Page 184 of Lady of the Drowned Empire

I felt his aura sweep around me in black shadows that hid us from the world. The cave was gone, and so was Meera and the spring. It was just me and him.

“Come,” he said, taking my wrist in his hand. I was so filthy, the gesture pushed the dirt caked on my wrist toward my hand. “You wanted me to bath you. Then I will.”

“What about Meera?”

“She will not be harmed. And neither will you. Come. I will explain.”

I let him lead me away, the shadows plunging me into darkness that didn’t lift as we walked. Somehow, he knew his way around, and when he let the light return, I found myself in another cavern. A large bed, fitted with sheets and pillows lay in the center. And beyond it another spring, far smaller than the one Meera had been forced into. This one was closer to the size of the bathtubs we had in Cresthaven.

“Get in,” he said.

“I’m not fucking listening to you,” I said, snatching my hand from his grasp.

He brought his hand to his nose and sniffed, making a face of disgust. “There. I’ve given you exactly what you wanted. I’ve smelled what I’ve caused. And I am sorry. Now let me fix it, and explain.”

“No!”

“Kitten,” he said, a warning in his voice. “Did you not demand I bathe you myself? Come, I know how much you want this.”

He brought his hand down before me, and my dress fell, shredded to pieces at my feet.

I stood in silence as he removed his armor and stripped off his shirt, standing before me, his muscular chest beautiful, strong.

A god incarnate.

He took my hand and led me into the waters.

Instantly the feeling of heat soothed my skin, but even better was the sensation of the layers of filth lifting from my body.

He sat at the edge of the spring, producing a wash cloth and soap. Fuck. The scent of clean. I almost cried.

Fucking bastard.

He pushed my hair off my shoulders, running the washcloth down my back.

“I told you before to be prepared to do anything.”

I snapped back from his touch. “I didn’t know that anything included being kidnapped with my sister by akadim! That it included being ripped from my home, tortured and assaulted by monsters, starved and left in filth for days.”

He lifted my chin in his hand, bringing the washcloth down my cheek. “I will make it right.” Then he returned to my back, running soap across my shoulders. “The akadim are brutish but a necessity that you will understand soon. No soturi will rise up against the Emperor. And despite the twelve countries all belonging to the Empire, we are far from united. You know this.”

I stared ahead, refusing to answer, as he lifted my arm to wash beneath it.

You don’t have to speak, he thought. As long as you listen.

“Thanks for the fucking choice.”

The washcloth slid across my collarbone. Here is your choice. If we are going to do what we said, if we’re going to liberate the vorakh, rescue Jules, allow our kind to have any semblance of a future in this world, then we need an army that can vanquish the Emperor’s forces. He doesn’t just have the largest number of soturi behind him. He has vorakh, seeing the future, reading everyone’s mind. Traveling his spies from place to place.

The Empire has turned on our people, keeping them as slaves, serving in the palace where it sucks out their life and power for its own purposes, siphoning their magic, torturing, imprisoning and murdering them—all while the Empire makes a profit in the end.

I scented a fresh wave of soap. A mix of herbs and flowers. The dirt was moving into the water, off my body as he moved his ministrations lower, scrubbing gently across my breasts.

But you and I? We can change this.

I shook my head. “Why me? Why choose me when there are others? Why put me in this role? I never asked for any of this.”

“You are special, Morgana.” He lifted my other arm. “You always were. The time has come for ancient promises to be fulfilled. For ancient wrongs to be righted. For primal enemies to meet their due.”