"Should we clean her up first? She's been sweating for hours. She might feel better if we~" Adrian asked.
"No," Dante answered firmly. "Moving her too much right now could trigger the transformation early. We need to let her body stabilize. Being comfortable can wait."
Lilian wanted to protest that she wanted to be clean, wanted to wash away the sweat and the feeling of so many hands on her body, wanted fresh clothes that weren't damp. But her voice wouldn't work, and sleep was already dragging her under.
——
She woke up feeling something cool and damp against her skin. For a moment, she panicked, thinking the fever was back and the ice compresses were being pressed against her again. But this felt different, more gentle and more careful.
Lilian forced her eyes open and saw Adrian sitting by the bed with a bowl of warm water and a cloth in his hand. He was gently washing her face.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up. You've been asleep for about three hours. I figured you'd feel a lot better if we cleaned you up a little before the transformation begins," he said quietly when noticed her watching.
Lilian couldn't answer, but her throat felt burn. Only a raspy sound came out.
"Don't try to talk," Adrian advised. "Your throat needs a break. Here~" He brought a straw to her lips. "Take small sips. It's water."
The water was cool and soothing, and honestly the best thing she had ever tasted. She managed a few small sips before her throat hurt too much to continue.
"Good," Adrian said, putting the glass aside. "Dante says you can have more in a few minutes. We need to rehydrate you slowly, or you'll just throw it up."
He returned to washing her face with the warm cloth, wiping away the dried sweat and salt from her skin. The sensation was pleasant, felt wonderful after hours of being soaked in her own sweat.
"We're going to give you a proper bath now," he continued softly, his voice was quiet and soothing. "I promise it's nothing like that ice water from earlier. Just warm water to get you clean and comfortable. Is that okay?"
Lilian nodded faintly. The thought of being clean again sounded like heaven.
"Good. Dante's preparing the bathroom ready, and Lucien went to get pajamas for you," he said with a smile. "I have to say, you've been really patient about all of this. Most newborns are much more difficult about people touching them during the fever."
Most newborns. The way he said it so casually reminded her that this was just a normal thing for them. They had done this plenty of times, taking care of sick humans while they turned.
She was just the latest in a long line. It was a little weird, but also comforting. At least they knew what they were doing.
Adrian finished washing her face and moved to her arms, carefully cleaning each one with the warm cloth. His touch was gentle, like a nurse tending to a patient.
Lilian tried not to think about how helpless she felt, or how much dependent she was on them for everything right now.
"The bath is ready," Dante's voice came from the bathroom.
Adrian set the cloth and the basin aside. "Do you think you can stand, or should I just carry you?"
Lilian tried to push herself up, but the room immediately started spinning, and her arms shaking with the effort. She had lost so much strength during the fever.
"I'll carry you," he said, sliding his arms under her back and knees, lifting her as easily as ever.
The bathroom had been completely cleaned and restored since the frantic hours of fever care. The tub was now filled with warm water with the temperature that was perfect for a relaxing bath. Clean towels rested on heated racks.
Everything was peaceful and orderly, no sign on how much drama had happened there just hours ago.
"We're going to help you wash. I know it's awkward, but you're too weak to do it yourself safely. We'll keep it quick," Dante said plainly.
Lilian just nodded her understanding. After everything they had already done, changing her underwear and pressing compress packs to her most private spots, seeing her essentially naked for hours, a bath seemed insignificant by comparison.
Adrian helped her sit on the edge of the tub while Dante removed the towels she was wrapped in. She was still wearing the last pair of dry underwear they had put on her, but that came off too, leaving her completely naked.
Any embarrassment she had was dulled by exhaustion and the promise of finally being clean.
They helped her into the tub together, supporting her carefully as she eased into the warm water. The sensation was incredible in the best way. The warmth seeped into her aching muscles, loosening tension that had been locked up in her body since the fever began.
Lilian closed her eyes and let herself float in the comfort of it, not caring that two vampires were watching over her, preparing to was her like a child.
"I'll handle her hair. You take the rest?" Adrian said.
"Got it," Dante agreed.
Adrian positioned himself at the head of the tub and gently tilted Lilian's head back to get her hair wet. He was so careful as he worked shampoo through the tangled strands, massaging her scalp in a way that felt like a therapy.
At the same time, Dante started washing her body with a soft cloth and mild soap. His touch remained no different than it had been during all the fever care, cleaning her arms and shoulders, her chest, keeping his eyes on what his was doing rather than her body.
"Lift your arm," he directed, and she obeyed, letting him wash her underarms and sides.
He continued to her stomachs, then her legs, starting at her feet and working up to her thighs. When he reached the most intimate areas, he simply handed her the cloth instead.
"Can you manage this part yourself?" he asked, looking her in the eye. "Or do you need me to do it?"
Lilian took the cloth with unsteady hands. She could barely hold it, but she was grateful for the choice. While she fumbled through washing her private spots, Dante turned away to drain and refill the tub with fresh water for rinsing.
Adrian kept working on her hair, applying conditioner now. "You have beautiful hair," he commented absently. "The color is great, almost looks auburn in this light. It'll look even better after the transformation. Vampire features tend to become sharpen and more intense."
Lilian hadn't thought about how she would look as a vampire. Would her face change so much that the person she had been would disappear completely?
The rinsing process didn't take long. Dante used a handheld showerhead to spray away the soap while Adrian rinsed the conditioner from her hair. When they were done, they helped her stand on trembling legs and wrapped her immediately in warm towels.
"Much better," Adrian said with satisfaction. "Now let's get you into some proper clothes."