Page 10

Moving closer to the tub, she noticed a shallow basket on the edge with multiple jars filled with liquids of different colors.

She picked them up one at a time and smelled them.

They were all nice, mild scents. None of them held the same roasted, sweet cinnamon emanating from Aodh’s skin.

But the jars had no labels to tell her what was in them.

Reaching out, she grasped the round knob at one end of the wide tub, pausing to stroke over the chunk of diamond in the center, the sharp edges cutting along the pad of her thumb.

Gripping it, she turned and almost sighed with relief as she saw the water rush from the faucet and splash into the tub. Unexpected joy filled her veins.

Sticking her hand under the flow, she felt the chilly water. She turned the lever left and right with her other hand, but it didn’t matter which way she went; the temperature didn’t change.

“Can I help?”

Startled, Kai jumped. She braced herself on the tub’s edge to keep from falling in. “Gracious, I didn’t hear you. This place is so damn big.”

To say the woman was pretty didn’t do justice to the extraordinarily gorgeous person who stood before Kai.

The beautiful, tall, svelte woman whose long-sleeved dress covered the length of her arms but left most of the skin between large, full breasts displayed, stared at her from her position against the doorjamb and smiled.

There was a glint of something that flashed in the woman’s gaze, but it was so subtle Kai couldn’t recognize what she was seeing.

One thing Kai was sure of was that the wide smile transformed the woman’s face into a breathtaking sight.

This woman made Kai feel like one of the wet, muddy, smelly rodents that roamed the Dispatch in the dark of night.

“Forgive me. Do you need assistance?” The broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted female’s grey eyes with ribbons of raw pink tourmaline sparkled brighter.

Behind Kai, the water rushed into the bath, but she had no problem hearing the woman in the long, flowing dress clearly over it. “Yes, please. I’m unsure how to turn the dial to get the water warmer, if possible. If it can’t, that’s okay. I’ve taken more than my share of cold baths.”

The tall woman tipped her head to the side, causing her long, bone-straight hair, a complex shade of topaz—browns and golds—to swing as the ends curled around her shoulders. She strolled closer to Kai. “You may want to move back.”

Kai got up to give the woman access to the lever. “Oh, sure— Ah!”

The woman stared at Kai, who leaped back two feet, barely keeping her body in her skin from the shock of the stream of fire that came out of her mouth. Unabashed humor lit the woman’s eyes.

Is she laughing at me?

The fast flame set the water in the half-filled tub to boiling.

“Oops.” A smile flashed across the woman’s red-stained lips, zeroing out the apology.

Sorry, this woman was not.

“I forget how jumpy you humans are to everything when you first arrive among the thunder.”

Glancing from the water to her, Kai didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t sure if she would ever become used to the flame-throwing of these shifters.

Pulling the lever forward so more cold water rushed into the hot pool, the woman said, “Once the tub fills, it should be the perfect temperature.”

“Um... okay. Thanks.” Kai rubbed her hands along her arms. Something about this woman made her uneasy.

“I’m Ninki.” The taller woman held her hand out.

Meeting her palm, Kai shook it. Kai wasn’t a small woman by anyone’s standards.

Ninki had about four inches on her, but the other woman’s strength as their hands clasped proved that Ninki wanted to ensure Kai knew of her might.

Or the lack of Kai’s strength compared to hers.

Not one to let someone bully her, even covertly, Kai returned the shake at the same intensity. “Kai.”

With the tip of her chin, as if recognizing the answer to her challenge, Ninki pulled her hand back.

“In the closet behind the door next to the bathroom, you will find a robe hanging up you can use. Also, there is a basket for your...” she paused and waved a hand to indicate Kai’s clothes, “Soiled things. The McKenna’s servant will take care of them while you bathe. ”

Kai knew her clothes were terrible, but she took offense at the woman pointing it out. Rude.

Walking to the cabinet beside the sink, she pulled the doors open. “You will find your towels and any cleaning cloths you need here.”

The woman moved around the bathroom with such confidence Kai was sure that it was not the first time she’d been there. But Aodh had said he would send her an attendant, so it would make sense if the woman maintained his space. And, indeed, Ninki knew her way around the suite. “Thanks.”

