[POV: Solenne]
"Ruvan," she called quietly.
Her voice was foreign, and the feeling of her vocal chords thrumming in her throat was strange—not to mention the underlying fear that her curse might activate when she spoke—but the look on his face when she said his name made it all worth it.
His features softened, and his lips curved upward in some semblance of a smile. He seemed… content.
Ruvan, with this uncharacteristically serene and tender expression, lifted Solenne with ease and helped her settle in the bath. He then removed his clothes and joined her, sitting across from her while she sat between his legs.
The Alpha grabbed a bar of soap and a cloth from the table beside the basin, then leaned toward Solenne. He used his hand to scoop water onto her and gently passed the cloth over her skin.
Solenne reached for the cloth, 'I can wash myself.'
"I know you can," he quickly moved it out of her reach, "but I want to take care of you."
