The next two days flew by, and now finally it was the day of the ball. My new clothes arrived via Oscar, who presented them to me with a wide smile. “Your new garments, my lord!”

It was a relief to have them after wearing borrowed clothes from Morrow of all people for the past two days. The younger prince had sent me a few things along with a cheeky note. Though the younger prince wasn’t as broad in the shoulders as Bane, his clothes were still just a touch saggy on my wiry frame.

I was happy to finally have my own clothing, and even more than that, to have my notebooks and art supplies. Now, at least, I finally had what made me happiest in this world. I didn’t need to worry about whether Prince Bane despised me or not. I didn’t even need to leave my room—which, oddly enough, was beginning to grow on me. But then, I’d always wanted a place to hide away on my family’s estate. And now I could do that to my heart’s content with no one to bother me—except for Oscar occasionally.

Speaking of which, I could already hear the boy’s footsteps on the stairs. There wasn’t exactly sound protection up here—which meant I could hear everything, and since there was only one person who ever ventured up here, I always knew who it was.

A few seconds later, there was a fervent knock on the door. “Come in,” I called.

The door creaked open, and Oscar gasped. “What are you doing? You need to get ready!”

I glanced down at the old shirt I was wearing decorated with splotches of paint. I’d set up the easel in the middle of the room and was in the middle of my latest piece—a rendition of the very tower I was living in now. The colors were muted, giving the picture a dark and moody, almost haunting quality.

It encapsulated my mood very well. I’d been going through a range of emotions the past few days, though I always seemed to come back to something between vexation and sorrow. Maybe it was the newness of this situation, the fact that I still felt like an outsider, but I couldn’t seem to find the contentment I wanted—and desperately needed.

“What time is it?” I asked wearily. I’d been sleeping poorly for a multitude of reasons, but throwing myself into projects helped a little.

Oscar groaned. “The ball will start soon!” He grabbed my arm and started dragging me out. “Come, let’s go to the bathing room. There’s no way I’ll be able to carry a tub all the way up here on my own.”

“Nor should you try,” I said dryly. I cast one last longing look at the unfinished painting as he pulled me away, all the way back down the stairs to the lowest level of the palace where there was a sauna room containing a pool of steaming water. The room itself was filled with steam, making it almost impossible to see anything on the other side of the room beyond the faintest shapes.

To be honest, I was in awe. I’d never seen anything like it. “How do they keep it heated?” I asked Oscar.

“There’s a hot spring that’s piped directly in here,” Oscar explained. “I don’t know how it’s done.”

I made a quick mental note to find someone who could explain the mechanism to me later. I’d love to know how it was done—and if it could be applied to other devices.

“Thank you,” I told Oscar.

“I’ll come back down to collect you in ten minutes to get ready,” Oscar said before disappearing into the steam.

I swiftly shed my clothes before stepping into the water. It was pleasantly hot, soothing the minor aches of the day—and in truth, the past few days, because I hadn’t bathed in three. Like Oscar said, no one could carry a tub up to my rooms in the tower.

But knowing this room was here, I would make a point to come down more often. I hadn’t realized how dirty I was starting to get.

I washed the paint and grime off before submerging completely in the water for a moment to wet my hair.

Not ready to get out just yet, I walked across the water, letting my hands play on the surface as the steam enveloped me. As I approached the opposite end of the pool, I noticed the outline of something that gradually took the shape of a man.

And before I had a chance to wonder who it might be, the steam cleared and I realized with a jolt of surprise that it was Bane!

He was somewhat reclined, his head leaning back against the edge of the pool, his eyes closed while he lounged. I couldn’t believe he was right here in front of me—and naked. Though the steam obscured most of him, his broad shoulders and chest were damp and beautifully on display before my curious eyes.

Realizing I was ogling him, I quickly jerked back, making a splash that had Bane lifting his head a second later, instantly alert.

His eyes narrowed as he looked at me. “What the hell are you doing in here?”

It occurred to me then that I hadn’t seen the prince since I witnessed him in a passionate embrace with another man. Seeing him now felt strange. “I, um, was brought here.” It was on the tip of my tongue to say I wouldn’t have come if I’d known he was here, but I wasn’t even certain how true that was.

Did I want to avoid Bane? Maybe. Or maybe not.

An annoyed look flashed across his face as he pushed away from the wall. It lifted his body out of the water a bit more and I caught sight of his muscled abs, a well-defined six pack and the V of his hips that led down to…

Stop it. Don’t think about that! I quickly turned, putting my back to the prince. I could feel my entire body heating up, and I wasn’t so naïve as to think it had anything at all to do with the steaming water.

“I was just preparing for the ball,” I said, proud that my voice didn’t betray my rattled nerves.

A moment later I heard a splash as Bane climbed out of the water. “Fine,” the prince said. “Do not be late.”

I took a deep, bracing breath and when I finally turned around again, the prince was gone.

I let out the breath and pressed my hand against my pulse, feeling it racing far too fast. “I need to calm down,” I whispered. I couldn’t be reacting to the prince like this—no matter how hot or wet he was.

Oscar appeared again just as I was climbing out of the pool. “Did you have a nice bath?”

The prince’s face flashed in my mind and I quickly pushed it aside. I nodded, saying nothing else.

Oscar herded me back up to my room and assisted me with the new clothes until I was ready for the ball in record time. “My hair’s a tad damp,” I said, but Oscar was already shooing me out.

“We have no time left! We must meet the prince.”

I swallowed back a retort and followed him quietly down the stairs and through the wing until I was led into a receiving room where Bane was already waiting.

Naturally, he looked regal, perfectly dressed in an impeccable suit. His jacket was the same cut as mine, but broader to fit his muscular physique. As I took him in, I couldn’t stop myself from remembering how he had looked with nothing on, the beauty of his chest and abs…

I shook off the thought, trying to dispel the image. It was going to be a long evening if I was continuously plagued with thoughts of Prince Bane’s naked form.

The prince was pouring himself a drink, and to my surprise, he poured a second one, which he held out to me. “Thank you,” I said, gratefully taking it and gulping it down in the hopes it would ease my nerves. The light burn of the alcohol was enough to give me a little courage, and when I looked up again, it was easier to meet the prince’s eye.

Surprising me again, Bane offered his arm, and I took it, feeling awkward as he stared down his nose at me. “Are you ready to make your societal debut as my consort?”

Was I ready? No, but I doubted I ever would be. Considering how this marriage had started, there were many things I wasn’t prepared for, but I had stepped into this willingly to save Isolde, and I was committed to making it work now.

So I gulped in a deep breath and turned to face the doors. “As I’ll ever be.”