Chapter 20 Chelsea
Chelsea
After Eryx shuts the door, I lean against it and exhale hard. What just happened? My hand still tingles where he kissed it. My heart's still racing from standing that close to him—close enough to—
No. Stop. We're strangers. This is a business arrangement.
One year.
But business partners don't look at each other like that. And they definitely don't set up bedrooms with pink blankets and roses and books.
I push off the door and take a good look at the room. The roses, the pink—for a moment I hold my breath. This isn’t a room for someone Eryx merely tolerates. This is a room for someone he’s trying to woo.
That someone is me.
My throat tightens and to push thoughts of him away, I stop staring at the flowers and gaze at the bed. The mattress is three feet off the ground and looks perfect for jumping.
You know what? Screw it. If I'm going to be married to the Nightmare King in a gothic manor full of shadows, I'm going to enjoy this ridiculously fancy bed.
So I do it. Because if I stop moving, if I let myself think about what just happened—who I just married—I might lose it completely.
I kick off my sneakers and jump onto the bed. The first bounce is low, so I push off harder—and smack my head on the wooden canopy.
“Ouch!”
The compact in my pocket falls out and opens.
Elmore appears, takes one look at me and says, “Looks like someone’s living their best life.”
I stop jumping and fall in a heap onto the bed. “I mean, did you see this bed? It’s so awesome.”
Elmore grins, his teeth sparkling. “And did you kiss him?”
“Look, Elmore, Beauty didn’t kiss Beast first thing.”
“Is that who you are?”
“I mean, have you seen this place?”
“No, because I’ve been trapped in a mirror going over paperwork for the bookshop. I swear, if Charlie sneaks into Mrs. Chatterley’s Lover one more time, I’m going to tell Ovie.”
“Why haven’t you?”
He shrugs. “You know. We protect her.”
“I think by protecting her, all we’re doing is making things worse.”
“Then I’ll tell her.”
I bite off a hangnail clinging to my thumb. “Before you do, would you like to see the manor?”
“Is milk white?”
I giggle. “I knew you would.”
I pick up the mirror and show him my bedroom. “Look at those sparkles. They are so good. What about clothes? Did he get you clothes?”
“Let’s see.”
I rush to the closet and fling it open. It’s a walk-in with under lighting that illuminates lots and lots of—
“Why is it all lingerie?”
Elmore laughs. “Do you really have to ask that?”
“We haven’t even kissed!”
“Are you going to?”
I shrug. “We’re giving it a year.”
He grabs his throat like he’s clutching pearls. “Only a year? You’re married to the Nightmare King. What if he curses you with nightmares if you break it off?”
“What if he curses me to wear lingerie at breakfast, lunch and dinner? Maybe even brunch? Look at this one.” I grab a sheer piece made from string and hopes and dreams. “There’s nothing to it.”
Elmore tuts. “And that would be on purpose.”
It would probably be very much on purpose. My cheeks heat as I imagine myself in one of these pieces, Eryx’s hand sliding up my arm.
I am married. He is my husband.
We said separate rooms, but will he want that to change? Will I?
This is a bad idea, right? Just considering it?
But before I can stop myself, my mind drifts to a few minutes ago at the pool and how I wanted Eryx to kiss me. My body hums, and maybe I want to do more than just kiss.
Wait. Stop.
I push the thought away and focus back on Elmore. Something he said a moment ago hits me. “Oh—listen to this.” I leave the lingerie explosion and sit back on the bed. “He doesn’t give nightmares. He saves people from them.”
Elmore exhales a slow breath. “He saves people from them? Swoon.”
A smile threatens to break out over my face, but I squash it down. The way he kissed my hand. My skin is still warm from it. Eryx Nightshade is not a simple person. He’s complicated, which of course makes him attractive, and—
“You’re married to him,” Elmore points out.
“Was I thinking out loud?”
“Yes.”
Elmore sighs dreamily. “But he is good-looking, though I would assume he’s clearly carrying baggage. He’s wounded emotionally, dark and broody, so your sunshine persona will be the one thing that fixes him in this world of dark shadows.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re so ridiculous.”
As he starts to reply, a knock comes from the door. Not wanting to be caught lounging on my bed—it just seems too early in my stay for that—I unlock the door and step back. “Come in.”
Stave enters. “How is your room, mistress?”
“It’s awesome. Did you do this?”
He cocks his head. “What makes you ask that?”
“Eryx might be good at being a king, but I kinda doubt decorating is his forte.”
A blush blooms on his cheeks. “You caught me.”
