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Chapter 7

Her hand was halfway to his when she pulled it back, suddenly afraid that he’d sense her tainted blood "I’m dirty, my lord You said it yourself"

His hand curled into a fist even as his eyes darkened to black Turning, he pushed open a door and she had the terrible feeling she’d wounded hiainly thing What man would be offended that she didn’t take his hand?

But he is ensorcelled, whispered another part of her mind He hasn’t known friendship or love, or the touch of a woman’s softness

Liliana was the last person to teach anyone those things, but even she’d had the friendship of the cook as a child She was starting to fear that the Lord of the Black Castle had had no one Biting her lip, she walked into the roo out the , his back to her "In there" He pointed to his right

Peeking in, she saw a stone pool filled with cool, clear water, a bar of soap set on the edge beside a thick towel When she sniffed the soap, she smelled the freshness of herbs, the scent sweet, the softness of the soap a luxury Eager to begin, she dipped her finger into the water and wincedhad an idea

"The water is very cold," she said, stepping to the doorway "I shall shrivel away to nothing"

He said nothing

Taking a deep breath and hoping she wasn’t about to humiliate herself, she crossed to him and very carefully placed her hand on his back, just below his shoulder blade, shocked at the warmth she sensed in the armor It had been cold before, she was certain, but now it seemed to pulse with life, as if it was an extension of his skin "Please, ic to heat it for ive away her identity as a blood sorceress - and he was a Prince of Elden He had incredible poithin his own body, beyond anything that had been bequeathed him when he took on the ht shift of his head, as if he was considering her request, his hair shining golden in the light pouring in through theA sly look slid across his features "You will tell ht in her throat "My lord, that is unacceptable"

Turning, he stared at her with eyes as curious as a cat’s - and once reen "Why?"

"Well - " He confused her, this ence and his darkness and his wild innocence "I can’t tell a tale naked!" she said at last

He shrugged those shoulders covered by ar skin "The water will protect you" With that, he walked into the bathing chamber