I perch on the edge of the bath, watching her, patches of pinkened skin peeking through where the bubbles separate on the surface of the water. Perspiration dots across her forehead and a thin tendril of hair sticks to her clammy skin.
Reaching forward, I slide it off her face, watching as the water takes it.
“What’s the plan?” She asks after a few minutes of silence.
“The plan?”
“For the Syndicate? How do you exactly plan to keep them away from the city?”
“Don’t worry about that, little bird,” I say to her, standing from the tub and heading for the door.
“Is this how it will always be?”
I stop in the threshold, looking over my shoulder, seeing her leaning out the bath, hands curled over the rim, watching me with narrowed eyes.
“What do you mean?”
“Keeping me at arms lengths? Married to you but not involved in your life? Do you expect a dutiful little wife?”
My lips kick up into a smile, “You are a lot of things, little bird, but a dutiful little wife is not going to be one of them.”
She stands from the water, steam rising from her body and bubbles clinging to her skin, sliding over the smooth surface. Her eyes are narrowed on me.
“Then what will I be? If I am kept in the dark, what good am I to you?”
“You are not a pawn anymore.”
“No, I want to be a player. I want to know what your plan is. I want to help.”
“And I’d rather keep you here where I know you’ll be safe.”
“And what about you? You think I’m going to be happy day in day out, knowing something could happen to you?”
My chest twinges, I do understand but memories of her missing, away from me, the images and videos of her, beaten and tortured. It’s the very reason I’d rather her stay away from this. Whilst the Syndicate wanted her dead because of Valentine, I cannot be sure they would not continue to make attempts now that he is gone.
I’m not suggesting her stay away forever, I knew a life like that would never satisfy a woman like Wren, but for now, I wanted her to be safe.
“I’ve lost you once,” I sigh, “I cannot lose you again.”
Her eyes soften as she climbs from the bath, wrapping her beautiful body in a white towel. She walks towards me, dripping water onto the floor before her arms wrap around my neck and she presses her lips to the centre of my throat, forcing my chin up.
“They would have to rip me from you,” she whispers. “And I’d rather die than be away from you for even a moment.”