Supreme Hunter of Beautiful Souls-Chapter 407: Making up for Time Off

Kael continued walking without quickening his pace.

The inner corridor was silent at that hour, illuminated by the golden light of the late afternoon that streamed through the tall windows. The castle seemed… restrained, as if it too were exhausted after a whole day of tension, impact, and relearning.

Exelia recognized the path.

"...My room," she murmured, when the double doors appeared ahead.

Kael nodded.

"Where else would you rest?"

He pushed the door open with his foot and entered without difficulty, still carrying it as if it weighed absolutely nothing. The room was exactly as always: too organized for someone who lived in war, too simple for someone with so much power. Light curtains swayed gently in the breeze, and the familiar scent of wood, clean metal, and dried herbs filled the air.

Kael walked to the bed and carefully placed her on it, only then letting her go.

Exelia took a deep breath.

Her legs were still weak, but the firm mattress helped.

"...You can go now," she said, without looking directly at him.

Kael didn't move.

"No."

She looked up immediately.

"Kael."

"I know what you're going to say," he replied, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. "That you're capable, that you don't need anyone, that you've rested enough."

"All that's true."

"It's not," he said calmly. "And you know it."

Exelia closed her mouth for a moment.

"I didn't ask you to stay."

Kael moved away from the wall and took two steps toward her.

"I'm not here because you asked," he said, in a tone too calm to argue. "I'm here because I was gone for a year and three months... and now I'm not going to leave at the first sign of discomfort."

She looked away.

"That's unfair." "Maybe," he admitted. "But it's honest."

Silence.

Exelia took a deep breath, supporting herself with her hands beside her body on the bed.

"...Are you just going to...stand there staring at me?" she asked, trying to regain some control.

"No," Kael replied.

He moved closer.

Exelia felt the warning too late.

"Kael, wait—"

He knelt in front of her and began to unfasten the clasps of the light armor she still wore beneath her tattered arena cloak.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening, her face turning red in seconds.

"Helping you," he replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"HELPING DOESN'T INVOLVE—THIS!"

She tried to hold his hand.

His arm didn't respond with the strength she wanted.

Kael stopped immediately.

He looked at her.

"Exelia," he said, serious now. "If you tell me to stop, I'll stop. Now."

She swallowed hard.

Her heart was beating too fast, but not from fear. It was something else. Something uncomfortable because she was…being cared for too much.

"...I'm not hurt," she murmured.

"I know," he replied. "You're exhausted."

He carefully untied the straps of her armor again, avoiding any sudden movements. The pieces of light metal were removed one by one, placed neatly beside the bed.

Exelia was as rigid as a statue.

"You have no idea how embarrassing this is," she grumbled.

Kael gave a half-smile.

"I do. And you deserve it anyway."

"I don't deserve this."

"Yes, you do," he said simply. "You held up an entire kingdom on your own."

He carefully pulled the damaged cloak from her shoulders.

Exelia took a deep breath.

"Kael…," her voice came out lower. "What exactly do you think you're doing?"

He looked up at her.

There was no provocation there. No malice.

Just decisiveness.

"I'm going to give you a decent bath," he replied. "A good bath. No fighting, no aura, no you pretending to be okay when you're not."

She opened her mouth.

She closed it.

"This… this is absurd."

"Maybe."

"Extremely inappropriate."

"Probably."

"And completely unnecessary."

Kael tilted his head slightly.

"You tried to kill someone who just woke up from a coma. I think we've lost the right to discuss 'appropriateness' today."

She let out an indignant sound.

"This was different!"

"It was emotional," he agreed. "And that doesn't make you any less human."

He stood up and extended his hand to her.

"Come."

Exelia stared at his hand for long seconds.

"...If you tell anyone—"

"I won't."

"If anyone asks—"

"I'll deny everything."

"And if I hit you afterwards—"

"I accept it."

She sighed defeatedly.

She took his hand.

As she stood up, her body gave way a little more than she expected. Kael immediately caught her, firmly, preventing any fall.

"See?" he murmured.

"Shut up," she replied, but without real force.

He slowly guided her toward the adjoining bathroom, large and simple, with a light stone bathtub already enchanted to heat the water.

Exelia looked away, her face still flushed.

"...You're impossible."

Kael turned on the arcane tap, letting the water begin to run.

"And you're getting too quiet."

"Don't get used to it."

"I don't intend to."

But as the water filled the tub and the steam began to rise slowly, Kael remained there.

The steam began to fill the bathroom slowly, rising from the hot water in gentle spirals that blurred the edges of the world. The light streaming through the tall window became diffused, golden, transforming the atmosphere into something silent and suspended in time.

Exelia sat on the edge of the tub.

