Chapter 36
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
W e sleep most of the day away, not waking for breakfast. Someone is clearing our untouched breakfast plates and leaving lunch when we finally wake. Again, we gorge ourselves on the food. A giant tray of fresh fruit, spiced yogurt, and a jar of honey. Plus, some kind of hot drink that I haven’t had before that’s darker than tea, with a bitter yet slightly fruity flavor.
Tovi and I are stretching on the ground together after dinner, coming up with wild reasons why I can see violet eyes on the king when a maid enters.
“Mika, Prince Eryn has requested your services tonight in one hour. Please prepare yourself and get changed into these.” Without waiting for a response, the woman places a pile of fabric on a side table and quickly leaves, her short brown hair the only thing I actually remember about her.
“Interesting,” Tovi says as she examines the pile. “You’re sure the prince isn’t trying to fuck you, Mika?” she chuckles with slight concern crinkled around her eyes.
Tovi holds up a tiny nightdress that shimmers a dark green shade, and a small bit of beige-colored lace in the other.
“What is that?” I hiss.
“Your outfit, apparently. At least there’s a large, black cloak to go with it.”
I groan as I snatch the clothing and head for the washroom.
After a quick wash, I put on the outfit I was given. The small bit of lace is underwear that barely covers anything in the back or front. The nightdress turns out to be sheer, with a thin underwire to support my breasts. But it’s see-through. My nipples can be seen perfectly. The nightdress has no sleeves, thin straps, finishes at mid-thigh, and is very form-fitting. For Tovi’s sake, I am relieved that my still slightly bruised ribs are hidden.
“Well, I certainly look like a—” I begin to say as I stroll out of the washroom to show Tovi, expecting a fit of laughter at how utterly ridiculous I look. Stopping mid-sentence, I tilt my head and raise an eyebrow.
“Uh.” Tovi continues to look stunned while eyeing me up and down.
I reach for the cloak, self-conscious and wanting to cover up. “Is it that bad?”
“I mean, bad because it’s going to waste. You look hot! ” she exclaims. “Once again, I must ask, if you’re sure the prince is helping us?”
“I highly doubt this outfit is his doing unless it’s a requirement of all doxies.” I pause. “I’m 99% sure he’s helping us.”
She gives me a dubious look and helps to fasten the cloak around me.
I’m flanked by six guards, escorting me to the prince’s rooms for our evening: one in front and one behind, with two flanking either side of me. My heart is hammering in my chest because I know this isn’t the direction of Eryn’s rooms, but I can’t ask because I shouldn’t know where they are.
My escorts and I are waiting outside a set of enormous ornate doors, my toes curling under me in trepidation. The doors swing inward, and the guards move aside for me to enter. As soon as I see the Gifted lie detector, I know I’m about to speak to the king, but I’m not sure if the lie detector’s presence makes me feel better or worse.
“Hello again, Mika.” King Stol’s voice greets me as he sits comfortably behind an enormous wooden desk littered with papers and other paraphernalia. I curtsy in response.
The lie detector closes the door and takes up their position standing beside the king, looking bored. Both pairs of violet eyes watch me closely, neither speaking a word. At least avoiding eye contact with them is easy when I’m supposed to be a cowed prisoner.
“Mika. I thought we could have a quick chat before you see my son. Lylle here is just to keep you honest of course, but nothing to worry about.”
“Of course, sire,” I politely respond, not wanting to speak more than necessary.
“Right, I will jump straight in. I know that this position is not exactly what you had in mind, but I am sure it is better than execution,” he says sweetly, but I sense the thinly veiled threat in his words. “I am surprised though, why my son chose you first. Mievaborn.” He taps his pen against his lips.
Not wanting him to muse any further, I quickly offer a reason. “Tovi, the Erduborn woman, is still recovering from her time in the dungeons. Your son seems like a kind and fair man.” I hope that the two separate facts I state are close enough that the king infers my intended meaning, but not so close that Lylle would see the disconnection and know it’s a lie. I smile sweetly at the king, looking at his mouth. I flick my eyes to the lie detector quickly, but he still looks bored .
“Indeed. Perhaps he is curious too. This is the first doxy he has requested. Truth be told, I had become concerned that he was not showing any interest.” The king’s eyes are still boring into me, but I offer no response for fear that agreeing with him could be seen as lying.
