102.- Wings in the Steam

Dawn slipped into "The Silent Raven" like a clumsy whisper, dusty rays of sunlight filtering through the curtains and tracing warm lines across the soft furs on the bed. The air carried the faint scent of polished wood, laced with the lingering echo of herbs—lavender and rosemary—from the ritual bath they'd taken the night before, a routine they'd followed before collapsing after the Coliseum fight. The floorboards creaked under the weight of silence, broken only by the faint crackle of dying embers in the marble fireplace. On the bed, a tangle of bodies rested in the post-storm calm: Kaili, in her human form, lay on her side, her fair skin glowing under the morning light, the pajama of shadow threads and iridescent feathers twisted and slipped down to bare one shoulder. Her black locks sprawled messily over the fur pillow, and her eyes—black sclera with silver pupils—flickered open, awake before the world.

Sebastián remained lost in sleep, his deep, raspy breathing a steady hum in the quiet. His tanned body pressed against hers, one strong arm wrapped around her in a clumsy but firm hold, his hand tucked under her pajama and resting on her bare chest. His calloused fingers, clean from the night's bath, moved in slow, unconscious caresses, brushing the soft curve of her skin with a boldness only dreams could excuse. Kaili glanced at him sideways, her lips curling into an ironic smile, sharp as a freshly forged dagger. The warmth of his hand was an annoying yet oddly comforting contrast, and the steady graze of his fingers pulled a low huff from her throat.

"Perverted gardener," she muttered, her voice a soft growl thick with sarcasm, barely audible over his intermittent snore. "Even asleep, you find a way to stick your nose where it doesn't belong." Her silver pupils glinted with a mix of amusement and irritation, and for a moment, she considered elbowing his mended ribs—just to watch him gasp awake—but the weight of his arm and the heat of his breath against her nape made her hesitate. "Damn sack of manure with legs," she added, mostly to herself, tilting her head to get a better look. His brown hair was tousled against the pillow, a tangle faintly scented with bath herbs, and his relaxed face held a peace she rarely saw in daylight.

With a slow move, Kaili slid a hand to nudge his arm away, but he clung tighter in his sleep, a mumbled "Kaili… mine…" slipping from his lips as his fingers pressed a little harder, grazing her nipple with a clumsiness that drew an involuntary hiss from her. She raised an eyebrow, the irony in her gaze deepening into something close to a laugh. "If you weren't so pathetic, I'd rip that hand off right now," she growled, but she didn't. Instead, she shifted with a fluid twist, the furs rustling under her, and shoved him with her shoulder until he flopped onto his back, his hand falling aside with a dull thud against the mattress. Sebastián frowned in his sleep but didn't wake, his breathing settling into a deeper snore.

Kaili propped herself up on an elbow, watching him for a moment, the shadows of her iridescent pajama feathers dancing across her fair skin in the light. The bed's warmth still clung to her, an echo of his body pressed against hers all night, and for a second, her runes—hidden in this human form—seemed to pulse beneath her skin, a golden flicker no one caught. "You're a lucky idiot, gardener," she murmured, rising with a stretch that cracked her joints, the sound bouncing through the room like a soft drum. Her boots lay tossed in a corner next to her black armor, a gleaming pile of metal that seemed to glare at her reproachfully, and she snorted, kicking them with a dry clank. "Today I crush that Iron Hammer for my queen, not for your drunken groping."

The sound of her barefoot steps on the boards finally roused Sebastián. His brown eyes opened with a slow blink, clouded with sleep, and he turned his head to find her standing by the bed, adjusting her pajama in a way that flashed more skin than it hid. "Up already, Kaili?" he said, his voice hoarse and slurred, rubbing his face with a hand as he sat up. The morning chill hit his skin, sending a shiver through him, but his gaze locked on her with a mix of drowsiness and mischief. "Thought you'd let me sleep a bit longer after yesterday."

Kaili turned her head, her silver pupils narrowing like blades. "You slept on me like a slobbering mutt, gardener. If I don't kill you now, it's only because I need my strength for the arena this afternoon." Her tone was sharp, but a playful glint in her eyes didn't go unnoticed. She crossed her arms, the move making her pajama feathers rustle against her skin, and added, "Wipe that dumb look off your face. I'm not hauling you around all day."

