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“I’ll run one for you.”

Aria followed him with her eyes as he left the room, mug of foulness in hand. She took a deep breath of his lingering scent, clean, fresh, with a dash of something spicy. Maybe clove or cinnamon. When she heard the bath water run, she climbed up and stretched her muscles, stiff from the ordeal. Dried seawater left her skin feeling tight. Judging by the sound of the rain hammering down on the roof—this bedroom held no windows—and the occasional rumble of thunder mixed with the darkness that consumed the small home, sans a single light in the main room, she surmised she hadn’t been unconscious for long.

Caspian remained in the bathroom as she crept out of the bedroom. Yes, the storm still roared, virile and healthy. What chaos had they left behind at the docks? What damage had he caused that could be worse than her apparent lightning attack?

Curious, she moved on silent steps to the front door and pulled it open.

A small crack was all she needed to witness, with eyes and ears, the horror.

Fire, orange-yellow flames, spread through the village. Billowing black smoke filled the sky, but cast little protection from the rain. Lightning struck at random, setting a new building aflame with every bolt. Terrified screams and cries poured into the night.

The castle, alive with activity, belched out guards to lend aid.

Aria closed the door and pressed her forehead to the wood. Caspian’s home was far off track from the village, but the battle of the elements wouldn’t promise safety here.

A comforting hand settled on her shoulder. The heat and strength of Caspian’s body surrounded her, assured her in the silent manner they had always shared, only now, she sensed a deeper bond, the one she’d been blind to when they were friends. She turned into him, utterly aware of his nearness, the thrumming connection between them.

His hand slipped down her side to rest on her hip. “We won’t be able to stay here long, though I’m quite certain the guards and villagers are too busy with their own woes to chase us down anytime soon. I’ve already sent Brack away with enough coin that he won’t have to worry about expenses for the rest of his days. He’ll be off to see his daughter, no doubt. This storm is potent, princess, fueled by emotion. The fire. The rain.” His other hand came under her chin, lifting her face to his. “Once you have your bath, we’ll leave.”

Aria fell victim to the emotions brewing in his eyes and the overwhelming desire that ran rampant through her body. Pushing up onto her toes, cupping his face, she brushed her lips across his, craving the taste, needing his touch, wanting more than she’d ever wanted before.

Wanted everything, and wanted it all from Caspian. Only from Caspian.

She leaned back enough to capture his darkening gaze. “Why did it take me so long to figure this out?” She pressed herself flush against him, biting her lower lip as the full connection flared between them. “To figure out it was always you?”

“Time is irrelevant to us, and the whys no longer matter.” He sank his hand into her hair, his fingers gently fisting against her scalp. The prickles of discomfort quickly melted into pleasure. “Despite the circumstances, we’re together again.”

She closed her eyes, drinking in the sparks that tingled along her lips from his nearness. “Do you think we were ever meant to be apart?”

“I do. But that time is over.” He gave her hip a gentle squeeze. “Your bath.”

Aria dipped her head, pressing her cheek to his shoulder, and rested there for a few heartbeats. Caspian reluctantly released her when she rounded him. His hand slipped from her hair, across her face, and down her arm as distance grew between them. His gaze followed her, scorching paths along her back until she closed the door to the bathroom.

There was no delight to be had soaking in the warm water with its luscious scents of vanilla and jasmine. No delight in picking seaweed from her hair. She bathed quickly, washing away the grit and grime left on her human form from the ocean and cleaning up the mess the salt left in her hair because the only delight to be had was that which Caspian offered.

She climbed from the tub. Ignoring the rack of clothing options, she toweled her hair to get most of the moisture out and tucked the damp towel around her breasts.

Caspian stood by the window, peering into the night as fiery destruction crept closer to the outer walls of the castle.

“This village is plagued with evil. Manipulation and greed. However, I’ve made sure those worthy of survival are given a chance. The majority of the survivors will be those who lived in alleyways. Those who understand pain and suffering and who will be more attuned to the needs of others.”

“Children?”

Caspian turned his back to the window—and came up short of an answer, his mouth open to speak, but no sound came out. His gaze perused her from head to toe, lifting to her face after a few tenuous seconds.

“I would never allow children to suffer,” he rasped, quickly closing the distance between them. The predatory glint in his eyes stunned her, causing her stomach to flutter uncontrollably. The sensation rose to her throat, leaving her essentially breathless. His hands dove into her hair and the way he stood, a leg on the outside of hers, his body not pressed to hers, left her anticipating his next move. “Not for the consequences of the adults.”

Aria nibbled her lower lip, tentatively placing her hands against Caspian’s chest. The solid muscle that met her palms sent a shiver of excitement along her body. Hard, thick muscle that caused her lungs to tremble and her breathing to turn faint.

“Alamari burns beyond that window, princess,” he said huskily. “Are you seeking to start a new blaze?”

She plucked open a button on his shirt.

“I think the blaze has already started.”