Chapter 27 #3
“One second…” He gets up and walks to an armoire, presenting a small cloth for me.
“Ever the gentleman,” I giggle.
Cedric grabs my hand, pausing me from cleaning up. His eyes darken as he inhales deeply.
“Everything okay?”
“Perfectly. Just –” his eyes flick down to my exposed body – “hold off on cleaning up. You smell like me and I want to keep it like that for a moment. It’s been so long since I’ve scented our bond.” He inhales as if he has lacked breath for years.
“Okay, vampyr king, I get that. But I do need to clean myself up.”
Cedric groans and kisses me before sliding off the bed and offering his hand. “A bath, dear Liv? I’m not opposed to you walking around like this, though.”
“You’re an animal.” I swat at his hand and stand.
“It’s my basic nature.”
I follow him through the connecting door on the left side of his room.
A large bathroom opens up, stone floors warmed thanks to the cess magic.
A shadow slides out from Cedric like a branch.
It flicks two knobs over to the right and water begins to cascade from an opening above the large bathtub set against a large mirror in the corner.
The bathtub, up close, is shaped like a ten-pointed star.
The mirror behind it has subtle specks of rust and my mind trails off, thinking of the naughty things we could get into during a bath.
Thinking pure thoughts, baby?
You know me.
Cedric chuckles and dips his hand into the bath before adding salts and herbs to the water. The ceiling has a sky light, which gives us the perfect view into the night sky. The stars are barely making their way out, but it is incredibly peaceful.
I step into the basin, eager to warm up again. Goosebumps pebble my skin at the luxurious heat creeping up my body. Cedric steps in behind me and places me between his legs. His shadow reaches out and turns the water off when it reaches the top.
“What can your shadows actually do? I don’t see them often,” I ask, watching the silky matter disappear under the water. Something tickles me and I jump.
“Things like that,” Cedric laughs in my ear.
“Ass.”
He reaches and grabs a pouf, squeezing a light green bottle of soap onto it before scrubbing my back and arms.
“They don’t do a lot, I’m afraid. It’s a manifestation of my power. Only the strongest vampyr can wield the ‘Other’ magic.”
“Other?”
“Regular vampyr can learn to blitz. Generally upper-class vampyr can manifest this with tutors. It’s not hard to wield, just hard to control.
The stronger a vampyr’s bloodline is, the better they perform.
So, long distances. But the Other powers are things that are not naturally given by Erees. They’re a blessing, if you will.”
I nod, closing my eyes as he rinses my shoulders with a small rag.
“My shadows appeared when I ascended the throne. It was shortly after your accident and likely spurred by the anguish of it.” He swallows.
“That, alone, is the strongest sign confirming my place as king. They can provide some sort of camouflage and do small tasks but I haven’t had a chance to really test them in combat. ”
We drift into a comfortable silence, the water sloshing as we clean one another.
Cedric works up a steady lather in my hair and I have to withhold any noises because this feels amazing.
This intimacy is the kind that matters. Cedric may be a brute in so many areas, but his gentleness and intention with me goes beyond simple care.
Thoughts of him, of us, form another pit in my stomach.
“What are we going to do about Duresden?” I ask quietly, scenarios playing through my head.
Cedric leans back further into the tub, his fingers tapping on my thigh.
“Duresden is refusing any missives. A messenger in our post went missing. Refugees are arriving daily, which is incredible considering how tightly their soldiers are controlling the borders. Sawyer holds Krue. Duresden has not breached our lands, but our military is ready to be on the defense.”
“No offense?”
“Why would we? We’re not the kingdom trying to expand or cause more distress on Duresden’s citizens. The High Council has been called next week and Rolan is commanded by law to show.”
Fear laces me. “Is he going to be killed?”
“That’s to say he shows, Liv,” he says as a matter of fact. I can’t help but to agree with him.
“So, we wait.”
“Yes, we have spies in Juris as well as military scouts operating close by. Once we get more information, we can act accordingly.”
“And the other kingdoms? Has Duresden armed against them?”
He shakes his head. “As you know, Baron indicated they had a slight encounter with their navy, but maybe it was them just stretching their feelers out. Kilare, Hollisland and Gruyere all sent missives they are well and ready to meet, though Kilare has recently been a firm ally of Duresden. But the High Council is the agreement. Allied powers.”
I crane my neck to look up at him. “We will protect Lux.”
Cedric kisses my cheek. “Yes, we will. Once the High Council comes to a decision, de-escalation conversations will happen and we can find a mutual ground of agreement.”
His shadows snake up my neck and I lean into him, feeling his desire harden once more.
“Again?”