“This will also be your first time as a doxy—a Royal doxy, no less. Usually, more training is given in the art, however, you are being thrust right into it. You do understand what is expected of you?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I will do my very best to satisfy your son.” I dip my head in submission and hope again that Lylle can see that I’m not lying about making Eryn satisfied, I just don’t intend to do it sexually.
“Mhmm. It may take some encouragement on your behalf.”
“If I may be honest, sire?” I ask, rather redundantly, given the lie detector standing beside him. “I’m not going to do that.”
The king raises his eyebrows at me. “And what do you mean by that?”
“Your Majesty, I mean no disrespect, and I am not saying that I will hide in the corner or not go anywhere near the prince. But I believe he should remain in control. Perhaps the encouragement could come from seeing him more often, perhaps every couple of days?” My heart is slamming against my chest. Did I show my hand?
My gamble pays off, and the king smiles widely. “I like the way you think. He does need to learn to take control. I do, however, want him to see the Erduborn woman as soon as she is fit and able.” He nods at his own statement and then claps his hands.
The doors behind me swing open.
“You may go,” he says as he lifts his hand and gestures toward the door.
“Thank you, sire,” I say as I curtsy and turn to leave .
“Oh. One thing Mika. Your cloak. My men will escort you into Prince Eryn’s sitting room, at which point you will take off your cloak and give it to them. They will keep it with them outside the doors, awaiting my son to come back and get it when he is finished with you.” A feral grin spreads across his face as he speaks.
I curtsy once again and leave before he can say anything else.
I’m mentally mapping the way to Eryn’s rooms from King Stol’s office in relation to mine and Tovi’s rooms. Thankfully, the prince’s rooms are much closer to ours than his father’s office, albeit on a different floor. I am still not sure where King Stol’s rooms may be, and whether they’re located in the same place as his office or not. I hope they’re not near his son’s rooms.
The guards do indeed take my cloak and exit the sitting room. “Prince Eryn?” I call softly as I look around for him.
I poke my head into his bedroom and see him standing with his back to me, looking out the window. I walk in and close the door, wanting to keep another layer of sound between us and possible listening ears.
As soon as the door snips shut, Eryn runs at me, enveloping me in a hug and almost throwing me off my feet.
“What…” I manage to get out before he’s apologizing desperately.
“I’m so sorry, Mika. And your friend. I didn’t think. I panicked. I wanted to help. I’m so sorry. Is she okay? Are you okay? Please, I hope you’re okay.” The words are tumbling out of his mouth at rapid speed while he clings to me.
I push him off me gently to see his red-rimmed eyes and panicked face. He’s genuinely distraught. I keep my arms on his shoulders, partly to keep him from hugging me again, and also to give him a modicum of comfort.
“Eryn. What are you talking about? You not only stopped me and my friend from possibly being executed by your father, but you have given us the best chance we have to save the Princess Ofnemoris. Your father believed every word, and you fooled Lylle, too.”
Eryn’s eyes start to well with tears, so I pause what probably sounds like a lecture. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Now is not the time for rage. When I open them again, one of the tears escapes and tracks down his face, and he looks down, a slight tremble in his lip.
I’m not sure why I do it—something about this kid has burrowed its way under my skin— but I use one hand to wipe his tear and the other to lift his chin. He won’t meet my eye right now, though I realize distractedly that the reluctance I usually have is absent when I look into Eryn’s eyes.
They’re kind eyes, the reddy brown of a hot sunset in Erdu. Eryn’s olive skin is a little pale, like he needs more sun. Dark brown lashes, long and full, are glistening from the tears he’s so ashamed of. He’s a good-looking kid, with a strong brow and jaw, a wide mouth full of straight white teeth, and a small, pointed nose. It’s all wrapped up in an innocence so endearing that it’s slightly concerning.
“You know you’re my hero, right? Eryn, you saved my life,” I say softly, trying to get through to him.
He gasps because he’s been holding his breath. “I just felt so guilty. I couldn’t do nothing , but I didn’t know what to do!” he says through hiccups.
“You did everything right.” I smile at him. He pulls me into another hug, and I let him. He grips onto me and I hold him until his breathing returns to normal, and he eventually loosens his embrace.
