She closed her eyes and relaxed her head back against the tub rim. It suddenly occurred to her it was morning, the suns’ light filtering into the room through slats in the wood ceiling. The pain in her back had lessened to the point of being nonexistent and even the itching of healing skin was no longer present. But her human skin was definitely scarred. She reached back and could feel the difference between recently damaged and undamaged.

Not that Brannie cared, but this particular scar was big, still stretching from her shoulder to the back of her calf on her right side.

Of course, it could have been worse. That scar could be at the front instead. That would be unpleasant.

Deciding not to worry about any of that, she closed her eyes again and let out a happy sigh . . . until the water around her sloshed, splashing her in the face.

Lifting her head and opening her eyes, she watched Aidan getting comfortable opposite her in the tub.

“What are you doing?”

“Why shouldn’t I bathe, too?” he asked.

“You can . . . when I’m done.”

“I’m not the great Captain Branwen the Awful. Those witches aren’t going to set up a bath for me. They’re just going to chuck me out of the room like they did poor Uther.”

Brannie snorted a laugh, unable to help herself.

“Don’t look at me that way,” she told Aidan. “I didn’t mean to laugh. It’s just . . .”

Aidan smiled. “I know. And it was a little funny.” He studied her. “How’s your back?”

“Better than I expected.”

“Good.”

“Were you worried?”

“You got a lightning bolt to the back, Branwen. Of course I was worried.”

Brannie shook her head. “I have to admit . . . it hurt like a bitch. And worse than anything you can get from a Lightning, that’s for sure. I mean, their bolts hurt, but . . . the real thing?” She shuddered. “Don’t need to go through that again. Ever.”

“Let me see.”

Brannie turned, pulling her knees up under her chin, her arms around her legs, her head bent forward. Aidan’s fingers brushed against the back of her neck, moving her wet hair out of the way.

“Humans,” he murmured. “I don’t know how they survive anything with such frail bodies.”

His fingers moved down the edges of the wound.

“So,” he said, and she could feel him getting closer even though the water barely moved, “here’s the question.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Would you go through that again . . . if it meant you didn’t have to go near a boat?”

“Absolutely.”

He laughed against her neck and Brannie dropped her head back, trying to see him. But then his lips were against hers. She automatically opened her mouth and their tongues met.

Aidan dug his hands into her hair and his urgency . . .

Brannie went up on her knees and turned completely around, throwing her arms around his shoulders.