The bath was everything I'd imagined and more. The water was a thick, opaque white, steamed to perfection and heavy with the scent of honey and crushed jasmine. I leaned my head back against the marble rim, closing my eyes as the warmth seeped into my skin.
Finally, some peace.
But peace in the Valerius mansion is a fleeting thing, I tell you.
I heard the heavy click of the door's bolt. Not a break-in—a key. Only the Duke and his immediate family had the master keys to the Ward's wing. Why do they all have the key to my room anyway? I should speak about this with the Duke when I meet him in the garden.
I didn't reach for a towel. I didn't even sit up. I just let my arms drape over the sides of the tub, watching through my half-closed lashes as the steam parted and a pale towering figure walked in.
It was Caelum.