Oh, the way he blushes makes my heart warm. I sense an instant friend. “Okay, tell me—what do I need to know about this place to stay alive?”
His eyes nearly pop from his head. “Nothing’s going to hurt you here.”
“Eryx said that, too. But I see shadows.”
He nods. “If any of them get on your nerves, let me know and I’ll send them to shadow lost and found.”
I pause. “Is there such a place?”
He waves his hand dismissively. “Yes, people’s nightmares wind up in here all the time, especially after Nancy cleans the king’s dream room.”
“Nancy does what?”
Stave sighs like he’s been through the ringer with Nancy more than once. “Between you and me, I think she lets them loose. She says her vacuum doesn’t work that great, but somehow it works perfectly when I turn it on.”
Oh, I really, really like Stave.
“Stave, I love all the lingerie, but I’m wondering if maybe I could get some jeans, T-shirts, some dresses—nothing too fancy.”
He eyes my shoes. “Are you sure?”
“Caught me! Just fancy enough, okay? It would be awful to embarrass Eryx. Oh, and what should I wear at dinner? Am I supposed to dress up? Eryx always wears a suit. Does he even own a T-shirt? Am I talking too much?”
Stave just laughs. “Not at all. I’ll have more clothes brought.”
“Oh, can you have Nancy do it? I’d like to meet her.”
“I’m sure Nancy would love to get out of afternoon duties, so yes, I’ll send her.”
I get the feeling I’m either going to love Nancy or hate her. Fingers crossed it’s the first one. “Thank you,” I tell him.
“You’re very welcome.” He runs a hand over his blond hair. “Is there anything else I can get you?”
“No, not right now.”
“Then I’ll send Nancy.”
With that, Stave leaves and I turn back to Elmore. “I can’t believe you didn’t introduce us,” he tells me.
“What? I thought you’re supposed to stay hidden, make sure I don’t die. That sort of thing.”
“Technically, yes. But I could have met him.”
My eyes narrow. “Elmore, do you think Stave is hot?”
“I don’t use words like ‘hot.’ I’m too old for that. But I do like the word ‘yummy.’”
I snort. “He is yummy.”
“Excuse me, you’re a married woman.”
“Please. I’ve only known the man three days.”
“Which means it’s probably true love.”
When Elmore says that, something loosens in my chest. True love? I’m not sure if I believe in that—for me. I do think my sister Addison found her true love in Feylin, and my sister Blair, too, in Devlin Ross.
But me finding true love? I frown.
“Why so glum, Chelsea?”
I grab a pillow and hug it to my chest. “I think true love is for other people, people who don’t look at love the way I do.”
“As something than can hurt you?”
I nod.
He sighs. “Chelsea, just because Ovie wound up with Charlie doesn’t mean you’re bound to live the same life. Look at your own parents.”
“I know. They’re a great couple, perfect for each other. But why is it the bad examples or the bad thoughts are the ones that persist and not the happy ones?”
“It’s the way you’ve trained your brain, I suppose. Look, Charlie isn’t a great husband, no one can deny that. But your aunt has kept him, hasn’t she? She hasn’t gotten rid of him even when he disappears for weeks without telling her where he’s gone.”
“Yeah. Why is that?”
“Why don’t you ask her?”
“Oh no.” I scoot back until my spine touches the headboard. “Last time I mentioned anything about Charlie, she got mad at me.”
“Maybe it’s something you’ll have to live with.”
“Maybe.”
Elmore stares at me from his home inside the mirror. I shake my head, not knowing what to say.
A knock comes from the door. My eyes widen. “Maybe it’s Nancy,” I whisper. “Come in!”
The door swings open and in limps an older woman, maybe late sixties, pulling a rack of clothes behind her. She walks in, stops and takes a long look at me.
“You must be the new mistress. Eryx sure didn’t play, did he? Marrying a witch from Castleview.”
“Does it help that I’m nice?”
She looks me up and down. “I’ll think about it.”
“So you’re Nancy.” I jump off the bed and cross the room to the rack. “Thank you for bringing these.”
“Stave told me you didn’t like the clothes he picked out.”
“That’s because it’s all lingerie.”
“Men,” Nancy says with an eye roll. “They think all we want to do is lay on our backs for them.”
Oh, Nancy has opinions.
“Or get on top,” she adds.
I burst into a fit of laughter. “I mean, you’ve got a point. Let’s see what you brought.”
“There are dresses, lots of pink, which is a nice change from here. Can I sit down?”
“Sure. Go ahead.”
