Chapter 11 #2
Nerves bundled into a tight ball as I noticed the distant expression my general displayed, and one didn’t have to be a mind reader to conclude he was remembering his lost twin sister.
Another contemplation for later.
So I simply dipped my chin. “Then let’s plan.”
Every time I’d woken up during the last few days—or weeks?—I’d been half asleep, only awake enough to eat, drink, or go to the bathroom before sinking back into bed.
That, apart from when I used the restroom, a fussing fae princeling was constantly attached to my hip—or, more correctly, I was unable to free myself from his arms—had become my new normal.
To say he was overprotective would be a grave understatement—I was almost convinced he believed I’d dissolve into thin air if he didn’t keep all my parts together.
Yes, I protested, but in all honesty, not as much as I should have.
If his goal was to soften my anger through attention and care, he couldn’t have picked a better strategy.
It might be pathetic, but after those never-ending days in the dungeon, the promise of safety he exuded was enough to unearth all the emotions of friendship I’d buried deeply.
Not that his behavior was enough for me to forgive him yet, but the annoying certainty that I would let go of my grudge, given some time, had anchored its hooks into me. And I suspected he could tell since he relaxed further the more time passed.
Today, something was different. Not only was I wide awake when I opened my eyes, but apart from a faint discomfort around my rib cage, my condition seemed to have improved a lot, and I marveled at that fact.
To my surprise, Dion was nowhere to be seen, and his side of the bed was cold.
He must have left quite a while ago, and I wondered where he’d wandered off to.
Still, his absence was another clue to how much better I was.
And not only me—if he’d given up on the proximity of the last days, his magic must have been properly restored as well.
Right on cue, something wrapped around my upper biceps, started to purr, and the tip of a black tendril gently nudged my cheek.
My eyes widened as a pearly laugh fell from my lips.
When had I last made a joyous sound like this?
Lifting my hand, I stroked my fingers over my inky companion, caressing its slender body. Its surface was soft and warm, as usual, and I wasn’t surprised in the slightest when the magical construct curled itself around my hand as well.
“Come on, buddy, this isn’t the most comfortable pose.
” Huffing, I realized too late I’d been talking to Dion’s magic as if it had a consciousness of its own—and not for the first time—but when the tendril instantly let go of my hand and instead circled my arm, I couldn’t help but feel warmth spreading through my chest. So what if I behaved as if the conjured strand were alive?
As long as no one found out about my silliness, I wouldn’t be called out on it.
When the clingy creature had finally settled down, I realized what an opportunity was presenting itself to me—a chance for a little bit of privacy.
Carefully, I shifted until my bare feet hit the plush surface of the carpet, and after collecting my strength for a few moments, I left the bed to wobble to the bathing chamber.
On my brief visits, I’d seen how splendid the luxurious washing room was, but only now could I appreciate the extent of what I perceived.
The centerpiece of the room, tiled in colorful mosaics, was a large copper tub, and this was where I was drawn to, as if I were pulled by a string.
Obviously, I’d been cleaned by whoever had changed my clothes, but I was still sticky and dirty, and I imagined that a disgusting film of grimy residue had taken residence on my skin.
Confronted with more levers and buttons than a simple tub should be allowed to challenge me with, I tried them all, and fortunately, I found out fast how the mechanism worked.
One lever filled the basin with water, and another warmed the liquid. A button I pushed added a few scented oils, and I never felt more provincial than at this moment. At home, we had to get water from a well, and if we wanted our bath to be warm, we had to heat it in the kitchen.
Safe to say, a full tub like the one before me was something I’d never experienced before, just as I’d had no clue that automatic warm water was a reality.
Warning my companion not to peek—yes, I’d addressed the tendril again—I slipped out of my nightgown, and when the basin was filled to the brim, I climbed inside.
Suppressing a groan, I enjoyed the feel of hot liquid against my skin, and for a while, the only movement rippling the surface of my bath was the purring and splashing of the onyx strand, who enjoyed the experience as much as I did.
How my life had changed within just a few months was insane. I felt like it had been only yesterday since that fateful dinner at my parents’ house, where I’d been introduced to the Feroys, which started the entire unfortunate chain of events.
Who could have known back then that within a couple of moons, I’d not only discover the many lies our royalty constantly told us or that another world existed, but also that I’d travel with inhabitants of said other world—who belonged to a different species—almost die more than once, and bind myself forever to another soul.
And now, I was soaking in a bathtub in the royal castle in Ivreiana—at the invitation of my Queen, I should add—that stood in a room I was sharing with a villainous prince who wasn’t even human or from my world, and the soul I’d tied mine to.
What would my parents say if they saw me now?
When I counted how often I’d almost perished, a chuckle fell from my lips, and even though the sentiment was macabre, I began to categorize those experiences and sort them from most to least severe.
I might even have asked my companion for its opinion, but as the tendril pulsed and bristled, I understood it didn’t appreciate my black humor.
What a spoilsport, just like its master.
My skin resembled a dried prune when I was satisfied with my level of cleanliness.
My magical friend unfurled as I left the tub, ensuring I wouldn’t slip and fall, then hovered over to a rack, fetching the softest towel I’d ever had the pleasure to touch.
The giant piece of cloth felt almost indecent, and I’d never spent more time drying myself.
I only stopped when my impatient companion held out a fresh white nightgown to me, and if I didn’t know better, I’d say it looked reproachful at my dawdling.
As soon as the garment was in place, the tendril circled my waist like a belt, and I petted its inky expanse once more, which rewarded me with another purr.
Avoiding the large mirror adorning one corner of the bathing chamber was easy; luckily, the surface was steamed over. Although the knowledge that I’d escaped my jailer and his torture had settled in by now, that didn’t mean I was ready to face the damage Perran and his men had done to my body.
Yes, my condition was obviously improving, but my cuts and bruises still hurt, and the pain in my upper body, though less severe, told me my ribs would still take some time to heal completely.
Exhausted from taking a bath, I forewent disentangling my locks after towel-drying my hair. But when I moved back into the splendid bedroom and crawled on the comfortable mattress, wrapping the soft blanket around my body, a sensation had me almost melting.
Smiling, I realized my magical pet wasn’t too happy with my knotted mane, and it meticulously separated lock after lock. Somehow, this was something Dion would’ve done as well, and I wondered again how much sentience his power constructs possessed.
Whatever the answer was, the attention was heavenly and relaxing, so it didn’t take long before I fell into a dreamless sleep.