"You promise?" she asked softly.
Her voice was little more than a whisper, fragile enough that Kade found himself leaning closer just to hear her.
"I promise."
There wasn't the slightest hesitation in his answer.
He reached up and gently tucked another damp strand of hair behind her ear before letting his fingers linger against her cheek, his thumb absently brushing away the moisture that still clung to her skin.
"I'll take you to him the moment Amelia says you're strong enough to move."
Only then did Dakota allow herself to relax.
She released a slow breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding and leaned her head back against the edge of the bathtub, closing her eyes once more.
The warmth of the medicinal water gradually surrounded her aching body, easing the stiffness in her muscles as the herbs continued releasing their soothing fragrance into the rising steam.
Beside her, Takoda quietly watched the two of them.
