Ivar's Escape (Assassins of Gravas #2) - N.J. Walters Page 0,20

stirring for the first time in his memory. Good thing his lower half was hidden in the depths of the hot spring.

Best not to show an erection around a woman with a pair of shears.

With swift precision, she trimmed the excess hair from his face, leaving only a short, even layer. “That looks pretty good. You’ll blend better in a crowd.”

“Are we going somewhere?” He leaned his arms out along the edge of the hot spring. The move served two purposes. It made him seem relaxed, but in reality, it would allow him to push himself up in a hurry if he needed to defend himself.

“Eventually.” She tossed the scissors aside and gathered the pile of hair. After getting to her feet, she moved off to a far corner.

“Where are you doing?”

“Burying this. Best not to let it fall in the spring just in case it empties close to town.” Going to her knees, she grabbed a rock and began to dig. Her reasoning impressed him. She impressed him. Dangerous and smart—a winning combination.

Since the bar and bottle of nourishment were within reach, he consumed both. It went against everything he did know about himself to allow her to work while he lounged in the water, but offering to help would only likely annoy her.

Independence was stamped all over her.

And while that was fine and good, no one stood alone, or should have to. There was strength in numbers.

Why do I think that?

He chewed the final piece of the bar. There wasn’t much taste, but it was nutritionally dense, giving his body what it was starved for.

He felt not quite himself because he had no idea who he was, but better than he had since gaining consciousness. He flexed one arm and then the other. Then did the same with his legs. There was no denying he was weak, but that would change.

He had a score to settle.

“You planning on staying in there all day?” Wiping her hands, she strolled over to the edge of the water.

“Maybe.” He’d never take being clean for granted again. For good measure, he took the bar of soap and cloth and scrubbed every inch of himself, ignoring his ribs when they protested.

Delphi tilted her head back, a sunbeam catching her face, illuminating her beauty. She looked like a goddess, beautiful yet primal. “We both need to eat and get some sleep.”

She’d already done so much for him, he hated to ask for more. “Do you have clothes?” His were threadbare and filthy, not fit to put back on. He’d rather be naked.

She lowered her head and went back to her pack, rummaging around before pulling out a small bundle. “Here.” She tossed it down beside him. “I’m going to take a look outside.”

He clamped his teeth together and tightened his jaw to keep from calling out to her as she disappeared through the opening and headed toward the main section of the cave.

Alone, the walls seemed to close in on him. He placed his hands on the edge of the pool and breathed deeply until the panic subsided. It never fully disappeared. She was his only link to his identity, might be the only key to his past.

His shoulders and biceps bunched, the muscles burning as he pulled himself out of the hot mineral waters. A sunbeam drew him, his feet shuffling forward until the warm rays fell on him. The light was as healing as the hot springs, seeping into his skin, into his very soul.

****

Delphi ducked outside long enough to check their trail. She’d led them here in a roundabout way, one that would leave a less visible track. All she could do was prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

In a perfect world, she’d have run for the docking bay, jumped in her ship, and blasted her way off Tortuga. But there was no way she’d have been able to sneak Ivar past the guards. There were just too many of them there, security far too tight.

They needed to hide until help arrived or Balthazar assumed Ivar had somehow escaped.

The back of her neck itched, her skin crawling at the idea of sitting here like a lamb awaiting slaughter, but it was their only option.

Not wanting to be away from Ivar for long, she hurried back into the cave and made her way to the hot spring area. She was brought up short by the sight before her. Her mouth went bone-dry, and all she could do was stare.

Fully