Read Online Rise of the Phoenix (Return To Avalore #2) by Elianne Adams - Free Book Online Page A

“I’m going to bathe and take care of my own needs.” She looked at him over her shoulder as she stepped out the cave, adding an extra little sway to her hip as she went.
    His deep, male laughter followed her all the way to the hot pool, making her cheeks burn. What, in Goddess’s name, had she gotten herself into?

Chapter 8
    Brienne’s lack of skill hadn’t been questioned since childhood. Part of her wanted to be annoyed with him for pointing out her inadequacies, but he was right. She should have just asked. It was no secret that she was no master healer. She had been too spirited as a child to sit still during her lessons long enough to gain any real healing talent, but she had learned the basics. After Queen Angelique’s death, she had grown up and developed the necessary survival skills of their people. It would have been foolish not to.
    If she were being truthful, her annoyance wasn’t with the fact that he’d joked about her lack of knowledge, but the fact that she’d allowed him to see it at all. He had already decided he didn’t want to be mated; he didn’t need to see all her shortcomings to solidify his decision.
    All she wanted to do was help heal him and get him back to Avalore so they could part ways and she could go back to her mission, anything more than that would only make it harder when it came time for her to go.
    Steam rose in fine wisps from the water’s surface, tempting Brienne to jump in, but she held herself back. She examined every depression and crevice in the small chamber for anything amiss. Evan said it was safe, but knowing what creatures dwelled in these caves, she wasn’t taking any chances. Anything could have crawled in since their arrival.
    Sitting at the basin’s edge, she dipped her hand in the hot water, stifling a moan. She couldn’t remember the last time she had bathed in hot water, much less with soap and shampoo. Of course, the shampoo was Evan’s and she wouldn’t be able to get away from his scent, but it was a small price to pay for clean hair. Some Erritrol packs had luxuries at their disposal, but hers did not. They had little to trade and when they did, they always traded for things that would help their cause. Creature comforts just didn’t rank high enough on the list.
    Looking over her shoulder, she hesitated only a moment before dragging her ratty dark green shirt up and off, wrinkling her nose at the stench of the fabric. The Coalition pants she had pilfered had seen better days as well, but it wasn’t like there were shops in the Dark Lands for her to buy anything new. She left her filthy clothes in a neat pile near the basin. Just the thought of putting them back on after she finished washing had her grimacing. Maybe after she had bathed she’d launder them in the hot basin. It would mean wearing them while they dried, but the main cavern was warm enough.
    She immersed herself slowly, savoring the heated bliss caressing her skin. Now that she knew of this cave, perhaps Evan wouldn’t mind if she visited it—
    Shaking her head, she sank the rest of the way. What? Was she thinking to come here and see Evan on occasion? It was obvious he had used this cave before, and in all likelihood would do so again. Nothing good would come of occasional chance meetings, and she couldn’t afford to be distracted.
    Arms open wide, she grazed the edges of the basin with her fingertips. Worn smooth from years of water flowing against it, the stone retained the heat of the hot spring. Even stretched out as far as she could, her toes didn’t reach the end. Not that she was very tall, but Evan would be able to do the same and not come close either. A picture of Evan floating in the luxurious water flashed in her mind. Groaning, she forced him from her mind. Not everything revolved around that man, yet he kept creeping into her thoughts. The long strands of her hair floated like a halo around her head until she ducked beneath the surface, eager to wash it