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she could. She crept into the flowers and hid in their sweet scent.
    She kicked herself at her cowardice. The panic that had gripped her had been all consuming. The gardens were the only safe place she could think of that she could access from the palace halls.
    She felt the caress of wind, and the flowers above her head swayed. She could see a pair of feet and a set of legs almost as dark as the night from her crouched position.
    The flowers above her moved, and she cried out as fear rippled through her. They eased apart and she was exposed to the evening air.
    “Easy, Ariadne. You are safe. Your guards are being treated.” Usorn came toward her with his hands open at his sides. He was naked, but she ignored that in favour of the calming look in his eyes.
    “What about those men?”
    “They are no longer a threat to you. We will open an inquiry in the morning. Tonight, you are coming with me.”
    She blinked. “I just want to sleep in my own bed.”
    “That will not be possible. Come here, you are cold.”
    She stood, and her thin gown rippled around her in the phantom wind.
    “You brought a knife?”
    “I keep one in my kit for slicing parchment.”
    She took cautious steps toward him with the blade held flat against her thigh.
    “Do you know how to use it?”
    Ari shrugged. “I have had training, but I don’t know that I would be able to use it.”
    “That needs to be remedied. Come now and I will get you into a warm bath and a safe bed.”
    It sounded wonderful. She walked the few paces between them, and he took the knife from her, firing it into the dirt next to the flowers. “We will get it tomorrow.”
    He lifted her in his arms and cuddled her against his chest.
    Relief at feeling safe swept through her, and she pressed her head to his shoulder as they moved through the air.
    “You can fly?”
    He chuckled. “Sort of. I lift myself upward against the ground and use a hold on other objects to pull myself along.”
    They soared around to the private wing of the palace. Doors to the balcony stood open, and he landed on the pathway, heading into the chamber. The doors closed and locked behind them.
    “I will run you a bath. Your legs are a little grimy.” He chuckled.
    Her hair was probably also a nightmare, but she didn’t mention that.
    She looked down at her feet and had to admit that the red and brown dirt smeared with the green of the plants was apparent. “The most colourful I will be around here.”
    He chuckled and carried her into a bathing room that made hers look like a kiddie pool.
    “I like the natural tones of your skin. Your hair is a bit of a surprise. I thought it was much shorter. I will have to adjust my fantasies.”
    The pool began to steam gently, but he directed her to a shower first. He set her on her feet and lifted the gauzy nightgown up and over her head.
    He adjusted the temperature of the water and coaxed her into the projection of water. He threaded his fingers through her hair and pulled out bits of plant matter.
    She hadn’t expected him to help her, but he pulled out the branches, twigs and leaves before kneeling with her under the spray and sliding his hands over her legs to rinse away the mud and green.
    His crest of dark hair sank slightly under the spray of water. She swayed and steadied herself on his shoulders as he worked up her body with even strokes of his hands.
    She didn’t know what she wanted to say, didn’t know what she needed to say, but when he stood and kissed her, her mind went blissfully blank.
    The water rained over them, and she went up on her toes, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing herself against him.
    Those men had come to kill her tonight, and while she kicked herself for the reflex, she was holding on to the one man who could actually defend her. It didn’t hurt that he was handsome, charming, friendly and seemed to find her sexually attractive if the hot bar of his erection was anything to go by.
    He lifted her against him,