Page 18 of Risen (Love and Revenge #6)

Ruya

W e returned to the palace to retrieve everyone else, including Josh.

Sadavir then led us down to the lower level of the palace, where a tunnel took us into what would be the “basement” if the building had been above ground.

Once again, the floor sloped beneath my feet as we walked, leading us into a deeper subterranean space, similar to traveling to the temple.

The air grew damper as we went, and yet… warmer?

When Sadavir finally drew me to a stop, I heard the appreciative murmurs of the rebel court around me.

Sadavir let go of my hand to sign, and Cicely translated for me.

This is where the royal family bathes, when they are not in a hurry.

A pause followed that statement, and Cicely’s amusement trickled through in his mental “voice.” Apparently he’s been laughing at us every time one of us complains about the small bathroom in our suite.

Those are only used for quick wash-ups. They use a communal bathing area when they truly want to soak.

He says it was the same back in his previous home, though apparently this bathing area is… different.

It sounded strange, at first, that the palace and the naga rulers wouldn’t have their own private baths.

But then again, this was a different culture with a whole different set of norms. And naga were shifters who, as a general rule, were far more open and accepting of nudity and basic bodily functions.

I had one of those moments then, those brief seconds of time that I experienced every now and then since my liberation from the cult’s pocket world, where I questioned the why of things.

Why should a person be bashful about their body, or about something as normal and mundane as bathing?

It was kind of silly, when you really thought about it without all the layers of shame and morals that were only created to control others…

I took in a deep breath and let my old up-tight ideals fall away. The air was warm and humid, and something about the place reminded me of my time in the wild fae enclave… of the first time Yukio and I had made love. Not just a bath, but…

“Hot springs?” I whispered, my curiosity morphing into pure joy.

“Mmm… and not just some rustic pool carved into a cave,” Robin murmured as her voice moved past me. “Ruya, I hate to admit this out loud, but your pet snake and his people apparently have amazing taste.”

I shook my head at her. Sadavir lifted my hand to press a kiss to the back. “We do.”

The others described the space to me as we undressed and placed our belongings onto cubbies carved into the stone walls.

Despite what Robin had said, the place was apparently a cave with natural depressions—several large pools scattered about, filled with natural hot water.

But the naga—or whoever had originally created the underground city—had apparently added to the natural area, using magic and mundane craftsmanship to create paths of smooth tiled floor that led up to and meandered around the pools.

The others described carvings and bits of sculpture chiseled from the natural stone walls, depicting snakes, and nature scenes, and images of the sun, all of it tastefully painted in shades of gold, blue, green, and opalescent shimmer.

The scene they described to me sounded breathtakingly beautiful.

But I was drawn out of the wonder of it all long enough to realize that everyone from the rebel court was here.

And that they were apparently all stripping down for a soak—even Robin, who was generally a bit more guarded about her body.

Apparently, the magical setting and the lovely temptation of a long, hot soak in the pure mineral water was enough to make everyone set aside any and all objections or hesitation.

Warmth unfurled in my chest at the thought.

I had long wished I could spend time with them all, relaxed and happy, without posturing or politics.

I squeezed Sadavir’s hand in wordless thanks as he led me toward the largest of bathing pools.

My sense of him through our bond told me that he knew what this meant to me, and that was precisely why he’d insisted on bringing everyone along, rather than just stealing me away by himself.

The water was nearly too hot as it kissed my feet and lapped around my legs while I carefully stepped down into the pool.

I shuddered in delight as my body adjusted to the sensation.

Big hands wrapped around my waist, and Sanka chuckled as he lifted me down into the pool with him to keep me from stumbling.

“Judging by that grin on our omega’s face, we need to get ourselves some steamy communal bathing facilities back at The Fox. ”

I hummed appreciatively as he pulled me in for a soft kiss before Cicely took my hand and pulled me over to a little ledge that had clearly been carved into the side of the natural pool to provide seating.

A splashing sound behind me was followed by Martina’s growl. “Keep it up, Sorcerer and I’ll drown you.”

