Chapter 6: The King's Bath

CHAPTER 6 — THE KING'S BATH

Lena's POV

“Why aren't you freezing?”

I stared at Kael, confused by his question. His fingers were wrapped around my wrist, but before I could answer, I tried to pull away.

“I'm sorry for disturbing you. I'll leave now.”

I turned towards the door, but my foot slipped on the wet stone.

I gasped as I lost my balance and fell backwards into the pool.

Cold water swallowed me.

I struggled to reach the surface, but my wet dress dragged against my legs. I tried to push myself upwards, swallowing water in the process.

Then an arm caught me around the waist.

Kael pulled me out of the water and against his chest.

I coughed violently, clutching his arm as I struggled to breathe. For a moment, I was too frightened to realise whom I was holding.

Then I looked up.

His pale golden eyes were fixed on me.

“Stop moving,” he ordered.

I immediately loosened my grip.

“I'm sorry.”

He said nothing. His arm remained around my waist, keeping me above the water.

I could feel his bare chest against mine. The situation was embarrassing enough, but knowing this was the man who had publicly rejected me made it worse.

I tried to move away.

His hold tightened briefly.

“Can you stand?”

I nodded.

He released me, and I reached for the edge of the pool. My legs were shaking, and the moment I tried to climb out, my foot slipped again.

Kael caught my arm.

This time, he pulled me out without a word.

I landed on my knees beside the pool, coughing and trying to catch my breath. Water dripped from my hair and clothes, forming a puddle beneath me.

Kael stepped out after me.

I expected him to shout at me for ruining his bathing chamber. Instead, he stood still, staring at his hand.

The hand that had held me.

His expression was difficult to read, but something about it made me uneasy.

“Your Majesty, I'm sorry,” I said. “I didn't mean to fall into your pool.”

“Clearly.”

I lowered my head.

“I'll leave immediately.”

I pushed myself up, but my knees were still weak. Before I could take another step, he threw a towel at me.

I caught it against my chest.

“Dry yourself.”

I stared at him for a second before wrapping the towel around my shoulders.

“Thank you.”

His face hardened.

“Don't mistake this for kindness. I won't have a dead woman in my bathing chamber.”

The words reminded me of the man I had come to know.

I had almost forgotten that he was the same king who had watched a guard die without giving me the chance to explain what had happened.

Whatever reason he had for saving me, it wasn't mercy.

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

I turned towards the door.

“Lena.”

I stopped.

“Do not enter this part of the palace again.”

“I won't.”

“And you will not tell anyone what happened here.”

I glanced at him.

“There is nothing to tell.”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“See that it stays that way.”

I nodded and hurried out.

I didn't stop until I reached the west wing. By then, my clothes were clinging uncomfortably to my skin, and I was shivering.

Lucy was waiting outside our room.

The moment she saw me, her eyes widened.

“Lena! What happened?”

“I slipped.”

“Where?”

“It's not important. Please, can you get me something dry?”

She hurried inside, muttering under her breath about how dangerous it was to wander around a palace where nobody seemed willing to help us.

I changed into a dry dress and sat on the bed while Lucy gathered my wet clothes.

But my mind remained in that bathing chamber.

Kael had caught me twice.

The first time, he had pulled me against his bare chest without hesitation. The second time, he had grabbed my arm to keep me from falling.

Yet this was the same man who couldn't stand being touched by women.

I remembered the disgust on his face when he rejected me before the entire court. I remembered how he looked at me as though I had personally offended him simply by existing.

So why hadn't he pushed me away?

Perhaps saving me had been nothing more than instinct. Perhaps he was simply disgusted by the thought of a dead woman in his palace.

That explanation should have satisfied me.

It didn't.

Because just before I left, I had seen something in his eyes that I couldn't explain.

For a moment, Kael Wolven had looked more disturbed by himself than by me.

I pulled the blanket over my legs and tried to forget the encounter.

I was his unwanted wife. He had made his feelings clear, and I had no intention of mistaking one unexpected act for affection.

Whatever had happened in that chamber meant nothing.

Why had touching his unwanted wife not disgusted him?