They washed quickly after that, trading light conversation about the day ahead while being careful not to linger too long, both of them aware there were people waiting on them elsewhere in the palace.
By the time they finally climbed out and dried off properly, the mood between them had shifted from playful back toward something more focused, both minds beginning to turn toward the meeting with the werewolves and whatever waited for all of them beyond it.
Neil dressed in his usual gear afterward, the familiar black material of his suit settling comfortably against his skin while NEMO ran a quick internal check through all its systems in the background, and Cynthia changed into a set of formal robes that marked her clearly as the ruling queen of her kingdom rather than the woman who had spent the entire night wrapped around him.