Sebastián laughed, a low, raspy sound that filled the room, and stood with a groan, the boards creaking under his weight. "Don't worry, I won't weigh you down. But if you're gonna tear it up in the Coliseum, those wings of yours deserve some love first." He bent toward his bag, pulling out a jar of herbal ointment and a small bottle of shampoo with a soft pop as he uncapped them, the scent of mint and rosemary cutting through the air like a fresh breeze. "Quick bath, I'll scrub your feathers and wash your hair. Can't fight unless you're flawless, right?"

She raised an eyebrow, her lips twisting into a mocking smirk. "A bath? Seriously, gardener? We scrubbed down last night." But she didn't say no. Her boots thudded against the floor as she strode to the small bathroom next door, steam already rising in wisps from a wooden tub he'd prepped as part of their morning routine. "If you drag me into your mess, I'll rip your tongue out and use it as a rag," she growled, but the edge in her voice was more tease than threat, and Sebastián knew it.

"Deal," he shot back, following with the jar and bottle in hand, his stride easy against the firm clank of her armor as he passed. "But only if I get the full show, Kaili. Not every day I've got a Throne naked in a tub."

The bathroom was a tight, intimate space, its dark wooden walls gleaming with steam that fogged the high window. The tub, carved from oak and brimming with steaming water, caught the sunlight in golden flecks that danced across the surface. The scent of herbs—sharp mint, earthy rosemary, and a sweet hint of lavender—rose into the air, a morning ritual that filled the room with a warm, familiar freshness. Kaili paused by the tub, steam brushing her fair skin and giving it a faint sheen, and turned her head toward Sebastián with a look that sliced like a scythe. "If this is a trick for your grubby hands, gardener, I'll bury you in that water 'til you choke," she said, her voice a sharp purr that echoed in the close quarters.

Sebastián leaned a shoulder against the doorway, the jar of ointment and shampoo bottle swinging in his hands. "Just want you primed to turn that Iron Hammer into dust this afternoon," he replied, his tone warm but laced with mischief. "Besides, your wings and hair deserve it. Come on, ditch the pajama and let the gardener work his magic."

She snorted, a dry sound that bounced off the walls, and crossed her arms with a rustle of iridescent feathers. "Magic? The only magic you've got is sticking your nose where it doesn't belong," she shot back, but her hands were already undoing the shadow threads of her pajama with slow, deliberate moves. The fabric slipped to the floor with a soft whisper, baring her human form—fair skin, firm curves, voluptuous breasts glistening in the steam—before a dark flash enveloped her. Her shape shifted in a blink: her skin turned a luminous pale purple, glowing with an inner pulse like a living heart; golden, silver, and red runes flared like fiery veins, tracing sinuous lines across her torso and arms; six iridescent wings—black, purple, scarlet—unfurled with a hum that shook the steam, feathers snapping as they spread; and gazelle-like horns, sleek and gem-studded, caught the light in glints that cast dancing shadows on the walls. Her eyes, now in their true form, were black pools speckled with red, silver, and golden sparks that flickered like cosmic embers.

Naked, Kaili stood tall by the tub, her commanding presence filling the space with a blend of sensuality and menace. Water dripped from her feathers as they brushed the wooden edge, a rhythmic patter underscoring the low hum of her wings. Sebastián swallowed hard, heat rising to his face, and stepped forward, setting the jar and bottle on a nearby table with a dull thunk. "Damn, Kaili," he murmured, his voice rough with a mix of awe and desire, "if this ain't a sight fit for a god, I don't know what is."

"Save your flattery, gardener," she growled, stepping into the tub with a splash that sent hot ripples against the sides. The water reached her waist, trickling down her purple skin in shining streams that highlighted her pulsing runes. Her wings jutted out, too large to submerge, and the feathers gleamed wet under the light, casting black and scarlet reflections in the steam. "If you're gonna rub something, make it quick before I tear your head off for staring like a fool."

He laughed, kneeling by the tub with a sponge soaked in ointment he scooped from the jar with a slick sound. "Just doing my job," he said, dipping the sponge in the hot water before lifting it, the liquid dripping in sticky trails that smelled of fresh mint. "Though I'll admit, the view's a bonus I didn't see coming." His eyes roamed her body shamelessly—the firm breasts glistening with water drops, the flat stomach where runes glowed like embers, the wide hips sinking into the tub—and she caught it, her red, silver, and golden sparks flashing with a mocking threat.

