The shower stung exactly as much as expected. The lashes across her back were healing but a few had reopened.
When the hot water hit them, she kept thinking about what Cassian had done to her. He was so cruel. As far as she was concerned, he could stay in that prison cell until their father got home.
She shut the water off. Towel on. Hair dripping.
She cracked the bathing chamber door by an inch and peered through the gap.
Kael was still unconscious. Good. The last thing she needed was a conscious dragon watching her walk around in a towel. She crept across the room like a burglar in her own home.
Clothing acquired. Towel dropped. Dressed like the room was on fire. Dignity at a marginal net positive.
When she came back out, he was talking again.
"...tried to... I tried..."
She stopped.
"...protect her. I tried to..."
His voice was wrecked.
"...every single one of them. Before they... I tried."
