Page 12

Yien

R age boiled in me as I brought Iris into my bedroom for bathing.

Who had dared hurt her? Her own family?

I used to think that I didn’t care much for my family, but as soon as the words were out of her mouth, I was horrified that family could do that to their own blood.

She didn’t want to talk about it, that much was obvious, so I let it slide for now. But I made note of her words and vowed that once she gave me all the information I needed to know, I would go to her family seeking vengeance for what they’d done to her.

“Is helping me bathe normal in this realm?” she asked when we reached the bathroom. Inside there was nothing more than a toilet, a large tub with a window that looked out into my realm, and a sink. It should be enough, given all the research I’d done.

I had no idea what a human might have needed, so I had made all the adjustments I could. Hopefully my human would let me know if she was displeased.

No, my mind said.

“I would like to help,” I said instead.

That delicious pink traveled up her neck and face once more.

She followed me to the tub, looking out the window and to my realm. On this floor, you could see straight over the fog and out into the far reaches of my land. Though the fog had densened in the past few days, hiding the forest that surrounded my property.

“All of that are souls?” she asked.

“They are,” I confirmed before turning on the water.

She let out a hum before letting her eyes fall to the tub.

“I don’t know why I thought you wouldn’t have running water,” she murmured.

“It’s demon magic,” I explained. “Though this property has been here far longer than me, so I wouldn’t know where to begin if anything went wrong with it.”

“So there is something you don’t know,” she said with a giggle.

“Of course,” I confirmed, unable to stop my chest from puffing. “I cannot know everything. If I did, I wouldn’t just be ruler of this realm. I might as well try my luck with the royals.”

Her answer was another light giggle. I opened my mouth to ask what was funny, but she shocked me by slipping off her dress and stepping right out of it.

Lust and hunger hit me all at once at the sight of her body.

Beautiful rosy nipples stood out in contrast to her skin. Her hips flared out just enough that I dreamed of grabbing on to them. And right there, between her legs, was a curly tuft of white hair. But it was trimmed and gave me a look at the pink folds of her cunt.

Stop looking.

I forced my eyes back up to hers, noting the sly smile on her face.

“Don’t tell me you’ve never seen a naked human before,” she said and walked to the tub before dipping her toe in. The sigh she let out was sinful.

When she wobbled slightly, my first instinct was to hold onto her, and one hand went to her arm, the other to her hip. Just an innocent touch, but my entire body heated at it.

“Thank you,” she murmured and stepped fully into the bath.

I could have let go of her, but instead I continued to help her in, even so far as submerging my hand along with her.

I was now kneeling behind her, leaning over the tub and her as I assisted her. I had the perfect view of her entire naked body, my hand so close to her pussy.

With one wrong move, my hand could slip between her legs.

I want that so bad .

I wanted to play with her right there while she was lying in the water. Have her come apart in front of me as I watched.

Swallowing thickly, I gathered what I needed. One soap for her hair, another for her body. I also had oils for her hair that would be applied after.

“What did I do to deserve this treatment?” she asked as I lathered the soap in water with the washcloth.

“You’re my companion,” I reminded her as I started to use the washcloth against her chest. Droplets fell from it, rolling down and off her erect nipples.

Her slight gasp as I ran the cloth down her breasts only caused the heat burning inside me to blaze hotter.

Helping her bathe. That’s all this is.

But my mind knew it wasn’t. Not when she arched into my touch. Not when her head fell back against me as I ran the cloth down her side, dipping so close to where I wanted to be.

And definitely not when her legs opened, inviting me to touch.

My fangs pulsed. My body itched. My mouth watered. Her neck so close I could bend down and place hot kisses against her heated skin.

“Does this feel good?” I asked, not able to hide the huskiness from my voice.

I hadn’t noticed the way my shadows had come to play. They now filled the space around us and brushed across her skin, some even daring to touch her nipples even though I didn’t. I knew she noticed it, but she didn’t seem to mind.

“Yes,” she breathed. “Is this how every bath time is going to be? Finally getting what you paid for?”

That’s right. I paid for her to be here. To be like this.

I am forcing her.

Her body was telling me yes, but her mouth had just reminded me that I had bought her. That maybe she expected that to be the reason why she was here—that she owes me something.

And until she realized I would never make her do anything she didn’t want to just because I got her at an auction, there was no moving forward.

My shadows pulled back, and I placed the cloth on the side of the tub.

“No,” I said. “Just showing you how it’s done. You got it from here.”

I got up, willing my gaze to dart away before her wet body was bared to me again.

“Yien—”

“I’ll wait for you outside,” I rushed to say, turning on my heels and walking to the door. “Take your time. The water will stay warm.”

Slamming the door behind me might have been too harsh, but it was the reality check I needed to keep me sane.