"So can I," Shaozu said and, giving up his search for a clean scrap of fabric, pressed his palms together and effectively evaporated the droplets of water that clung to him. Steam was still curling from his skin as he pulled on a pair of dark trousers and laced them, shaking his hair out of his face as he turned toward her again.

"But I don't like to waste energy unnecessarily," he said. "I'm not into party tricks."