The bathroom's steam had begun to thin, the enchanted rose petals losing their ethereal glow. Marcus reached for their softest towel - a luxury item Kai had insisted on buying despite Marcus's protests about unnecessary expenses.
"Ready to get out?" Marcus asked, holding the towel open. His voice still carried that gentle authority, though now mixed with tender concern.
Samantha blinked slowly, looking utterly relaxed. "Maybe in five minutes... or five hours." Her voice was dreamy, content.
"The water's cooling," Kai pointed out, already reaching to help her stand. "And I don't think even vampire constitutions are meant to prune."
"Says the werewolf who spent three hours in the hot spring last month," she teased, but let them help her up.
