Chapter 29
Camryn
My room is dark and quiet. More isolating than I remember. And without Rory here, the loneliness is almost unbearable.
I trudge into the bathing room. Candles are already lit, by whom, I don’t know. Orbs of light bob around the ceiling, and I eye my reflection in the mirror.
My body has thinned, and I am a shell of what I once was, in more ways than one. I’ve never had enviable curves like Aurora, but my form was always strong and fit for my frame. Now, my skin is dull, and purple shadows hang below my eyes. My dark hair lacks luster.
What happened to me?
I fill the deep granite tub and plunge myself beneath the warm water, closing my eyes and embracing the feeling of weightlessness.
The way I see it, I have two options here.
One, I can remain obstinate and fight Arc tooth and nail.
By doing so, I will probably waste away long before King Caledor ever returns.
Two, I can suck up my sulking and start living again. I used to embrace adventure. Crave it. But that was a lifetime ago. An entire world away. I knew who I was then. Knew my purpose. Here, I am an insignificant fleck on polished marble. I am less than remarkable.
The weight from holding my breath buries itself into my chest. My lungs burn, pleading for air.
I have a decision to make. To waste away and float into the abyss. Or come up fighting for air. To take back my life and become who I’m meant to be here.
I clench my eyes shut tighter, relishing the darkness for just a moment longer. It would be so easy to let go. To give in.
But that’s not who I am.
I burst through the surface of the water with a giant gasp.
I choose me. Enough is enough.
My hand runs down my face, and I blink away water from my eyes. To my shock, I’m not the only one in the bathroom. A flicker of bright red garners my attention as Caelum stands in the doorway, wide-eyed, as if he saw a ghost.
His face is devoid of color, and I rub my eyes to see if my mind is playing tricks on me.
“What are you doing in here?!” I snap, spitting water from my mouth.
He stands speechless, motionless.
“Um, hello? Caelum?”
His eyes pierce mine, never drifting down my naked chest that is out of the water.
I cross my arms anyway, hiding my nipples that have perked in the air.
He blinks. “I heard you ... I felt …” His chest heaves as he takes a deep inhale as if he was holding his breath along with me. “I’m sorry. I’ll go.” He turns to leave.
“Wait,” I blurt.
I point at the towel hanging on a hook near the wall where he stands. He looks at me with his brow furrowed before he grips the towel and saunters toward the tub.
He looms over me with the oversize towel that is soft enough to be a blanket. His amber eyes flicker as he gazes down at me, my body folded beneath the water.
This angle illuminates a different side of him. Not a male who is quick with flirtatious banter and inviting women into his bed. Instead, his wings rise high over his shoulders like a protective shield, adding to his broad frame that could easily cocoon me.
My eyes linger on his wings before I remember I am wet and naked, and the water is getting cold. He holds the towel out to me, standing as still as a beautiful statue. He turns his head away from me, giving me privacy.
I stand in the tub and watch him intently, waiting to catch him peeking at my bare skin.
But he never does. I take the towel from his hands and wrap it quickly around my body. I clear my throat once covered, and he slowly turns his head back to me.
I step toward him out of the bath. His eyes flash to mine, and he steps back, allowing me enough room to stand between him and the tub.
I look up at him. “Well, I’m not sure what you think you heard, but I’m perfectly fine. Can you go back to your room now so I can get dressed and go to sleep?”
He blinks as if snapping out of a trance. “Yes. Yes, of course. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to barge in on you. I just needed to make sure you were okay.”
I smile at him, amused to see him so flustered. “Yep, I’m fine. And such a gentleman, not even stealing a glance at a naked woman’s body.” My lips pull into a tight smirk.
He steps closer to me, closing the gap between us. “I can assure you, I am anything but a gentleman when I need to be.”
I roll my eyes as his familiar flirtatiousness returns, but heat flushes my skin. I look up at his amber eyes, darkened and commanding. “Good night, Camryn,” he whispers.
Before I can return the sentiment, he turns on his heels and exits the bathing room. When I hear the door to my bedroom shut, I exhale.
This is going to be interesting.