"Touch anything but my wings, and I'll rip an arm off, gardener," she growled, but she didn't move, letting him bring the sponge to her first wing with a graze that made the feathers snap. The ointment slid over the black and purple plumes, dripping into the water with a soft plop, and Kaili tensed her shoulders, a hiss slipping from her lips as her wings' hum kicked up a notch. "Stop it, I'm not your damn pet," she protested, her voice sharp but quivering with something beyond just annoyance.

"I'm not treating you like a pet, Kaili," he replied, his hands moving with a mix of firmness and boldness, scrubbing the feathers in slow circles that left a gleaming trail. "Just want you shining when you grind that brute into the dirt this afternoon. Besides, who else is gonna tend these beauties?" His fingers brushed the base of a wing, a sensitive spot where the feathers met her purple skin, and Kaili let out a low growl, almost a purr, that rippled through the steam. Her runes pulsed softer, a golden flicker betraying her cool front, and he grinned, leaning closer. "See? Even you're enjoying this."

She whipped her head around fast, splashing him with a wing flick that sent hot water across his face. "Enough, you perv," she growled, but the water slid down his cheeks, and a dry laugh broke from her throat, sharp as a blade. "Keep it up, and I'll drown you in this tub before you can blink." Her legs tightened under the water, a subtle sign of desire he didn't miss, and Sebastián seized the chance, sliding the sponge down her back with a graze that left sticky lines of ointment running over her glowing skin.

"Just making sure everything's perfect," he said, his voice low and teasing, as he massaged harder, the ointment dripping down her wings and back in gleaming streaks under the light. Kaili let out an involuntary gasp, her horns quivering slightly, and for a moment, her runes flared red before softening again. "Finish the wings and do something useful, gardener," she growled, sinking her shoulders into the water with a splash, "or I'll rip your hands off and use 'em as a brush."

He set the sponge aside with a low chuckle, grabbing the shampoo bottle and pouring a thick dollop into his hands, the citrusy, herbal scent cutting through the steam. "As you wish," he said, stepping behind her and sinking his fingers into her black hair, massaging her scalp with firm but gentle strokes. Foam built fast, white bubbles sliding through her strands and dripping into the water with a soft plop. Kaili closed her eyes, a sigh escaping her lips as her wings' hum dropped to a quiet murmur, her body easing under his touch. "Not bad for a sack of manure," she muttered, her voice losing its edge for a moment, the sparks in her eyes hidden behind heavy lids.

Sebastián grinned, his fingers tracing slow circles that made the foam crackle, the citrus scent filling the humid air. "If you like this, wait 'til you win this afternoon," he said, his tone warm and provocative. "I'll give you a full massage as a prize—wings and all." She snorted but didn't open her eyes, letting him keep going, the runes on her neck pulsing with a soft glow. Seizing the moment, he slipped two fingers under her chin, lifting her head with a gentle but firm touch, and when she opened her eyes—red, silver, and golden sparks flaring like a miniature cosmos—he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers in a deep, hungry kiss, a warm clash that filled the silence with the soft sound of their breaths mingling.

Kaili stiffened for a split second, her wings snapping with a brief hum, but she didn't pull away. Her lips answered with a mix of surprise and defiance, returning the kiss with an intensity that made the steam tremble around them. When he broke away, panting slightly, she fixed him with those sparking eyes, the red flaring brighter for a moment. "What the hell was that, gardener?" she growled, her voice husky but tinged with amusement, wiping a shampoo bubble from her face with a quick swipe.

"For good luck," he replied, pulling back with a crooked grin, his hands still slick with foam. "Not that you need it. You're gonna turn that Iron Hammer into dust like he's nothing." She laughed, a dry, cutting sound that echoed in the room, and sank deeper into the tub, the water sloshing against the sides.

"Don't need luck, you fool," she growled, her sparks flashing with unshakable confidence, "I'll grind him to powder before he can swing that hammer. But I guess it's not a bad warm-up." Silence settled between them, broken only by the drip of water and the faint hum of her wings, and he chuckled, wiping his hands on his shirt as he watched her with a mix of boldness and fondness.

