Chapter 26 – Alex
Chapter Twenty-Six
ALEX
Sera disappears into the bathing chamber, and I roll onto my back, sucking in a deep breath.
Gods only know I need an ice bath to calm the raging hard-on threatening to burst through my pants.
I almost made a mess of myself from just watching her, and then the taste of her?
I palm my face. It wasn’t enough. I need more.
But for some reason, Sera thinks keeping her distance protects me, and perhaps she’s right.
What do I have to offer her? I have no true purpose, no plan.
All I’m guaranteed is a lifetime of fighting my addiction, and I only have myself to blame.
The sound of water flowing breaks me out of my downward spiral, and I force myself up and out of Sera’s bed.
Yes. A cold bath is a fantastic idea. Grabbing my shoes and vest, I make what feels like a walk of shame back to my room, which is ridiculous.
There is no one here to see. Gods, I wish Kian were around.
I could use someone to talk to and work out this pent-up frustration with in a sparring ring.
After throwing my belongings onto a chair in my room, I return to the main room and make my way to the exit. I try the door, but of course, it’s locked.
I rattle the handle and knock. “Hello?” I call out in common. “Some lunch would be nice!”
A key turns, and a guard I don’t recognize opens the door. He looks at my disheveled appearance and sniffs judgmentally.
“I wasn’t aware we were prisoners here,” I say sarcastically.
“Merely a precaution to keep you safe,” the guard replies.
Safe from who though? I want to ask. We really need to get out of here.
“Well since we are under lock and key, would you mind procuring some food for us?” I ask. “Are we allowed to eat?”
The guard snorts. “Of course you’re allowed to eat. We’ll send for food.”
“Thanks.” I try to remain calm. The last thing I want is to piss him off and have him mess with our food.
Making my way back to my room, I shut the door and groan again at the unreleased energy writhing beneath my skin.
I drop to the ground and start with some push-ups. Quick workout now and then the cold bath. Perhaps that’s the answer.
I’m toweling off when footsteps and some light chatter come from the other room. Food, I hope. I throw on a fresh pair of leather pants. The fae really do know how to make their clothing light and comfortable. I might have to bring an extra pair home, if I ever get the chance to return.
Grabbing a casual-looking tunic, I try to put it on, but I’m not quite sure how it’s supposed to wrap around me, so I leave it open, showing off the expanse of my chest and abdomen. I’ve worked hard for these abs, damn it. Might as well show them off.
Sera is pacing back and forth in the main room. She’s changed into a flowy gown, her hair hanging loose around her shoulders.
“Are you all right?” I ask in Rakveren.
“Yes, fine.” She blushes, especially when her eyes linger on my exposed skin. “Do you need help with that?” She gestures toward my shirt.
I smirk, walking toward her casually. “If you’re offering.”
She rolls her eyes. “You’re a disaster.”
“Forgive me for not understanding the complexities of fae clothing.”
“It’s not that complicated,” she argues, taking the longer ends of fabric and wrapping them around my back, then tying them into a simple knot at my side. “See?”
The shirt still dips into a deep V, but my stomach is no longer on display. “What an interesting design.”
“All the better for you males to flaunt your bodies,” she quips.
“As if you weren’t admiring my body the second you laid eyes on me just now.”
She rolls her eyes again. “I was only staring, wondering why in the realms your shirt was unbound.”
“If you say so, Spitfire.”
She snorts and turns away, but I grab her wrist and tug her back to me, rubbing her smooth skin gently with my thumb.
“Thank you. I appreciate the help.”
“You’re welcome,” she says, a blush creeping up her cheeks again.
I let go, and she sashays over to the table, where a tray of food has been set for us.
The things I would give to put my hands on those delectable hips or to watch her dance like the first time I saw her at Lou’s Tavern.
My mind flashes back to blonde hair swirling around a glowing face, so happy and free.
The last time I’d witnessed a hint of that glow was in the gardens a few weeks ago, but now?
I’ll never forget the look on her face when she made herself come.
Fuck. I need to stop thinking about that.
“Do you think the food is safe?” I ask. “What if the queen had it laced with more of whatever she put in the tea?”
