A reasonable woman would have run. An entitled woman would have told him to leave, that it was her turn. I didn't know what to classify myself as, but I just stopped in my tracks. And stared. My gaze swept over him, in awe of how he looked with his head tipped back in bliss, his mouth closed but relaxed. Strong pectoral muscles were only half submerged in the water, the clean strong lines of his shoulders fully exposed and leading up to the column of his throat, the jawline covered in dark stubble. The water was flowing downward, moving too quickly for me to see anything beneath. But that didn't stop my eyes from trying.

His head tipped back a little farther, his chest opening up as he breathing in deeply through his nose. Then, very suddenly, his body seemed to tighten. His head jerked up; his dark eyes flashed open. And they met mine.

Heat flooded to my cheeks, but I didn't know what to do. I could run and hide like a child that had been caught peeking or I could pretend that I was an innocent party in this. Which, I was in a way. I had only come to bathe and he just happened to be here. I just happened to gawk a little longer than strictly necessary.

"Hello, little dove," he rumbled, a grin stretching his mouth. Fangs were fully on display.

I should have flinched back. I didn't. I pretended it was because I already knew what he was, had already seen it first-hand. But seeing them now was unexpected. Could he control them? Were they instinct-driven and the mate bond somehow affected them.

"I am here to bathe," I stated, my words hard as if they alone could be a barrier between us.

"Then, by all means, come bathe," he invited, opening his arms up on either side of him.

I pulled my thin dressing gown tighter around myself. "Absolutely not. I might not be of royal caliber, but I am a good and decent woman," I snarled.

Xion had the audacity to roll his eyes, his head lolling with the movement as if I were totally unreasonable. "Lark, darling, I know that you humans are fickle when it comes to things like your so-called purity, but we vampires don't see things the same way."

"It does not matter how you see it. We agreed to three months, nothing more. Sharing bath water was not something you outlined in the agreement and when I do eventually go home, I will not be able to return to my betrothed if I am considered ruined."

The arrogant smile that I had grown fairly used to seeing was entirely gone now. "So, you do have someone you're promised to back home?"

"Yes, and if it weren't for you, I would be in the last days of preparations before my wedding. Now, it will be a miracle if any man in the village even looks at me when I return."

"If a man would turn you down after this, then he is unworthy of having you at all. If you are concerned about your...status after the three months, I can send along some funds to make sure that you are comfortable for the rest of your life. That way, you will only have a man if you want one," he vowed. "If it would make you feel better, you can request some things that you see in the palace that might make your life tolerable should you--"

"When I return," I interjected sharply, still gripping my dressing gown with tight fists, the towel feeling far too insignificant to be the only thing between us.

"If," he pushed. "This entire situation would be easier to manage if you allowed yourself to consider our relationship as a legitimate option."

My nose turned up immediately. "This is nothing close to a relationship. A typical courtship does not start with a kidnapping or in a cell underground."

A bead of moisture rolled down from Xion's temple, tracing its way down his cheek, clinging to his throat. It shouldn't have been an unholy thing to watch, but it was and I could not be more furious at the timing and my body for wanting to respond to it. Why did he have to be so devastatingly handsome?

He closed his eyes again, tipping his head back to resume the position I had first caught him in. He was trying to emanate grace and relaxation once more, but it was betrayed by the tightness of his shoulders.

"You have agreed to three months. I cannot and will not break that agreement, unfortunately. I know that I cannot prevent you from trying to resist the mate bond. But, should you think of anything that would make your stay more pleasant here, I will do everything in my power to make it happen."

It wasn't the fairest thing, but my first thought was sharp eyes honing in on me every time my door even cracked open. It would be so much easier to sneak and scheme under another.

"I would like a new guard," I blurted.

Xion's head jerked right back up. "Why?" His eyes were immediately alert and focused. "Sera has not offended you, has she?"

"I think my very existence offends her," I replied. "I would like to have someone friendly outside my door. Someone like Daisy."

Xion blinked at me once, then twice, then let out a roar of laughter. "Daisy? Oh Lark, what would Daisy do? Poke someone to death with her sewing needles? She is a lovely woman and I am proud to have her on my staff, but she is not going to keep you safe. Sera will."

"And how do you know that for certain?" I challenged. "Perhaps there have been rumors about loyalty floating around..."

All laughter died then. His eyes sharped to daggers, his jaw set firmly. His poor teeth must have ached. "Loyalty can be a concern. I will not deny it. But Seraphina's loyalty is not one I question."

"And why is that? Because you both have the same temper?" It wasn't a fair accusation, but I wasn't feeling particularly kind.

"No, it's because Seraphina is my sister. If she didn't want to support me, she could have stayed back with my mother. I would have never forced her hand. I know she would fight to the death if I asked it and I know that she would defend you, no matter the cost. So, I'm sorry if she has ruffled your feathers, but she is staying."

There was something about the way he spoke, something about the intensity in each of his words that had me swallowing hard. The whole thing with Seraphina seemed so small all of the sudden.

"If you cannot let me go and you refuse to change my guard, then at least let me bathe in peace," I begged.

Xion was serious as he nodded his head. "Of course, Lark."

But I was not blind to the deliberate slowness as he rose out of the water, beads dripping down, down, down. I wished I could have allowed myself to keep watching their descent, to see everything that he was willing to bare to me. He could say that vampires were different, could say that he would make sure I was treated with dignity when I returned. I forced my gaze away, pretending an empty patch of exposed soil was the most wonderful thing in the world.

I was a strong woman. A good woman. I would not crumple to simple desires.

I flashed a quick glance. A sinless thing really. And, with Xion turned away from me, I saw a tanned expanse of back, muscles subtly defined beneath the skin. My eyes dripped down like the last of the water moving over him.

"Have a good evening, my dove," Xion called over his shoulder, securing the towel around his waist. The smirk told me that he had caught my wandering eyes.

Something told me that some hot water and a bar of lavender soap were not going to be enough to get me to sleep tonight.

~~~Question of the Day~~~

What is your proudest accomplishment?