“Anything else I can help you with?” Ninki asked.

“Uh, can you tell me where I can locate the soap? Is it under the sink?” Kai started in that direction.

“Oh, no.” Ninki moved to the side of the tub and picked up the tray with the jars.

Tapping one with a white powder inside, she said, “This is for bathing. Only use a small amount because it lathers up good, and a little goes a long way.” With her long lavender-painted nails that matched the colors in her skirt, she removed one with a pale-green liquid and unscrewed it.

She poured a large dollop into the water.

“This will moisturize your skin, something you need.”

Kai blinked twice to keep from rolling her eyes at the woman’s comment. Ninki was helpful, even if it came across as crude.

“Now, this one is most important.” Ninki set the other one back in place and lifted one filled with a yellow-and-orange powder.

“What is it?” If the other two were for cleansing and moisturizing, then what the last one was for Kai could not imagine.

“Oh.” Ninki’s gaze roamed along Kai’s form, seeming to take in her body critically.

Not in the same way that Aodh had done, a glance that made Kai’s skin heat with need.

No, this woman’s look made Kai want to pull the sides of her jacket together and shield herself from what was more like prying eyes.

She drew her hands into fists to keep them at her side and not show this woman that she made her uncomfortable.

“It will work wonders to help your body to relax...adjust.”

“Adjust?”

“Yes.” Ninki popped off the cap and dumped all the contents into the roaring water. “Aodh never allows anyone into his suite but family and those special to him.” The glint flashed in her gaze again. “If you are here, then the dragon king has plans for you.”

The chuckle the other woman let out grated over Kai’s nerves.

It was something about this woman. Ninki was only the third person she had met in this territory, but if Kai never had to see the woman again, she would be okay with it.

Perhaps she would tell Aodh that she would clean his suite, and it would keep the other, who was too comfortable in the space, away.

“No plans. I’m just here until my sister is better.” Kai knew Aodh wanted other things from her, but she wasn’t going to unpack any of that with Ninki.

“I’ve heard there’s a sick human in the chamber.

” Ninki shrugged one shoulder as if she could care less about Morlie’s health.

“Then, like you, I hope your time here is short. Doubtful.” She didn’t go further with the last comment; instead, she went on, “But, regardless, the king will take his pound of flesh. He must.”

Ninki’s eyes held shadows as she glanced away.

Kai wanted to question what Ninki was dropping crumbs about but checked her tongue.

“Anyway. The Drahks of our Thunder are not the kind of males you would be accustomed to being with on the inside of the wall you humans live inside. So, soak up.” Without saying another word, Ninki set down the tray and sashayed her wide hips and long legs out.

Innocent but no fool, Kai understood what Ninki hinted at—sex between her and Aodh.

The other woman spoke as if there would be some issue with that happening.

Kai didn’t want to think about it. Partly not to give Ninki satisfaction but mostly because it put her body on edge.

Taking a moment to shut off the water, Kai went to the door.

Something she had said caught Kai’s mind. “Ninki, if you aren’t the attendant, Aodh sent to come and help me... who are you?”

Kai watched as the other woman’s steps halted on the path toward the front door.

Ninki swung back around. The quick movement caused her silken multicolored dress to bellow out and display smooth, sleek, defined, long, muscular legs with markings like Aodh, showing more proof that Ninki belonged in his world.

Kai did not.

“I’m the Drahkelle who warmed the dragon king’s bed before you came and will be there when you depart.” The flash in the woman’s eyes was a bright, rust-tangerine flame that Kai saw across the room.

As she choked back the gasp, Ninki sashayed out the front door.

Boom, boom, boom. Kai rested a hand on her chest. Living in the Dispatch District and working her nails to nubs and her fingers to the bone as she watched her back and Morlie’s, Kai knew a threat when she came face to face with it. Ninki was a threat.

It would do her well never to turn her back on the woman.

Kai wondered if Aodh had such a fierce and beautiful woman of his kind, why he would demand such a sacrifice of her for Morlie’s health. It didn’t make sense.

I’m no longer inside the Wall. Nothing makes sense anymore.