Page 51 of Blood Day

There were red jewels everywhere.

And a window that was frosted to disguise the outside.

“Can you go under the water for me?” Master Cedric asked, drawing my focus to him. He still held my chin, my face angled toward him over my shoulder, but my mind had wandered. “I’ll hold you, if that’s easier. But I need you to dampen your hair.”

I blinked. I’d never been in water like this before, the depth going up to my belly button when I stood.

And now he wanted me to go under the surface? “Okay.”

It wasn’t like I could refuse him.

I tried to roll off him, but his arm clamped around my middle. Then he moved me through the water as though I weighed nothing—although, maybe I really was weightless because I certainly felt light in this pool—and cradled me against his chest with my legs tucked into a ball.

“Squeeze your nose between your thumb and finger. I’m going to dip you.”

Frowning, I lifted my hand to do what he said, my lips parting to continue breathing.

“Close your eyes and hold your breath,” he said, causing my heart to skip a beat.

This is dangerous.

He may drown me. End me. Kill me.

But why would he do that after healing me with his blood? Why would he do that afternamingme?

Maybe because he wanted to play with his food? To give me a moment of hope before?—

“Stop thinking and focus on how you feel,” he said, his words cutting through my thoughts and forcing my attention to return to him.

Then he gradually dipped me backward just like he’d warned he would do, except the water only covered my eyes, not my nose or mouth.

He lifted me until my ears were out of the water, my hair still mostly submerged. “How do you feel, Lily?”

“Light,” I whispered, my voice nasally because of my pinched nose. “Nervous.”

His arm left my shoulders, causing me to stiffen, but his hand cradled the back of my head, keeping me afloat. “I would teach you how to swim, but this isn’t a proper pool. However, there’s one outside, so perhaps I’ll show you later.”

How long am I staying here?I wondered. He’d spoken about a tour, and now he mentioned a pool outside.What is happening?

He ran his fingers through my hair, then guided me back to the bench and helped me sit between his legs. One of his feet remained on the marble bench while the other dropped off to touch the ground of the tub. I hugged my knees, my back to his front, but there was a clear space between us now.

I didn’t feel as secure, the water a little too open.

But then his fingers returned to my hair, and a minty fragrance touched the air.Shampoo, I realized as he began running it through my strands.He’s washing my hair.

No one had ever touched me like this, not even the groomers I met with every other week. When they washed my hair, it was with harsh water and plain soap. Which was quickly followed by sharp scissors for a trim.

But Master Cedric stroked me almost reverently.

Just like he had between my thighs, I thought, squeezing my legs together with the memory. It shot a tingle up my spine, stirring the hairs along my neck.

No one had ever touched me in that way either. Somasterful and knowing. Very unlike the tentative strokes of Six during our classes together.

And Six had certainly never made me fall apart like that. Not even close. I wasn’t even sure I’d ever really come until today.

Maybe it had something to do with my heightened senses, but I suspected it had more to do with Master Cedric.

His fingers fisted in my hair, dragging me back into the water and forcing me to release my hold on my knees. I yelped at the abrupt movement, then plugged my nose before he yanked me all the way under. My eyes burned, reminding me to close them, and my heart raced in my chest.