Her fingers brushed against her neck, the faint mark left there glowed subtly beneath her skin, only visible for a heartbeat before it faded again. Xian Yu's healing might have restored her body, but that mark wasn't physical. It was something deeper. A residue of divinity. A stain that wouldn't wash off.
But she forced herself to exhale, forcing the anxiety away.
"Later," she muttered under her breath. "I'll deal with it later."
When she stepped out of the bath, her damp hair clung to her shoulders, glistening in the light like strands of night silk. She tied it loosely with a black ribbon, threw on her casual military-style shirt and fitted pants, and headed back to the main room.
As soon as she opened the door, a familiar smell greeted her: savory broth simmering with herbs, grilled bread, and the faint sweetness of stewed fruit. The aroma wrapped around her senses like a comforting blanket.
She blinked once, surprised, then smiled faintly.
"Looks like they beat me to it."