“I’m sorry,” he says, and I’m about to admonish him again when he follows with, “I mean, about this, my reaction. Is the Erduborn woman okay? Is she really your friend?”
Grateful for the change in subject, I walk us over to his bed so we can sit down.
“Yes, a strange coincidence that ended up working out well. She’s okay, now , once I was able to tell her that you were my friend.”
“We’re friends?”
“Do you often risk your life and then snotty cry on people who aren’t your friends?” I tease as he side-eyes me with a little smirk. “Though she wasn’t convinced when she saw my outfit for tonight.”
“Oh Divine, you’re basically naked!” he says with legitimate disgust, finally looking at me. “Gross!” he finishes and throws a blanket at me.
That did it. I laugh so hard tears begin to overflow, and I have to lie down on his bed to breathe because it’s hurting my ribs.
“Thank you for the confidence boost,” I reply between gasps of laughter.
“Not to add insult to injury, but you seem unhinged today.”
Wiping my tears, I nod. “Oh, I know. The hinges fell off many revolutions past, I’m afraid.” Eryn widens his eyes, shaking his head. Finally calming down from my hysterical release, I add, “Have you told anyone about me since that night?”
“You mean, the night you came to kidnap me and then almost killed me because I threw a pillow at you?” I feint a punch to his ribs, which earns me a lopsided grin. “No. Not even my ex-boyfriend who I tell almost everything .” I relax, the part of me that thought perhaps this young prince wasn’t savvy enough to keep a secret, relieved. “Now you have a secret of mine, so we’re even,” Eryn adds to the lengthening silence.
“Your father doesn’t know you prefer men?”
“I don’t actually have a preference. Boy, girl, both, neither. But he certainly wouldn’t have approved of me having a boyfriend.” He shrugs.
I narrow my eyes at him. “Why then, young prince, am I so disgusting?”
“Because you’re old?” he replies, with a look on his face that suggests I asked a stupid question. “And you’re my friend, so I don’t want to see—” he gestures at my body, “—that.”
“Smooth recovery,” I say wryly. “What about his male doxies? Is the king that much of a hypocrite?” I ask, getting the topic back on track.
Eryn looks at me like I’ve grown another head. “He doesn’t have male doxies. He once caught two stable boys kissing, and they weren’t even on duty, but he cut off an ear each and sent them to opposite sides of the country to work.”
Shocked at the brutality, I don’t want to bring up the purchasing of male Nulls to yet another person who denied their existence. Either the king is so ashamed of being with men that it’s a secret even from his own son, or something else more sinister is at play. I fear it’s the latter.
“I look forward to the day that you won’t need to hide who you love. If that’s what you want,” I say as I sit back up with only the slightest of groans.
“You’re so sure that day exists?”
“I have to be. Speaking of which, I need your help to find the rest of my friends.”
My friends. My friends. The rest of them. Every part of that thought is a strange sort of thud in the chest, like my rage kicking in tune. They’re my friends, even Tovi. And I miss them .
Eryn is sitting up as well, hugging his knees and leaning against the headboard, looking so young. Rage churns in my stomach that I’m risking his life even more than I already have.
“How?”
“Are you able to spend time in the gardens without it being out of the ordinary? You could sit out there and quietly say their names—one of them is Gifted with hearing.”
“Oh, that’s cool! But how will they know I’m helping you?”
“Two things. One, be eating an apricot. They’re my favorite fruit, and they?—”
Eryn cuts me off. “Apricots are my favorite too! At least it won’t be weird for me to be eating them.” He beams.
“That’s because they’re the superior fruit,” I declare, and he nods in serious agreement.
“And the second thing?”
“When they approach you, they’ll ask you a question, and you just have to respond, ‘Mama Beryl’ . It’s a secret code we already have in place that no one else will understand.”
I give Eryn their names, and he promises to start tomorrow. It’s been long enough that I should head back now. We decide on what we can truthfully say to his father if his personal lie detector is around and agree to meet again in two days.
I stop him before he gets to the door to get my cloak. “Thank you, Eryn. You are truly, incredibly special. You’ll make a great king one day. Please stay safe.” He gives me one quick nod before swinging open his doors, and I return to Tovi.