Kaili stepped out of the tub with a fluid move, water streaming down her purple body in shining rivulets that ran over her skin to the floor, leaving small puddles that caught the light. Her wet, gleaming wings cast black and scarlet shadows on the walls, and the steam swirled around her like an ethereal veil, tinting the scene with a warm glow. Her wings' hum rose a pitch as they flared slightly, dripping water in a steady rhythm that echoed through the room. Sebastián tossed her a towel with a quick flick, and she snatched it midair with a feather snap, drying off with firm strokes that made her wings rustle as they folded against her back.

"Don't just stand there like a dolt, gardener," she growled, her voice sharp as she wrapped the towel around her waist, leaving her torso bare. Her runes pulsed in a slow rhythm, glowing golden under the light, and her horns caught a sunray in a flash that blinded Sebastián for a moment. "Make me late, and I'll rip your legs off for firewood." But there was a playful lilt in her words, a hint of the teasing she always carried, and he took it as an invite.

Sebastián grabbed a Dragon's Tear flower from his bag—red and black petals with a sweet, blood-and-honey scent—and offered it with a crooked grin. "So you come back whole this afternoon," he said, his voice warm and steady, "though I know you won't take a scratch to win." She took it with a snort, their fingers brushing for a moment, the touch sending a golden flicker through her runes, a fleeting sign of hidden affection that flared and faded fast.

"Don't need your sappy flowers, gardener," she shot back, twirling the bloom between her fingers before tucking it behind a horn with a quick move. "But I guess it's not bad for a sack of manure like you." Her cosmic sparks glanced at him sidelong, and for a second, the steam seemed to thicken, charging the air with a tension beyond just the heat. "I'm gonna shred that fool in the arena," she said, her voice heavy with a certainty that rumbled like distant thunder, "and when I get back, that full massage you promised better happen, or I'll bury you with him."

He laughed, leaning toward her with a boldness that made her runes flare. "Deal, Kaili," he said, his tone teasing but warm. "Rip some heads off for me, and I'll rub you down 'til those wings outshine your runes." She snorted, adjusting her armor with a clank that rang through the room, the metal gleaming under the light as the air thrummed with the unspoken promise of her victory and something more.

The streets of East Vigil simmered under a blistering midday sun, heat pounding the cobblestones until they shimmered like coals. The Coliseum loomed in the distance, a dark stone hulk vibrating with the far-off blare of horns and roars, a wild pulse echoing through the dust-charged air. The city's bustle swallowed them as they left "The Silent Raven"—vendors shouting deals in hoarse voices, coins clinking between hands, a cart rattling over the stones—and Kaili, back in human form, strode with purpose, her black armor glinting like polished obsidian in the light. The clank of her gear set a steady beat, a war drum against Sebastián's relaxed pace beside her.

"Don't get too messy in the arena," he teased, juggling the ointment jar between his hands with a crooked grin. "Or I'll wash you down again, and I don't think your wings can handle that much love in one day." The sun's heat seared his neck, and the smell of fresh bread from a nearby stall mingled with the sour tang of open drains, a chaotic whiff as familiar as the dungeon itself.

Kaili turned her head, her silver pupils glinting with a mix of mockery and menace. "Try it, and I'll bury you alive, gardener," she growled, her voice sharp as an icy blade. "I'll leave your bones so clean even the dogs won't touch 'em." But her stride lightened a touch, and the warm spark in her eyes betrayed her cool front, an echo of the bath and kiss still lingering between them like an unspoken secret. The Coliseum horn blared again, a deep bellow that thumped in their chests, and she adjusted her sword with a metallic hiss, the sound slicing the air like a vow.

"Rip some heads off for me, huh?" he said, picking up his pace to match hers, his voice thick with earthy humor. "I wanna see you outshine the sun this afternoon."

She snorted, a dry sound that rang off the cobblestones. "I'll shine with that brute's blood, gardener, not your cheap ointments," she shot back, but her gaze softened for a moment, a silver flicker more fondness than scorn. "And when I get back, that massage better be good, or I'll make you shine—in pieces." Her tone was provocative, a purr promising chaos and heat, and Sebastián laughed, the sound swallowed by the growing roar of the crowd as they neared the Coliseum, ready for the bloodbath ahead.