Sera frowns. “There’s no way to know for sure, but if she’s not present to use her compulsion, I don’t know if it would have the same effect.”
I purse my lips. “What about when we see her next? Would she be able to use it on us then?”
Sera looks like she’s deep in thought. “No, the food is safe. Enchantresses cannot compel unless they are present. Whatever she put in the tea was only active because she was there.”
“If you’re sure.”
“You’ve eaten the food here and didn’t fall for her compulsion. That right there proves it’s not in all the food.”
“That might entirely be because of my gift though.”
She shrugs. “Maybe you are immune. That would be one small mercy.”
I’m still not convinced, but I’m starving, and beggars can’t be choosers.
“So what’s the plan to get out of here?” I ask once our bellies are sated. “There are guards at the door and they’ve locked us in once again. We are prisoners, whether or not they admit it.”
“Perhaps we can make a run for it at dinner?” Sera replies, biting on a nail. “I don’t know what else to do. I could fly away once I’m in my swan form, but I won’t leave you here alone.”
I rise from the table and walk out onto the balcony, peering over the edge and fighting back the slight nausea at how high up we are.
We’re so far off the ground, I don’t know how I could safely climb down even if I could get over my fear.
I might as well be the fabled damsel stuck in the tower, only far less delicate, and with far less hair.
“Well we need to do something,” I say, leaning against the railing.
Sera comes out to join me. “I agree. I don’t know how much longer I can stay cooped up in this room. Perhaps I should ask the queen to send us somewhere away from the palace like she suggested. At least we’d be free.”
“But would we be?” I frown. “I don’t trust Her Majesty any farther than I can throw her.”
Sera snorts a laugh. “I’d like to see you try.”
I smirk. “Just let me at her, princess.”
The early evening sunlight catches on Sera’s silver-blonde tresses, and she looks like an ethereal glowing fae queen, whether or not she ever accepts it. Her people deserve her, not the impostor queen sitting on the throne.
“Stop,” she murmurs, her features going strained.
“What?” I shake my head. “What did I do?”
“It’s all over your face.” She grimaces. “You think I should take over.”
Shock rolls through me. How in the hells could she have guessed that based on my expression? “First of all, what witchcraft did you use to read my mind like that? And secondly, why not? This evil enchantress clearly overthrew your parents. What other nefarious plans might she have?”
Sera’s eyes glint, the purple more vibrant than usual.
“The Woodland Court is at peace. Trying to overthrow an evil enchantress is not on my list of worries right now. Besides, I can’t rule the court, not when I turn into a swan every night.
What kind of ruler could I even be? And each night, I lose more of—never mind. ”
“What?” I nearly explode. “Lose more of what, Sera?”
She glares at me. “I said never mind.”
“What the hells? Why didn’t you say something sooner? You’re losing yourself?”
She turns away, staring out at the treetops, her shoulders tense. “It’s not like there’s anything you can do. Nothing I can do. The enchantress was the one hope I had of maybe breaking this damned curse, but there is no way in hells she’d help me. And I don’t trust her for a moment.”
“Is there any way she can be bound to her word like the fae?” I ask. A deep, sinking feeling fills my gut at the thought of losing Sera for good, not that she would have me now, but I can’t imagine living in this realm or my own and not knowing she is safe and at peace.
Sera shakes her head. “I have nothing to offer her, nothing to bargain with.”
“Is she the only enchantress in this entire godsdamned realm? Surely there has to be another option.”
Something golden catches the corner of my eye, and I spy a cat leaping from one of the swinging balconies beneath us. I’ve never seen a cat that color before. Shaking my head, I glance back at Sera, who looks utterly hopeless.
“Hey,” I say, turning her toward me and brushing some of her thick hair back. “I’m not giving up. I’m with you until we find the answer.”
Her shoulders sag, and I wonder what I said wrong.
“If we manage to get out of here, I suppose we could try traveling to another court. Perhaps there is a healer or sage we could consult elsewhere,” she says.
“Chin up, Sera. Don’t let this evil queen defeat you. You’re stronger than you think.”