CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX (36)
Damiel walked out of the room in slow steps.
He took the turn leading back toward the hallway where his chamber was.
He neded to inform Reyna of their departure, by the time he comes back later she might already be asleep he thought.
Is she awake? he wondered.
He opened the door.
Reyna sat on the bed.
A confused look rested on her face as she stared toward the window. The side of her face was turned toward the door, and faint marks from the pillow were still pressed against her cheek.
She heard the door open.
Her head lifted.
The moment she saw him, she immediately stood.
She bowed.
"Welcome back, Your Highness."
She slowly straightened.
"Hmm."
Damiel acknowledged her quietly as he walked further into the room.
His hands moved toward the buckles of his armor.
Reyna immediately stepped forward offering to help.
"Your Highness, let me."
She stretched out her hands.
Damiel allowed her, as he put his hands down.
His silver eyes followed every movement.
One piece.
Then another.
Until only his black inner garment remained.
Reyna carefully placed the last piece of armor aside.
"I'll go prepare your bath, Your Highness."
She quickly walked out.
Damiel's eyes followed her until she disappeared through the doorway.
He sighed.
He didn't know why he kept watching her.
He removed the rest of his clothing, leaving himself in his black lower undergarment, then walked toward the left window balcony.
From there, he could see how busy the little kingdom had become.
His men were already moving through the courtyard, giving instructions to soldiers and servants.
The general stood with several commanders in one corner, discussing the orders Damiel had given them, and how to execute them.
Everyone was moving.
Everyone was preparing
The door opened behind him.
Reyna returned carrying two wooden buckets.
One was filled with steaming hot water.
The steam rose from it in unruly strands.
The other contained cool water without a trace of steam.
She walked into the bathing area, which was separated from the rest of the room by a low stone wall and a tall black linen curtain that could be drawn completely across the opening.
She approached the stone bathtub.
First, she poured in the cool water.
Then she slowly added the hot water.
She constantly tested the temperature with the tip of her finger.
Damiel watched her.
Every movement.
Every careful adjustment.
Like a puzzle.
As though if he watched long enough, patiently enough, he might finally understand what it was about.
By the time Reyna was satisfied with the temperature, the steam had thickened throughout the bathing area, drifting like pale fog.
She picked up a small wooden container—a carved wooden herb box—and opened it.
She took a handful of fragrant herbs and dropped them into the water.
Then she added another bundle of purple herbs.
Then a few blue ones.
The water slowly filled with their scent.
Reyna stepped outside the bathing area and adjusted the black curtain, making sure it could be drawn completely closed.
She bowed.
"Your Highness, your bath has been prepared."
Damiel nodded.
He took one last look through the balcony window before turning toward the bathing area.
Unlike the castle, where his private bathhouse occupied an entire room, this one was considerably smaller.
But it was decent.
The stone bathtub sat in the center of the bathing area.
Beside it stood a small wooden stool, a bronze water ewer, several clay jars containing oils and herbs, a stone wash basin, folded linen towels, and a small wooden rack where fresh clothing could be placed.
An oil lamp burned quietly against the wall, its flame flickering through the steam.
It was simple.
But comfortable enough.
Damiel stepped into the stone tub.
Slowly, he lowered himself into the warm water until he was sitting comfortably.
The heat surrounded him.
A satisfied sigh escaped him.
He rested his head against the raised stone at the edge of the tub.
Reyna immediately picked up some of the fragrant herbs.
She gently placed them into his dark hair.
Then her fingers began massaging them through his hair in slow, rhythmic movements.
This was only the second time she had helped him bathe.
And somehow...
His hair had become her favorite part.
It was soft.
Shiny.
Almost unnaturally smooth.
The silver strands near his temples seemed to glow beneath the steam.
Damiel closed his eyes.
This was better than he wanted to admit.
Far better.
"I wanted to thank you, Your Highness, for carrying me to bed."
Reyna's voice suddenly broke the silence.
"I am grateful."
She had been contemplating whether she should say anything.
She didn't know for certain if he had been the one who carried her.
But she knew no one else would have dared enter his chamber.
Especially with the fact that his men followed him.
Damiel opened his eyes.
As he looked directly into hers.
"Why didn't you go to bed?"
Reyna's fingers paused briefly.
"Didn't I ask you not to wait up?"
"Yes."
She lowered her eyes.
"I didn't mean to."
A small pause.
"I just... didn't know when I fell asleep."
She quickly added,
"It won't happen again, your highness."
Damiel sighed.
He continued looking at her for a moment before closing his eyes again.
His body relaxed beneath her hands.
"We leave tomorrow."
Reyna blinked.
"Tomorrow?" She blurted out before she could stop herself.
"Before dawn."
"Yes, Your Highness."
She nodded quickly.
She was surprised they were leaving so soon.
Was the war over?
And if yes so soon?
She wanted to ask.
But she didn't.
Instead, she continued washing his hair.
Soon, she finished.
She rinsed the herbs from his hair before setting them aside.
Then she reached for a natural woven bath scrubber, made from rough plant fibers.
She dipped it into the warm water.
"I'll wash your body now." Reyna said.
Damiel gave a quiet nod.
Reyna began with his back.
The scrubber moved carefully across his skin.
His body was surprisingly smooth beneath her hands.
It was difficult to believe that this was the same man people whispered about.
The rumored devil incarnate.
A demon feared across kingdoms.
His skin carried not a single visible scar.
Not one.
Damiel slowly opened his eyes.
Something felt different.
His body was reacting to her touch.
He didn't understand it.
Reyna moved around to his front.
She lowered herself beside the tub and began carefully washing his chest.
Damiel stared ahead.
Trying to remain completely composed.
The scrubber moved slowly.
From his chest...
To his upper abdomen...
Lower.
His heartbeat suddenly sounded far too loud in his own ears.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Reyna remained completely unaware.
She was simply doing her duty.
Her hand moved lower.
And when she reached his lower abdomen—
Damiel's hand closed around her wrist.
Reyna froze.
Her eyes widened.
She looked up at him in shock
For a moment, neither spoke.
"I'll take it from here."
His voice was controlled.
But something beneath it wasn't.
Reyna stared at him.
"Your Highness...?"
"You may leave."
He released her wrist immediately.
Damiel hated the expression that crossed her face.
She looked frightened.
And somehow...
Hurt.
But he couldn't explain what was happening inside him.
He didn't understand it himself.
He was losing control of something he had never had to control before.
Reyna slowly stood.
She bowed.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Then she walked out.
Once outside, she carefully arranged the black curtain, making certain it completely covered the bathing area and gave him privacy.
Did I do something wrong?
The thought troubled her as she prepared a fresh set of clothes for him.
She gathered his old ones as well as she put them in a basket and walked out the room.