"Heal me, Maren," Cora murmured, her eyes glowing and heavy with something Maren didn't want to admit to herself.
Her body was alight, responding to the innate heat that radiated from Cora. Need pooled between her thighs as passion spread across her flesh, hot and intoxicating. That aching sensation pulled at her better senses, whispering wild ideas into her ear.
After the prince dropped the Princesses at their rooms, Leah explained to her that the Forsythian maids had drawn the Princesses a proper royal bath in their wing of the castle, on the prince's orders. Maren hadn't considered Cora at that moment. She was just excited to take a warm bath that wouldn't melt her skin off.
She hadn't considered that thoughtlessness can often lead to fate.
Cora was already there when Maren arrived. She hadn't noticed the passion in Cora's gaze when she noticed her. She hadn't noticed the way Cora watched her as the robe fell from her body, or the way Cora moved as Maren waded into the water.
Perhaps part of her had. But Maren didn't want to admit that. She didn't want to think about actions and consequences.
She just wanted to live in the moment.
"This isn't fair," Maren whispered. She pressed her palms against Cora's hipbone in an attempt to create some distance. "You always get your way."
But Cora only pushed closer.
"What do I need to do?" She asked, her tone desperate. "What do I need to do to make this feeling go away?"
Cora's eyes were alight, gleaming a ruby hue, laced with need. Maren's magic swayed within her, begging Maren to allow herself to answer Cora's call, but she couldn't. She'd promised herself she wouldn't let Cora have her way with her. Not without something in return. Something that could justify Maren giving in to Cora so easily.
She knew clearly what she wanted in that moment; the soft plush of Cora's mouth on hers, writhing flesh and the cold edge of the tub digging into her back.
But she knew she had to stick to her resolve.
Maren raised her arms to Cora's shoulders, brushing her skin along Cora's searing flesh. She intertwined her fingers through wet locks of red. Maren closed her eyes and reached inside herself, searching for that current that ran between the waves of her subconscious. She inhaled and exhaled, and when she opened her eyes, they gleamed with sapphire magic.
"Mēdere." Maren whispered, locking herself within Cora's gaze.
Cora stared down at her, and Maren noted the craven desperation behind her eyes.
This is what her magic does to her, she thought, working her own magic against Cora's. How could I possibly allow anything to happen when she's like this? When she's in pain and quite literally begging me to heal her.
Maren and Cora gazed at each other, locked in a silent battle between Cora's hazed desire and Maren's promise to herself.
Maren watched as the light behind Cora's eyes began to bloom. She blinked a few times, her chest rising and falling against Maren's. And with every breath, Maren could feel the heat of Cora's magic begin to calm.
Soon, Cora regained her better senses. She blinked and Maren thought she could instantly see the turmoil within her. Cora pulled away from Maren, her face turning a bright shade of crimson. She turned away, slipping beneath the water, and huddling close to the opposite corner of the bath.
"I'm sorry."
Maren heard Cora say across the water, low, pained and regretful.
She knew this was the way Cora was. She knew Cora was tearing herself apart, resenting her actions. Cora would never stop and consider how Maren felt. Never ask Maren if that was too much.
Until Cora changed, things would always be the same.
"It's okay," Maren replied, talking directly to Cora, who had her back turned. "I know I said it earlier, but I want to say it again. We are going to be in each other's lives for a long time. All the…" She hesitated but continued, "...complications between us need to melt away. I want to live with someone I can talk to."
Maren paused, waiting to see if Cora would respond. She watched Cora — her words hanging in the air between them. Cora didn't move a muscle. She was still as a board, crouched in the water. Arms wrapped around herself; Maren could see Cora's fingers digging into the thin flesh along her toned arms.
Cora didn't so much as acknowledge her words.
Maren bit her lip in frustration. She thought she should know this feeling, but it wasn't the same. It wasn't just frustration that pulled her apart. The passion inside her had cooled, but what was left behind was more bittersweet than anger.
She was disappointed.
She wanted more and was annoyed with Cora for not being more emotionally evolved than she was, yet still ruefully unable to be fully angry with her. Maren understood Cora, and she hated herself for it. She wanted to let herself be angry, but she couldn't.
And because of that, all that was left was a barren pit — a sensation close to despair, but not similar enough to be her true feelings.
At the core of it all, she felt used.
She still wanted to help Cora, she just wished she could push those feelings away.
Maren clenched her fists, moving through the tension, and out of the tub. She quickly dried herself, and slipped into a white robe.
The sound of wet footsteps echoed through the bath as she walked at the most normal pace she could manage. She reached for the doorknob and paused.
She wanted Cora to respond to her.
To say anything at all.
But Cora just remained the same.
Maren squeezed her eyes shut, pushing her pride to the side, parting her lips.
"I don't mind healing you, Cora."
Without looking over, Maren swore she could feel Cora tense, but she kept on.
"All I want in return is for us to be honest about things. I want to know what you're thinking…what you're feeling. And…I want to tell you how I feel as well."
Maren swallowed, opening her eyes again, staring at her hand gripping the doorknob.
Again — no response.
"Just think about it," she said. "Please."