Love's Unexpected Awakening Elowen's Choice novel Chapter 34

Chapter 33 Awakening

Chapter 34 The Bath

Chapter 34 The Bath

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Cassian replied, unhurried, “Didn’t you just say that Bran was the one who secretly lifted my robe? It seems he harbors inappropriate thoughts. No way I’m letting him help with the bath. Guess it’ll be just you. Sorry to make you handle it alone.”

Elowen froze. I brought this upon myself. I have no one to blame.

“Go on,” Cassian urged gently, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Tell Bran to prepare hot water.”

Elowen murmured a quiet assent and walked out slowly.

Bran had been waiting just outside. He hurried forward at the sight of her. “Your Grace, is the washing done? I’ll fetch the basin-

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Elowen stopped him. “Prepare some hot water, please. Cassian’s awake.”

Bran stared, then his face broke into a wide, disbelieving grin. “Awake?”

Elowen nodded. “He says he wants a bath.”

“Wonderful! Wonderful!” Overjoyed, Bran rushed off to carry out the order.

Soon, he returned with servants hauling bucket after bucket of steaming water.

They poured it into the large oak tub in the adjoining bathing chamber. Beaming, Bran darted to the bedside to speak with Cassian.

Elowen sat to the side, idly watching the commotion, when she heard Cassian’s voice call, “My love.”

It took her a moment to register.

Then came the sound of wooden wheels rolling across the floor. Someone crooked a finger and rapped it, not too gently, on the table beside her.

Elowen finally looked up. “…My lord? Is something wrong?”

Cassian sat in a wheelchair, his gaze level with hers. “I called for you. You didn’t hear.”

Belatedly, Elowen realized those calls of “my love” had been for her.

“It’s my first time being called that by someone else. I’m not used to it yet. My apologies.”

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12:40 Thu, Feb 12

Chapter 34 The Bath

She meant it sincerely, which made Cassian’s slight frown all the more puzzling.

“By someone else,” he repeated, the words deliberate and slow.

“Ah…”

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Elowen began to explain, but Cassian let out a soft, humorless laugh. His deep eyes were unreadable.

The sound sent a shiver down Elowen’s spine. She lowered her gaze to the wheelchair beneath him.

In her past life, Cassian had woken years later. When she’d seen him, he was in a wheelchair, his face haggard with pain.

Now, he had awoken much earlier.

But why was he still confined to a chair?

“Let’s go,” Cassian said.

Bran pushed the wheelchair toward the bathing chamber.

Elowen twisted her fingers together, then followed.

The bath chamber was a small, square space. A large wooden tub stood in the center, now filled with steaming water that misted the air.

A folding screen partitioned the room, providing a place to hang clothes and a modicum of privacy.

Bran wheeled Cassian right up to the tub before bowing and leaving.

Elowen entered a beat later. Against the screen, she saw the clear silhouette of a man—tall, straight-backed, the line of his shoulders and neck speaking of lean strength.

After a moment, Cassian turned his head.

Even through the screen, his gaze felt tangible, settling heavily on Elowen.

The pressure was immediate.

“Not coming over?” Cassian asked.

“C-coming…” Heart fluttering, Elowen steeled herself and walked around the screen.

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Chapter 34 The Bath

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“Shall we start with the clothes?” Cassian’s voice was low, slightly hoarse, the words seeming to curl directly into her ear.

A tingle ran down her spine. Her heart skipped a beat.

Truth was, this was Elowen’s first time undressing a man.

In her past life, married to Alaric, she had suffered years of cold neglect.

Once, Alaric had come home unusually drunk.

The Queen had been planning to take a second wife for him, a concubine. Elowen, desperate, had decided her only chance was to truly become his wife-to share his bed, hopefully bear his child.

Her thinking had been simple then-a child might bind his heart to her, make her life more bearable.

And that night, he was drunk.

She had thought it the perfect opportunity.

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