Chapter Thirteen - Test of Will
CASSIUS
Suddenly, I lunged, but she twisted her way out of the way, darting behind the fountain. I was fast, but she spent most of her life running, and she knew how to move.
She sprinted across the garden, laughter bubbling up in her chest as I chased her. She weaved between flower beds, narrowly dodging my attempt to grab her wrist. But I caught her by surprise, my arms wrapping around her waist as I spun her in a full circle.
She shrieked, ''Cassius! .... put my down!''
''Admit defeat first.''
''Never!'' I smirked. ''Then I hope you don't mind flying.'' And before she could react, I lifted her slightly and tossed her gently into the tall soft grass.
Liora landed with an undignified oof, breathless from laughter. She looked up to see me towering over her, a satisfied grin on my face. ''You cheated,'' she accused. I placed a hand over my heart. ''I would never.''
She scoffed and threw a handful of petals at me. I simply sat beside her; the tension from before had faded, replaced by something lighter, something easier.
The two of us sat there in comfortable silence, the scent of flowers and the cool evening breeze wrapping around us. I finally spoke, my voice quieter this time. ''See? That wasn't so bad," she glanced at me, her lips curving into a small smile. "Maybe not."
For the first time since she had arrived in this palace, Liora felt something close to peace and freedom.
LIORA
The warmth of the garden still clung to my skin as I made my way back to the chamber. I've never been this happy before in my life. For a brief moment, I had almost forgotten the weight of my circumstances. Almost. Thanks to Cassius.
But the moment I stepped inside, the air in the room was different.
Kieran sat at the edge of the large wooden table, fingers idly drumming against its surface. The dim candlelight flickered across his face, sharp shadows catching on the hard set of his jaw. His armor was gone, leaving him in a loose black tunic, sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal the tension in his forearms.
Golden eyes lifted to meet mine.
I stopped mid-step. He knew. I could see it in the coldness of his gaze, the slight twitch in his jaw. He said nothing at first, only watching me, dragging out the silence until it wrapped around me like a tightening noose.
Finally, his voice cut through the quiet. “You were with Cassius.” My stomach twisted. There was no question in his tone, only certainty. I lifted my chin, unwilling to let his presence swallow me. “I was in the garden.”
Kieran hummed low in his throat, his gaze unwavering. “You were laughing.”
The way he said it made it sound like a sin.
I exhaled sharply. “Is that a crime?”
Kieran stood then, his movements slow, deliberate. “I didn't say a crime. Just… interesting for a married woman.” He took a step toward me, his gaze never leaving mine. “I don’t recall hearing that sound from you before.”
My hands curled into fists at my sides. “Maybe because living in this palace never gave me a reason to laugh, neither did you."
A flicker of something passed through his eyes—something dark, something unreadable. But he didn’t respond to what I said. Instead, he turned, heading toward the adjacent bathing chamber.
His next words were quiet but absolute.
“Come. You will bathe me.”
I froze.
My heart slammed against my ribs, my body stiffening at the order. Maybe I misheard him.
Kieran didn’t look back to check if I followed. He simply walked into the bathing chamber, his tunic already half undone. The moment he crossed the threshold, he pulled the fabric over his head and let it drop to the floor.
I inhaled sharply.
The candlelight cast golden hues over his bare back—scars scattered across his skin like remnants of old battles. His muscles tensed as he rolled his shoulders, unbothered by his own state of undress.
But I was rooted in place.
His body was built of power and tension, every muscle carved by war and restraint. And yet, despite his cold demeanor, he was not unmarked by suffering.
I swallowed, forcing my voice to remain steady. “You can bathe yourself.”
Kieran glanced over his shoulder, his golden eyes gleaming in the dim light. “I could. But I want you to do it.”
I breath caught. This was something else. Some kind of test. A way to remind me of my place.
I went into the bathroom to prepare his water.
The warm steam curled around us as I knelt beside the large copper bathtub, my fingers dipping into the water to test the temperature.
Kieran sat with his arms draped over the edge of the tub, his golden eyes gazing at me with an unreadable expression. I felt the weight of his gaze pressing against me like an invisible hand. Too hot
I exhaled slowly. I reached for the nearby pitcher of cold water, pouring a careful amount into the tub.
I picked up a cloth and dipped it into the water, wringing out the excess before carefully touching it to his back.
The moment the cloth met his skin, Kieran let out an exaggerated sigh.
“Too soft,” he said.
My hand faltered. He’s doing this on purpose.
I tightened my jaw, but I adjusted my grip, pressing a little harder this time as I ran the cloth over his broad shoulders.
Silence stretched between us.
Then
“Now it’s too harsh.”
I clenched my teeth.
I bit back the thought and focused on scrubbing his back, even as frustration burned beneath my skin.
Kieran shifted slightly, resting his chin on his forearm. “Are you always this terrible at following simple instructions?”
I inhaled sharply. “Are you always this difficult to please?”
A low chuckle rumbled from his chest. “You have no idea.”
I gritted my teeth, adjusting the pressure once more.
Kieran sighed again. “The water’s too cold.”
I froze.
I turned slowly, giving him a pointed look. “It was too hot just a moment ago.”
Kieran tilted his head. “And now it’s too cold.”
I stared at him; I gripped tight on the cloth.