I tried to inspect his wound, but his shirt collar hid the injury, only giving me a view of the black mark along his neck. Puffy red skin bordered the gash. That couldn’t be a good sign.
“Arantha prepared a bath,” he said, “and she brought clothes.” He pointed to the room beyond the potion’s table.
“Kull,” I said, “when will you let me look at that wound?”
“Not here.”
“Why?”
He shook his head.
“You’ll die if you don’t—”
“I’m fine.”
“You are not. You don’t understand how dangerous dark magic can be. I hardly understand it, either, but I know what it can do to a person. To their mind.” And to my godson.
“We’ll make it to the Wultlands tomorrow. The healers will cure the malady once we arrive.”
“What makes you sure we’ll find the Wultlands?”
“We will,” he said.
“You’ll never make it. You’ll be dead tomorrow if you don’t let me look at it.”
“You lecture worse than Heidel.”
“Someone should.”
“Ha!” He flashed me his teeth. “All right. I’ll let you tend to my wound as soon as you tend to yours. I’ve had experience with injuries such as yours. You would be wise to let me repair it.”
Pain throbbed through my shoulder. I took a deep breath, knowing full well what I would be submitting myself to if I agreed. “If I let you, will you allow me to heal you?”
“Yes.”
My heart rate quickened as I imagined his hands on my shoulder, his body close to mine. I pushed those thoughts away. “Agreed. But I bathe first.” I headed for the other room when Kull stopped me.
“My sister?” he asked.
“Sorry, I never got a chance to ask. Geth was a bit brusque, to put it lightly.”
Kull cursed quietly. “I will find her. I will do whatever it takes to bring her back.”
“I understand.”
He nodded. The embers’ light cast his face in deep bronze, illuminating the dark circles under his eyes. I saw the tiredness, the sadness. It made me want to go to him, to comfort him, even with his callous attitude and overconfidence.
There was more to Kull that what appeared on the outside. He cared for his sister—that was obvious. He would do anything to protect her, to keep her safe.
Focusing on the damp blond hair that fell to his shoulders, his penetrating blue eyes, and his muscled torso, my heart fluttered, so I turned away.
I parted the curtain and entered the bathing chamber. This room was smaller than the first, although it also had a bed of coals flickering in a stone fire pit. A wooden bucket sat on a table with a sponge and a yellowed bar of soap beside it, and a stack of clothing sat on the floor beside a wooden stool.
I sighed. It was a humble situation, but it was better than nothing.
After sitting on the stool, I pulled off my boots. My socks stuck to my skin, and I had to peel them off. Pain shot through my shoulder as I removed my shirt. I finished undressing and tucked Peerling’s book under my clothes, hoping Geth didn’t come looking for it. I’d have to return the book as soon as I learned something useful. I kept the dream catcher tucked inside my coat.
As I sponged off, the water felt warmer than I’d expected. I washed my face, my neck, and my breasts, starting to feel female again. I carefully smoothed the sponge over my shoulder, cringing as I touched it. Kull had offered to look at my shoulder. Maybe I shouldn’t let him. He would probably make it worse.
Butterflies fluttered inside my stomach as my thoughts turned to Kull. I had to admit, he was attractive—in a brutish, masculine way. He was also devoted to his family—to the death, if need be. In a way, his devotion to his family surprised me. I knew Wult warriors were considered weak if they put familial responsibilities over their warrior duties. His tenderness to his family was uncommon in a man of his status.
I plunged the sponge into the water, wondering what was wrong with me. I shouldn’t be thinking about him in that way. I had a boyfriend, for goodness’ sake. Although in truth, I hadn’t thought about Brent once since I’d left Earth.
I’d never had any luck in the relationship department. Brent kept me around because no one else would, but I’d never felt anything for him, not really. Not the way I felt for Kull.
Kull.
Why couldn’t I get him out of my head? He was engaged, for goodness’s sake. And I was pretty sure I annoyed him way more than I attracted him.
It didn’t matter anyway. He would marry Euralysia, and I would go back to Earth. We could part ways as mutual acquaintances and never see one another again. And then I wouldn’t have to think about him anymore.
The thought brought a little joy, but it also made me feel as if I had a huge, gaping hole in the pit of my stomach. I had to get over this. He didn’t want me. I couldn’t have him, wasn’t even sure I wanted him. End of story.
I replaced the sponge and eyed the stack of clothing. I didn’t see a towel, so I dried off with a thick blanket and dressed in the white linen shirt and leather breeches with damp skin, which was a more difficult chore than I’d anticipated.
The shirt clung to my chest, and I realized that it did little to hide my black bra. So much for propriety. I grabbed up my soiled clothes—Peerling’s book and my dream catcher hidden inside them—and walked back into the main chamber. Feeling self-conscious, I kept the clothing close to my chest. Kull still sat by the fire. I turned my back to him as I placed my clothing on a table. Clearing my throat, I crossed my arms over my breasts and then knelt beside him.
He was looking at me. Not just looking, but staring—a primordial stare that exuded want and desire. I