I laughed softly to myself at their antics. “Stop staring at me, snake,” Robin’s husky voice was soft under the sounds of Sanka ribbing Martina and Yukio telling them both to stop ruining the peace. I tensed, reaching out my magical senses for her and feeling along my bond with Sadavir.

Robin’s aura was slightly churned up, though not as bad as I’d seen it get over the last few weeks.

Sadavir felt… conflicted. A bit embarrassed, maybe?

But his confusing emotions were underlined by a thread of determination.

I arched a brow in surprise. What was going on here?

Not for the first time, I wished I could see their faces, read their body language.

Cicely nudged my shoulder softly with his own, and a fleeting image filled my mind, planted there by his fae magic.

Robin, standing waist deep in the water with her arms crossed over her chest, her long hair falling loose around her lean body and her golden eyes flashing with warning, even as her cheeks flushed with color.

And Sadavir, sitting on the ledge along the side of the pool, his arms outstretched and hooked over a couple of rocky protrusions in a way that highlighted the perfect, muscular lines of his body.

His eyes had started to glow faintly, and he licked his lips, hesitating for a beat, his expression saying he knew he was in dangerous territory.

The vision faded as quickly as it had appeared, leaving me blind once more as Sadavir finally spoke aloud, his voice quiet, yet firm. “I apologize for the unwanted attention. I can’t help but notice, from time to time, that you are a stunningly beautiful woman. A perfect match for our omega.”

I held my breath. I think everyone was holding their breath. Sanka and Martina had stopped goofing off, and Yukio was silent. I could sense Josh and Dusek hovering at the periphery. Either Sadavir had lost his mind, or…

I suddenly recalled, in vivid detail, the one time Robin and Sadavir had shared me.

They had put aside their animosity and worked together to pleasure me and make me feel treasured, without squabbling or ripping each other’s heads off.

I had just assumed at the time that they were both making a huge sacrifice by tolerating each other.

But… was it possible there was more to it than that?

Was that a glimmer of respect and desire for Robin that I felt shimmer through Sadavir’s bond?

Everything in me wished that could be true.

Robin let out a dismissive snort, and I wished that I could sense what she was really feeling, the way I could with Sadavir.

But she kept any true emotion hidden behind her haughty affect.

“I’m aware of how perfect I am,” she drawled in response to his compliment.

“Is there a reason you feel the need to state the obvious?”

I sighed. So much for my daydreams. They were going to start arguing again, I could just feel it.

Sadavir laughed, surprising me. “Ruya? Come here, my lovely mate.”

I cast a suspicious look his way, but went along with his request, slipping off the bench into the deeper water and making my way toward his voice.

I was curious to see what he was up to. But if he was just going to goad Robin with his claim on me, I was fully prepared to smack him.

She was struggling enough as it was. She didn’t need him needling her when she was doing her best to cling to a tiny thread of control.

He took my hand when I got close, pulling me to sit on the ledge next to him. Then he moved, and I thought he must be signing or gesturing silently to someone. Robin let out a put-upon sigh and I felt her warm aura move closer, the water rippling as she came to sit on my other side.

Sadavir’s smug pleasure radiated down our bond as he attempted to give me what I craved—both my alpha true mates close enough for me to bask in their auras.

I shook my head at him, but froze mid-motion when Robin’s long, damp fingers cupped my cheek and turned my head toward her, drawing me into a slow, lingering kiss.

Need flared through me at the press of her soft lips against mine.

I half turned on my seat, resting a hand on her smooth thigh beneath the water.

Sadavir trailed the back of his fingers down my spine, and I shuddered at the slick caress, at the marvelous sensation of being in physical contact with both my alphas at the same time.

Sadavir’s lips trailed over my shoulder and the curve of my neck, and I moaned softly against Robin’s lips.

The dragon shifter trapped my lower lip between her teeth, and I felt fangs.

She was struggling to control her instincts, even with just this much contact.

But Sadavir’s presence was a steady reminder that even if she did lose control right now, he and the others were here to step in and protect me.