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what you’re imagining me to be. The last thing I want to see is a knife sticking out of your back or your eyes glowing red after that necromancer animates your corpse. I will lay down my life before I let that happen, but I would appreciate your cooperation. Do you understand me?”
    The intimacy of his touch warmed her, but his words tore at her defenses like an icy blade.
    She didn’t know which of the two left her shaking.
    He pulled away, pointing his free hand at the fireplace. Flames ignited the logs, rising high into the chimney.
    She tried to smother her gasp by covering her mouth. Yes, he made his point very clear. If he wanted to harm her, he could. But he could also be a powerful ally. It all depended on her.
    His grip loosened, and she backed away with a nod.
    “I suggest you take a bath while I inspect the clothes the innkeeper said he could find for you.”
    She dipped her fingers into the tub and yanked them out. “It’s freezing!” He chuckled. “Consider it a lesson in learning to harness your magic. You can either take a cold bath, or you can figure out a way to warm the water.”
    “ He’s testing you,” Loku whispered in her mind , “but don’t worry. I’ll show you what to do .”
    “ And why should I trust you? ”
    Loku’s chuckle vibrated through her body. “ Always so suspicious .”
    “I’ll leave Cinder here to protect you while I’m downstairs,” Dev said. “I doubt you want me in the room while you’re bathing.”
    The heat from the fire crept along her back, but it didn’t match the burn in her cheeks or the warmth coiling in her stomach. What was it about this man that made her react this way?
    She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It’s only because he’s the first man who gave me a second look and treats me halfway decently .
    “ Keep telling yourself that if you want, but you and I both know the truth .” Dev left the room, and Cinder stretched out in front of the door, forming a barricade.
    She waited a moment to see if he would return. When he didn’t, she stared at the bathwater. How was she going to get it to a temperature that didn’t make every nerve in her body scream from the pain?
    “ Dip your hand in the water and picture the fire flowing from your fingers into it .” She followed Loku’s instructions, biting her bottom lip from the stinging-cold water as it slipped over her skin. Deep inside her mind, she found a small flame. She fed it with her thoughts until it spread along her arm and into her fingertips. The water hissed and bubbled around them, ripples racing to the edges of the metal tub. By the time she removed her hand, tendrils of steam rose from the surface.
    She unlaced her bodice and yanked the simple dress over her head. It’d been ages since she’d enjoyed a hot bath. She slid into the tub. Even though the warm water stung the raw skin between her thighs, it eased her aching muscles. She sighed in contentment and leaned back against the metal rim. “Thank you, Loku.”
    “ You’re welcome. At last, I get to see the body I’ll be inhabiting for the next few years.
    Yes, I think I’ll enjoy having tits .”
    Arden bolted up in the tub and crossed her arms over her chest, causing Loku to laugh again. She hadn’t anticipated the unseen voyeur. “Can you please look away?”
    “ Nope, and more importantly, I don’t want to. I’ve always been curious what it feels like to be a woman. But I’ll try and keep my comments to myself .” Her muscles unlocked, and she sank deeper into the water. If he kept his word, she’d hopefully forget his presence in a few minutes. No reason not to enjoy the bath while she could.

Chapter 5
    Dev inspected the tunics and leggings the innkeeper provided for him.
    “He outgrew them so fast, they didn’t have much time to get holes in them. The boots, too.”
    The fabric showed some signs of gentle wear, but the innkeeper was right. No holes. He held one of the tunics up in front of him,