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“I will never get used to that,” I murmured, looking at her warily as she perched upside down.

“You will,” Carnon laughed, unrolling what I realized was a note. His eyes moved, scanning the letter for a few moments, before he tossed it into the fire.

“It’s a letter from my friends in Oneiros,” he said, returning to me and replacing his hands on my arms. “I sent Artemis ahead last night after you were asleep to let them know we’d be coming.”

“That was fast,” I said, raising my brows in surprise that she could travel there and back in only a few hours.

“She can fly much faster and more efficiently than we can ride,” he said, moving a hand to my lower back and turning to guide me toward his bathing room.

“Wait,” I said, turning back to the supply bags and pulling the pouch of witch elements from the bag. Carnon hadn’t bought herbs, and to be fair it was unlikely he knew what was used in witch spells anyway. I would have to buy some in Oneiros. If I had money.

I frowned, realizing I had no money or connections or anything except the faint promise of protection if I invoked the Horned God. And Carnon, in whom I was putting a lot of faith.

“What’s wrong?” Carnon asked, moving to stand behind me and look over my shoulder.

“Nothing,” I said, sighing frustratedly. “Everything.” He chuckled.

“Tell me,” he said, running his hands down my arms again. I felt myself warm at his touch, and the compulsion to unburden myself to him was strong.

“I hoped you would have witch hazel, which you don’t, and then I realized I have no money, and I don’t know what I’m going to do when we get to Oneiros,” I said, all in a rush, turning to face him.

“That’s a lot,” he said, frowning slightly. “Why witch hazel?”

“For my…discomfort,” I said, wincing a little as his eyes narrowed further.

“You said you weren’t in any pain,” he said accusingly.

“I’m not,” I reassured him. “I mean…” I looked up, seeing him looking back down at me with a raised brow and a skeptical expression. I sighed. “Not a lot.”

The frown deepened as Carnon’s hands squeezed gently once, then propelled me toward the bathing chamber.

“One thing at a time,” he said reassuringly, encouraging me into the small room. The tub was elegant, but not large. It was unlikely two of us would fit in there. “First, you're going to bathe alone.”

“But—” I protested. Carnon turned, gently placing his fingers over my lips to silence me.

“Second,” he said, “you’re going to remember that I’ll take care of you until the Demon King does. Whether I want to or not—and I promise Red, Iwantto—we have a bargain. You’re stuck with me.”

He caressed a thumb over my cheekbone as I flushed. I knew the real reason he was taking care of me was for the necklace, but I liked to think that it had something to do with me too. Especially after last night.

“What if the Demon King doesn’t agree?” I asked, apparently on a mission to poke holes in all of his comforting words.

“By invoking the blessing of the Horned God,” Carnon replied, looking a little grave, “you make him honor bound to protect and care for you until you either release him or break the invocation by violating its terms.”

I raised my brows. “How does that work?” I asked.

He smirked. “Get in, and I’ll answer your thousands of questions,” he said, giving me a gentle smack on the rear.

I gave him a rude gesture and stepped into the tub, groaning a bit as I lowered myself into the hot water. I felt immediate relief as tight muscles loosened and my aching spots began to soothe.

“Stay there,” Carnon said, as if there was anywhere else I could actually go. He was still completely naked as he went to the drawers and began rummaging for something. “Aha!”

He returned with a small bottle, which he opened and let me sniff.

“Lavender?” I asked, watching as he poured three drops in the bathwater.

“Probably not as good as witch hazel,” he said, “but this always used to help me sleep.”

“I don’t need sleep,” I grumbled. I winced, realizing I actually sounded like Icoulduse a nap.