Chapter 25 Steam and Secrets

The scent of warm herbs and clean steam filled the air as the girls settled into their barrels. The fire crackled gently beneath the iron tubs, and the evening breeze danced through the courtyard, just enough to cool their flushed cheeks.

A makeshift wall of wooden panels stood between their side of the bath and the far end, where Kai sat alone in his own barrel. He hadn’t said much since they returned—just nodded and muttered something about the water being “at temperature.”

Revoli, of course, was the first to let the bath soak the weariness from her bones.

“Ahhh… I could live in here,” she sighed, sinking so only her yellow eyes, horns, and pink bob peeked over the rim. Her devil tail bobbed gently behind her, flicking water every so often.

“You already do,” Skye teased, flicking a bit of water her way.

Fara, arms resting on the edge of her tub, gave a small smirk. “At least now you smell less like burnt peaches.”

Their laughter rang through the steam. The pressure of sleepless nights, dungeon dirt, and constant battles faded into soft giggles and glowing skin.

“Fara,” Revoli said suddenly, wide-eyed and sincere, “your body’s kind of amazing.”

Skye dipped lower into the water but nodded. “Seriously. Your… chest. It’s like gravity’s afraid of you.”

Fara raised an eyebrow. “It’s not a contest.”

“Yeah,” Revoli whispered. “But if it was… you’d win.”

The three burst into another fit of laughter, louder this time—unrestrained, full-bodied, honest.

As the sun dipped lower and the firelight painted gold across their shoulders, their joy gave way to a peaceful hush.

“He’s strange, huh?” Skye asked quietly, nodding toward the divider.

“Kai?” Fara tilted her head.

“Yeah. Always flipping between tough and… soft.”

“…sweetheart?” Revoli offered, nudging Skye.

Fara’s gaze turned thoughtful. “He looks like he’s hurting.”

That silenced them.

She stood, water cascading in graceful sheets from her body. No towel. No shame. Just quiet resolve.

“Fara?” Skye whispered. “What are you doing?”

She didn’t answer. She just stepped out and walked toward the divider.

Revoli blinked. “She’s so cool. I’d have tripped over the barrel.”

The silence that followed wasn’t awkward. It felt like the world itself paused to watch.

On the other side, Kai shifted, water sloshing softly.

Then, Fara stepped into his barrel.

His eyes widened. Her presence, bare and confident, stunned him into stillness. The heat in the water couldn’t compare to the heat rising in his chest. But he looked away, fighting it—fighting everything.

He didn’t want her to leave.

But he couldn’t let himself hope. Not fully. Not yet.

He’d spent years being used. Love had become a performance, a duty. Touch had lost its meaning. Affection was a bargaining chip. Rejection came like rain—constant, expected.

But this wasn’t that.

Fara didn’t speak. She moved behind him, arms wrapping around his shoulders, her bare chest pressing into his back. Her warmth was real.

Then she turned him. Slowly. Her hands cradled his face. She kissed him—deep, gentle, sure.

And Kai kissed her back.

When she pulled away, she leaned in close.

“Now you know how I feel about you,” she whispered.

She kissed his cheek once more, stepped out of the tub with grace, and paused. Her form glowed in the firelight—unashamed, unhurried.

Then she walked back around the divider, gave the girls a small smile, and headed inside.

Revoli and Skye stared, stunned.

“…I wanna be her when I grow up,” Revoli said.

Skye didn’t answer.

She just placed her hand over her heart and let the silence speak for her.