[Lior's POV — Night — The Bath Chamber]
"…Pardon?"
The word slipped out before my brain could stop it. Behind me the water in the bath rippled softly, steam curling lazily toward the high ceiling. For a long moment I simply stood there, frozen, staring at the stone floor like it had suddenly become very interesting.
Then Alaric spoke again.
"I said," he repeated calmly, as if discussing the weather, "let's take a bath."
My brain struggled to process the sentence.
Together?
My ears burned instantly. "I—"
I couldn't bring myself to turn around, but I could feel it—his gaze. That cold, silver stare pressing against my back like something solid.
Then his voice came again, calm as winter, but his next words landed far too casually as he said, "Married couples often bathe together. Do you believe that is… improper?"
