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“The first time is always the worst,” Izidora soothed, rubbing circles on her friend’s back.
“What… the hell… was that,” Liliana managed to say.
“Mage magic,” I smirked. “Quite handy isn’t it?”
She lifted her seafoam green eyes from the polished stone floor. “It’s something.” Straightening, she swayed slightly, and Izidora caught her arm to steady her.
Inhaling deeply, my shoulders relaxed with the knowledge that Izidora would be safe for the evening, tucked away in Roc Palace. Down the bond, I felt her loosen, that frantic energy that had been consuming her disappearing like smoke in the wind.
“To the hot springs?” she asked.
“Let’s go.” I led the way down the stairs to the bottom floor, and as we pushed through the door, the humidity blasted us, clothes immediately sticking to our skin.
“Wow, this is incredible!” Liliana exclaimed as she surveyed the space.
The underground grotto was all-natural, the stones still rough, as hot water piped up from a hole dug into the side of the mountain. Using my earth magic, I had shaped a few seats into the pool after my first few uses, wanting a place to recline rather than having to stand or squat in the water. Low lights flickered to life as we moved further into the space, enchanted so they created the perfect ambiance for relaxing, depending on the bather’s mood.
Both females began tying their hair on the tops of their heads, and I turned my back to them as I stripped from my finery and laid it across a stone bench. The water soothed my soul as I entered it, the warmth seeping into my muscles and the healing minerals working their way into my skin. Ducking under the water, I wet my hair, slicking it back as I emerged. I waited to turn around until I heard splashing, Izidora and Liliana submerged in the water up to their collarbones.
“There are seats over there.” I gestured to my left, and they glided through the water until they reached them. I joined them there, and the opaque green water swirled around us as a small geyser exploded with fresh heat.
“Why haven’t we used this more?” Izidora groaned, sinking back into a comfortable position.
“We are always too busy. I had to ensure you were properly trained and strong.” I planted a kiss on her forehead and scooted onto the rocks next to her before lifting my arms from the water and bracing them on the rock ledge behind me. She snuggled closer, leaning her head against my chest as Liliana took the seat across from us.
“You are the first female to set foot here besides Izidora,” I told her.
“Really? Why?” she cocked her head to the side, studying me.
“Because I wanted this place to be special for her – for us. I never wanted her to feel like she was an afterthought.”
“Fuck me, why can’t I find a male like you?” she groaned, and Izidora giggled beneath my arm.
“Do you mean a villain, a king, or something else?” I smirked.
“For what it’s worth, you may have started as a villain, but I don’t think you are anymore – not really,” Izidora murmured, lifting her head from my chest to look at me.
“Then I am not doing my job in scaring you enough, sprite,” I whispered, my hand reaching from behind her to grasp her throat.
“The scent of your fear mixed with your arousal was and always will be my favorite combination.”
A rosy red crept up her chest to her cheeks, and I knew it wasn’t from the steam swirling around us.
Liliana interrupted our moment with a scoff. “How about a male who thinks about me first? I’d settle for that. You saw how Endre chose Kazimir over me earlier.”
“I’m sorry, Lil,” Izidora said, floating through the water to embrace her friend. I let her go, knowing that the two of them needed each other.
Wanting to change the subject away from the one that plagued my every waking thought, I asked, “So what does Izidora’s dress look like?”
Liliana’s mood shifted immediately. “Nope, I am not telling you a thing. You have to wait to be surprised.”
I protested, but she and Izidora held firm, insisting that it would be better if I waited. After that, conversation floated around our upcoming wedding, the decor the temple would have as we took our vows and our crowns before the Goddess, and our plans for after Béke.
We remained in the spring until we grew lightheaded and sweat poured from our temples. As we dried off and prepared to return to the citadel, a twinge of sadness speared my heart, for in a few days’ time, Béke would be over, and I did not know for certain if Liliana would stay or if she would return with her brother and the Night Fae to the Night Realm.
For Izidora’s sake, I wanted her to stay.
45
