Gaalin poured the last bucket of steaming hot water into the copper molded tub. Fetching a clay pot from a cabinet, he sprinkled dried herbs into the water and swirled them around. His lord was standing by the closed window, silently staring out into the night sky.
He approached her side and unclasped the sword belt from her hip. He placed it on the table beside them before offering to assist her with disrobing. She swatted his hand away, adjusted the collar of her shirt and stepped away from him. Gaalin silently bowed and took several steps away from her across the room, pausing at the doorway.
"My lady, why did you bring him here?"
She shrugged. "The priests tasked me with him, and I could not disobey."
"May I know why he looks like he does? He's lacking quite a few scales and fangs."
Libelle snorted the wine she was drinking, stifling her laugh at his comment.
"I told you I conversed with the gods, correct? Well, they decided to lend me their strength, and with help from the gods and the priests, we were able to make it so Eskil can no longer kill a mortal."
"That does not explain why he looks like a man."
She shrugged. "It was an unexpected side effect."
Gaalin sighed, shaking his head and running his hand through his silver hair. "He cannot take the life of a mortal? Ever?"
"Correct."
"Can he harm you?" The question was filled with genuine concern.
Libelle looked over her shoulder at him with the familiar expression he was used to seeing plastered on her face. "Gaalin, he could never harm me."
Her retainer nodded, bowed slightly and then exited her room, pulling the heavy doors closed behind him. She stripped from her clothes and stood in front of the tall mirror by her dresser with a frown. Dark red love bites covered her body, starting at her neck and almost ending by her toes. She would have to hide herself from the prying eyes of her jealous manservant until they were gone.
Libelle let out a slow sigh of relief as she slid into the tub of hot water. It felt wonderful on her aching muscles, and the lavender-infused water eased her mental tension away. It had been far too long since she had enjoyed the pleasure of a bath. For the first time in weeks, all around her it was quiet and peaceful. Yet lonely.
She sank into the water, blowing bubbles and stretching her legs out to the end of the tub. She had left both the men downstairs to fend for themselves. They were bound to argue, but she didn't care at this moment. She was finally able to relax in a hot bath with a glass of well-aged wine.
She looked forward to finishing her bath and her wine, and then being able to fall asleep on the feather-stuffed mattress. Yet she couldn't help but wonder how Eskil would fare through the evening. He was so angry that they would be separated, and she understood why; as his lifemate she was now bound to him.
To what extent, she wasn't yet sure.
What exactly was a lifemate? She wondered. He made it sound very similar to what others described as soulmates. What did him and dragons consider as soulmates? Was it some sort of contract? She sighed, she didn't really know the answer, nor did she understand everything that had been explained to her.
Whatever. I'll figure it out another time. For now...wine.