She limps over to the vanity and sits. As I start picking through the clothes, she watches me, then crosses her arms. “You don’t look like what I’d expect Eryx to marry. Half the district thinks he's lost his mind, marrying a Castleview witch. The other half thinks it's brilliant politics."
Lost his mind? I hope not. “And what do you think?”
I find a simple wrap dress that’s pink. It soft and silky. Perfect.
“I’d expect him to marry some tall thin woman who only eats an olive a day, maybe two. You know, the kind that looks down her nose at everyone and is a real bitch.”
I blink. “And you think this…why?”
“Because of how Eryx’s dad died.”
I nearly drop the dress. Nancy likes to gossip about her employer? I’m a yes to that!
“Have you worked here a long time?”
“Nineteen years. I’m just waiting for my pension to kick in. Then it’s sayonara.”
“How’s this dress?”
“It’s a lot of pink. If that’s your thing.”
“It’s my thing.”
“Then try it on and let’s see. There’s a changing screen right there. Do you need help?”
“No, I’ve got it.”
“Good. My old bones are too tired to play dress-up today.”
I move behind the screen and start tugging off clothes. “So what did happen to Eryx’s dad?”
“He was murdered.”
I pop my head around the screen. “You’re kidding?”
“Nope. Saw the whole thing. All of us did. Killer was never caught, neither. Just vanished into thin air. Eryx has been looking for her ever since.”
I let that sink in, but Nancy continues.
“Yep. His father was killed for his nightmare power—but the magic didn’t go with the killer. It went into Eryx before that could happen. Violent thing. Just a mess. Nearly drove him mad, too.”
This is so juicy I almost forget what I’m doing.
“You gonna put that dress on, or what?” Nancy asks.
“Right. Sorry.” I straighten and slip the dress over my head. “Why did the power almost drive him crazy?”
“Because that Nightmare voice, from what I hear—don’t quote me on this—it’s very demanding.”
“Wait.” I pop my head out again. “Did you say, nightmare voice?”
“Yeah, you know. It’s in his head telling him to do things—turn right here. No don’t go left, that’s the wrong way. Eat all your Brussel sprouts. That kind of thing, except darker.”
There’s a long moment where I just stare at her, my hands frozen on the dress.
Eryx has a voice inside his head.
A nightmare. Living inside him. Demanding things.
Was it Eryx who reached out to me on the balcony?
Or the nightmare?
Does Eryx even want this marriage, or is he being forced by the voice in his head?
When he looks at me—when he kissed my hand—is that him? Or is it the thing inside him?
My chest tightens. This changes everything. I thought I was marrying a man. A complicated, secretive man, but still—a man.
What if I married the nightmare instead?
What if Eryx is just as trapped as I am?
“You didn’t know about the nightmare, did you?”
I shake my head. “No, I guess I didn’t.”
Nancy frowns. “Was this an arranged marriage?”
“No, not at all. It’s a…” What is it? “It’s a marriage of convenience.”
“Got it. So you’ll end up falling in love even though you don’t plan to.”
My stomach drops. If I’m going to fall in love, it’s with someone who deserves it. I won’t accept anything less.
I pop my head back behind the screen where she can’t see me, and I finish wiggling into the dress.
“You done yet?”
I step out and Nancy eyes me for a second. “It’s a lot of pink. You sure you don’t want something black?”
“No. This is perfect.”
I move to the mirror and take a look. The dress has a sheen to it that makes it flow like water when I move. It just brushes the tops of my knees, and the skirt is full, belling out, even though it is short.
It’s wacky, charming, and perfect.
“I love it.”
“If you say so.” Nancy slowly rises. “My work here is done. If you need anything, call Stave. I get off in an hour, and I’ve got a date with a warm bath.”
“Sounds like a perfect way to spend your evening.”
She eyes me like she’s not sure if I’m being honest, and then she limps out of the room.
I take one more spin in the dress, letting what Nancy said about the nightmare voice sink in. So Eryx has a voice in his head all the time? It’s linked to his magic?
My gaze drifts around the room, landing on the touches of pink. Eryx would have told Stave to make me a room that gives me happiness, that feels welcoming.
He did that for me, a complete stranger.
Does the voice inside his head make him…lonely? My heart breaks a little right then, as I imagine a younger Eryx ostracized from his old friends all because of a voice and magic that makes him so different from everyone else—so misunderstood.
Or maybe the voice is the only friend he's ever had.
The thought makes my throat tight. Should I ask him about the voice or let him tell me?
“Elmore, do you think I should ask Eryx about—”
But before I can get the words out of my mouth, the world explodes.