms around her to prevent her from slipping down.“Am I, now?”

She tries to wave my remark away, but she doesn’t manage to lift her hand from the water.“You’re making fun of me.”

“Never,” I tease.

The calming effect of the water is not only making her tired but is also loosening her tongue.I haven’t added sleeping salts to knock her out cold this time, but I instructed a maid to mix a little potion with a numbing effect into the water.The remedy numbs both the body, to relieve pain, and the mind.

“I mean,” she continues, slurring a little, “your power is awesome.”

“Most people will disagree with you.”

“Who cares about what they think?”she says, yawning.“Mm, I already feel better.”

“That’s good, my sweet.You can relax.I won’t let you go.”

I mean it in more ways than one, but I don’t know if she catches that.Her eyes droop, her long, sunset-colored lashes brushing her soft, pink cheeks, and still, she fights the sleep that’s stealing over her.

“I’m not falling,” she says in wonder.“Just… floating.”

“You fell?”

She tries to nod, but instead, her head lolls to the side and comes to rest on my shoulder.“Oh, yes.The first time in this pool.It was awful.I thought you were drowning me.”

“I’d never harm you, Elsie.You’re my mate.It’s my duty to protect you.”

“Duty.”She scoffs before adding sarcastically, “I’m sorry to be so much trouble.”

“Trouble?It’s my honor.”

“Honor.Duty.”She sniffs.“Aren’t you supposed to be doing these things because youlikeme?”

“Like you?”

What kind of a statement is this?I think about that for a moment.By dragons… she wants me to feel something for her.The unexpected notion warms me.If she cares about what I feel for her, it must mean she’s not completely immune to me.

Of course I like her.I more than like her.I find her irresistible, and I don’t mean only her body.I enjoy her sharp mind, and I admire her strength and determination.

She’ll make an outstanding queen one day.

I open my mouth to tell her that, but her eyes are already closed, and she’s breathing evenly.So I just kiss the top of her head.“Sleep and heal, my pretty little rebellious mate.”

I make quick work of cleaning her and washing the blood from her hair.I’ve barely dried us and tucked her into my bed when Kian enters.

He sounds surprised.“You found her.”

Irritation gets the better of me.“Of course I did.”I’ll always find her, even if I have to go to Earth to do so.“What took you so long?”

“Mother heard about Elsie’s power.Tarix told her when she consulted him about a sensitive issue.”He flashes me a knowing smile.“Which turned out to be the humans you brought to the palace.”

Kian no doubt found out about that by reading our parents’ minds, and now he’s taking pleasure in letting me knowheknows, which is just his way of rubbing my so-calledmistakein my face.