The meal they shared in silence had lasted for an eternity. At least Iris seemed to think so.
" If you're not here to rule then why are you here?" Iris broke the silence, throwing the spoon into the bowl with a clang.
Raising his head Corvin leaned back in his chair. A brief glance at her exposed breasts," I came to apologise. And you decided that you wanted revenge. And now here we are," A rather summary, encompassing the last few hours. With a permanent scowl etched on her face, meant to express his displeasure at the sight of him, Iris set her lips in a tight line, tightening her grip on the spoon, hard enough that her hand began trembling. Fortunately, there was nothing sharp with reach. She would've gauged his eyes out, otherwise.
" Apologies accepted. Now you can leave," Iris snapped, stood up, knocking over the chair.
" Too late," Corvin sucked a breath, and stood up, " Strip," He dryly added, as he began tugging on his leather trousers. Iris gulped, scrutinising as he peeled the garment off his legs, showing strong long legs, and her gaze moved up towards his loins...Her breath caught when she caught sight of his length dangling like a sleeping Konda.
" I don't think so," Iris huffed crossing her arms over her chest, defiant.
" You can bathe dressed if you like, but I prefer that you don't," Corvin's slacks joined the boots on the floor.
Just like every northern man, Corvin's lofty figure, muscular arms and legs were a sight to behold.
Iris gulped, as he turned to face her in all his glorious nakedness. Corvin wasn't a shy creature, by the looks of it. In fact, he seemed very at ease with himself parading but naked in front of her.
" Cat got your tongue," Corvin quipped when Iris's gaze remained pinned on his groin. Her gaze inadvertently strayed in spite of her very best efforts to look at his face.
" I'm very well endowed. Even among the northerners," Corvin smirked when Iris raised her eyes to look at him.
" Now that I have your full attention. I would very much like you to strip. The water is getting cold. You're halfway there anyway," Corvin cooly said as he sauntered to the wooden tub and probed the water with his fingers.
" You want to bathe together?" Iris snapped out of her trance as she followed Corvin with her eyes. Her gaze most certainly followed something no doubt.
Corvin didn't bother to deign her question with an answer and slipped inside the bath, closed his eyes and leaned back his head against the tub edge.
" Wash now with warm water or after with cold water. Whichever suits you best," Corvin grumbled half asleep. The journey from the North had been tiring. He'd kept his word to Dakran and apologised. And procured himself a kingdom in the process. Hardly a kingdom.
An opportunity presented itself. A way to put an end to the madness. Iris grabbed the stray wooden hairpin on the table and stealthily approached Corvin. A murderous gaze, a wicked smile that boded an end. An end to Corvin's madness.
When Iris pushed the tip of the wooden pin against his neck, Corvin opened his eyes, and cocked his head, smiling.
" Either kill me or get in the bath," He challenged nonchalantly, holding Iris's gaze.
Iris didn't move, nor flinch. Eyes locked onto each other. Green against brown.
In one single nimble move, Corvin grabbed Iris's arm and pulled her into the tub, splashing a considerable amount of water on the granite floors.
Gasping for air Iris resurfaced, brisling at Corvin, and ferociously glaring.
" Bathing in cold water is not pleasant, " Corvin amusedly said as Iris wiped the water off her face, huffing for air. Livid, she scorched towards the other end of the tub and kicked him with her foot.
A peal of laughter rang in the room, as Iris pushed herself up to stand.
" Sit down," Corvin changed tactics and tugged on her hand to sit down between his legs. Soaked and infuriated, Iris grumbled under her breath something about Corvin being rude and a troglodyte.
Inwardly chuckling Corvin picked up the soap, lathering it between his hands as Iris tightly hugged her knees, glaring at the space before her. If eyes could kill, Corvin would have been burned to ash a long time ago.
Placing the soap aside, Corvin placed his hands on Iris's shoulders, pushing the remainder of her clothes off, and revealing her porcelain silky-smooth skin.
Humming in approval at the feel of her soft skin, he traced her back with his fingers. Taunting, teasingly brushing his finger on every part of her exposed skin.
" Why are you here Iris? You have no duty towards these people," Corvin asked with an askew smile, studying in detail her bare back.
" It's my fault. I'm the cause of all of this," Iris sucked a breath," The witch is of my kind. It is my responsibility..." Another deep breath was taken," I have to make things right," The conviction in her tone was heartbreaking.
Corvin hummed, placing his hands on her shoulder, in an attempt to console her.
" For generations, they stood by and watched. Hiding behind closed doors in their little houses. Pretending that they either didn't see it or didn't know. You owe them nothing," Corvin countered with the same conviction.
" That's not true," Iris unfurled and turned to look at him," The witch was powerful. You don't understand," His voice faded, as her gaze searched on his features for some sort of confirmation that she wasn't wrong.
" Was she? Or perhaps you, " Corvin pointed at his head," Up here, you made her powerful. Invincible," Corvin countered as she pushed himself off the tub, closing the distance between them.
Nose to nose once more, Iris squeezed a breath between her clenched teeth, " That's not possible," Iris hissed and closed her eyes. Her indignation piqued, in an instant. Inclined to believe what Corvin was saying.
" Is it not?" Corvin threw back the question, somewhat amused, " How did she die?" He ran his finger through his damp hair, and then over his face wiping any remaining water.
" Ian severed her head," At her words, Corvin chuckled, and shook his head.
" That was all it took to end the madness. One swinging sword. Not so hard to kill after all. And yet for centuries, these people didn't lift a finger," Corvin countered with a deep frown, placing his curled-up finger under her chin, " You owe them nothing. Come with me to the North," Corvin closed his eyes as if those last words were never meant to come to life.
" Why?" Iris breathed out the word, perplexed at the offer. It made no sense.
Corvin brushed his lips over hers, tentative. The lack of a convincing argument, pushed him to show his cards far sooner than he'd wanted to.