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"What of it?" she said, trying and failing for nonchalance But he looked up at her from beneath his thick lashes Well aware of her evasion Elide loosed a breath, peering up at the tent’s peaked ceiling "Does it make me any better than Vernon--how I chose to punish hiretted it the first day Or the second But these long miles, as it had become clear that Vernon was likely dead, she’d wondered

"Only you can decide that, I think," Lorcan said Yet his fingers paused on her foot "For what it’s worth, he deserved it" His dark power ruh the roo to deny it "Perranth will recover, you know," he offered "Fro And all Vernon did to it before now"

That had been the other thought that weighed heavily with each mile northward That her city, her father and mother’s city, had been deci the dead That any of its people

"That’s if in this war," Elide said

Lorcan resu strokes "Perranth will be rebuilt," was all he said "We’ll see that it is"

"Have you ever done it? Rebuilt a city?"

"No," he ad bones "I have only destroyed the and open "But I should like to try With you"

She saw the other offer there--to not only build a city, but a life Together

Heat rose to her cheeks as she nodded "Yes," she whispered "For however long we have"

For if they survived this war, there was still that between the shuttered in Lorcan’s eyes at that, and she thought he’d say an to unlace her other boot

"What are you doing?" Her words were a breathless rush

His deft fingers--gods above, those fingers--made quick work of her laces "You should soak that foot And soak in general As I said, you work too hard"

"You said I should rest more"

"Because you work too hard" He jerked his chin toward the bath as he pulled off the boot and helped her rise "I’ll go find some food"

"I already ate--"

"You should eather privacy without the aardness of her needing to ask for it That’s what he was trying to do

Barefoot before hied out of her cloak, then jacket Lorcan’s throat bobbed

She knew he could hear her heart as it began racing Could likely scent every e into the bath"

"Do you, now" His voice was near-guttural

Elide bit her lip, her breasts becoht slip"

His eyes drifted down her body, but he erous time, bath time"

Elide found it in herself to walk toward the copper tub He trailed a few feet behind, giving her space Letting her steer this

Elide halted beside the tub, steaed the hem of her shirt from her pants

Lorcan watched every

But--her hands stalled Uncertain Not of him, but this rite, this path

"Shohat to do," she breathed

"You’re doing just fine," Lorcan ground out

But she gave hiers found the loose hem of her shirt "May I?" he asked quietly

Elide whispered, "Yes"

Lorcan still studied her eyes, as if reading the sincerity of that word Dee it true