He took a shower, removing all the blood, grime, dust, and dirt from his body. The warm water and lavender soap left him feeling refreshed and clean.
While washing up, the questions lingering in his mind began to bombard him. He wanted to be present, to enjoy the calm, but once a thought took root, he couldn't let it go until he found a solution.
The Imperial Crown was undeniably powerful. He had seen, tasted, and experienced the extent of the Queen's power firsthand.
Shin remained wary of King Tristan. Though he couldn't sense anything directly, he felt something dangerous lurking in the man's mind, something dark and calculated.
He was also cautious of Guild Master Davis. Trust didn't come easily, especially given the Lichtenstein family's past ties with them.
Either they were pretending or were truly clueless. If it was the latter, then they were unfit for their positions.
Laverna was right. Tonight's disaster didn't just reveal weaknesses, it stained the kingdom's reputation as a stronghold of power.
The fact that the assailants slipped in under disguise highlighted severe gaps in security. Shin observed the people's reactions during the chaos and found them deeply unsettling.
Even with blood and death staining the halls, the guests had mistaken it for a performance. Something about this kingdom felt detached from reality.
Despite witnessing violence firsthand, the nobles were slow to react. Shin wondered if their peace was genuine or if the kingdoms lived in willful ignorance.
What troubled him most were the attackers. Who were they, and what was their goal?
Could they be from the East? Did his enemies already know he was here?
The assailants felt like cannon fodder. Their movements were unrefined, their tactics disorganized, like pawns thrown into the fire.
He was deeply suspicious about today's events. Questions swirled in his head, and the lack of answers began to irritate him.
He sighed, taking in the peaceful, cold night air. For a fleeting moment, he wished to forget everything, his status as a runaway, the weight of politics, and return to simpler days.
As the saying goes, "Ignorance is bliss." But ignorance wouldn't lead him to the truth.
He thought about their bond. Sometimes, it allowed for telepathic communication, yet other times, it went quiet.
He knew Laverna was just as cautious as he was. He could feel her emotions through their link, and she could sense his.
He didn't want to breach her trust. She had endured betrayal too many times, and he wouldn't be another scar on her soul.
It was frustrating at times. But he believed that, in time, things would unfold as they were meant to.
While Shin was bathing, Laverna sat quietly, the moonlight dancing across her skin as the wind tousled her hair.
She had towel-dried it as best she could. Running her fingers through the strands, she pulled her legs close to her chest.
Her ears twitched, picking up faint sounds from the forest. Tilting her head slightly, she focused on the subtle shifts in noise.
Something was foraging in the underbrush while something else stalked it. She listened, almost tasting the primal tension.
The soft, calculated footsteps of a predator closed in on its prey. She imagined the prey sensing danger, but it couldn't see.
Her heart raced as her vision narrowed, locking in on the scene. A coyote emerged, creeping closer to a rat.
The rat bolted, and the coyote followed. The thrill of the hunt stirred something in her.
"Kill," her mind purred as her fangs elongated instinctively. Then, Shin's voice pulled her from the trance.
Once clean, Shin stepped out of the shower and dried himself off. He wasn't in the mood for a soak, he didn't want to keep a good drink waiting.
He opted for cotton pants and let the cool air wrap around him. Wearing the robe loosely, he stepped out of the bathroom feeling refreshed.
She blinked, startled back into awareness. Turning, she looked toward him and smiled softly.
"Ahhhh. That's better," he sighed, heading to the veranda where Laverna stood.
The wind swept past them as he smiled, seeing her gaze fixed on the horizon. Her silhouette glowed in the moonlight.
He picked up the wine from the table and smiled. "Let's celebrate while we talk tonight," he said. "It's better if we take it easy. I'm sure tomorrow will be a long day."
He set the glasses down and held the bottle up. Though it was sealed with a corkscrew, he simply twisted it off with ease, letting the cork pop free.
Pouring the wine into the glasses, he set the bottle aside and handed one to her. The fruity aroma drifted up, soft and soothing.
He chuckled. "Have you had any alcoholic drinks before?"
She shook her head and took the glass, looking down at the liquid. She hadn't been allowed to drink while under the Lichtensteins' thumb.
"I have noticed the Lichtensteins didn't allow the staff to drink anything besides ale, which was just water with some herbs in it. The wine back in the Guild Hall tasted the same."
She brought the glass to her lips tentatively, taking a sip. Crushed berries filled her mouth as the liquid was cold before hitting her stomach and heating up ever so slightly.
"Strange."
She examined the glass again before taking another sip and enjoying the flavors. Her tail continued to sway back and forth while her ears shifted, listening to the sounds around them.
He smiled again. "Let's enjoy the night."
Her eyes dilated, allowing her to see better beneath the soft moonlight. Her attention returned to Shin, and as her gaze wandered over him, something stirred within her.
He wore cotton pants and a robe similar to her own, but the way the fabric clung slightly to his still-damp skin made her feel a flicker of warmth deep in her core. The robe had fallen just enough to expose the sharp lines of his collarbone and shoulders, scars tracing across his flesh like a warrior's tapestry.
She had seen his body before, like when he stepped out of the bath half-damp and unbothered. But tonight felt different, charged, almost electric, as if every glance and movement carried a weight neither of them could ignore.
The intimacy of the setting, the wine, and the quiet tension between them stirred images in her mind she didn't expect. Her imagination wandered into dangerous territory as her eyes traveled across his chest and arms.
She tried to ignore the heat pooling in her chest and the curious ache low in her belly. Her mind resisted the thoughts, but her body betrayed her, acutely aware of how close he was.
His scent drifted to her, faint lavender soap mixed with the earthy musk of his skin, mixed with the natural scent of moonflowers in bloom, and it made her stomach flutter. It wasn't just arousal, it was something deeper, something primal that both thrilled and unnerved her.
She looked at his scars and admired them, knowing the pain behind each mark. Yet her gaze lingered, not just with understanding, but with a desire that seemed to bloom against her will.