Still tense.

Still trying to maintain some dignity. Kael knelt in front of her, testing the water's temperature with his hand before anything else. The gesture was automatic, careful—the kind of attentiveness that didn't need to be announced.

"Is it too hot?" he asked.

She shook her head, avoiding his gaze.

"It's… fine."

There was a brief silence before Kael helped her into the tub. He held her arms gently, guiding her slowly into the water. As she settled, the warmth enveloped her entire body, eliciting a low, involuntary sigh.

"...Damn," she murmured. "I really needed this."

Kael smiled slightly.

He took a clean cloth, dipped it in the water, and wrung it out slowly before touching her shoulders. The first contact made Exelia shudder—not from discomfort, but from the difference between the warmth of the water and his touch.

"Relax," he said softly. "I'm not going to break you in the shower either."

"You never miss a chance, do you?" she grumbled, but her tone was no longer venomous.

Kael began with her shoulders.

Slow, steady movements. There was no rush. He carefully wiped away the arcane dust and sweat, as if each gesture were a silent apology for everything he hadn't said before.

Exelia closed her eyes.

Her body, finally secure, began to yield.

Her breathing slowed little by little, her shoulders no longer so rigid under his hands. The aura, which had vibrated like an unsheathed blade all day, now rested—low, tranquil.

"You always carry everything alone," Kael said suddenly, without stopping the movement. "Even when you shouldn't."

She opened her eyes for a moment.

"Someone needed to."

"I know." He gently wiped her arms with the cloth. "But I'm here now."

Exelia swallowed hard.

"You say that as if it were simple."

Kael paused for a second.

He rested his hands on the edge of the tub and leaned a little closer, the steam enveloping them both.

"It's not simple," he said. "But it's true."

She finally looked at him.

Her eyes were tired, but alive. There was something there—not anger, not fear—just an old weariness that had now found a place to rest.

"I was so full of hatred…" she confessed softly. "Because it was easier than admitting I was afraid."

Kael raised his hand and brushed a strand of wet hair from her face.

"I know."

He went back to washing her arms, then her hands, her fingers still marked from hours of wielding a sword. When she reached his back, Exelia hesitated for a second… and then leaned forward slightly, offering access without saying a word.

The gesture said it all.

Kael was even more careful.

"You don't need to be strong now," he murmured.

She laughed softly.

"This is new."

"Get used to it," he replied. "I've been gone too long."

When he finished, Kael rinsed the cloth and set it aside. For a moment, he just watched Exelia submerged up to her shoulders, the steam casting soft shadows on her face.

She seemed… at peace.

"Kael…," she called softly.

"Hmm?"

"Stop pretending. Just attack me already."

"What are you—"

She pulled him into a lascivious kiss.

In a swift movement, Kael grabbed Exelia's nape, pulling her even closer. The kiss was immediate, voracious, with the same intensity as the blade she wielded. She returned the kiss with the same force, her fingers intertwining in his hair.

Kael lifted her easily, stepping out of the bathtub. Her wet clothes clung to her body, accentuating every muscle. He pressed her against the cold wall, her legs automatically wrapping around his waist. Their warm breath mingled, the heat intensifying.

With one hand, Kael lowered Exelia's shoulder, exposing her cleavage. He placed frenzied kisses on her, sucking and biting his way to her breast. Pain mingled with pleasure, causing her to arch her back.

"Fuck," Exelia murmured, her voice broken. "That's all I wanted today…"

Kael smiled against her skin, their auras throbbing in unison. With one movement, he lifted her, guiding her to the bedroom. The bed served as a resting place for both of them, their clothes becoming obstacles to be removed.

Exelia kissed him hungrily, her nails digging into Kael's back. He responded with the same desperation, his hands tracing her with haste. Their bodies joined in a frenetic rhythm, Kael's thrusts causing her to arch her hips toward him. The room filled with the sounds of skin against skin, with the broken moans of both.

Exelia bit Kael's lip hard, digging her nails into his scalp. With a muffled cry, her whole body trembled beneath his, her legs contracting. Kael continued his movements, prolonging her pleasure, until he couldn't take it anymore. With one last deep thrust, he reached his own climax, emptying himself inside her.

They both fell onto the mattress, exhausted and breathless. Kael pulled her to his chest, cradling her in his arms. She snuggled against him, listening to her partner's heartbeat.

"I need to thank the gods for your awakening," she murmured, almost falling asleep. "I would have died from lack of sex."

Kael gave an exhausted laugh, kissing her forehead. "Congratulations on your seclusion not lasting long."

Exelia smiled, "Shut up, and eat me well. I deserve it after a year and three months waiting for my beloved to return from a coma."