No matter how hard he tries to draw me into his web, I refuse to succumb to the intoxicating darkness he wields. I’ve made it through another night, still a maiden. His repulsive advances are only another attempt to scare me. Not for a second do I trulybelieve that hewantsme, not when he has his pick of beautiful Fae. Why instead would he desire a lowly human?
As for my fleeting attraction, he only needs to remain his insufferable, arrogant self, and keeping my walls intact should be effortless. At least, that’s what I tell myself.
When my stomach growls again, I cradle my belly, trying in vain to soothe the ache. I'm tired of thinking about the Mordorin and weary of my hunger, so I force myself to push both aside and focus instead on the carved scene above me. I imagine the waves rolling gently, the rhythm syncing with the distant crash of the ocean outside. In my mind’s eye, I picture a ship riding the swells, the steady rise and fall bringing a welcome sense of calm. But then, without warning, a monstrous creature erupts from the depths, coiling around the vessel and dragging it into the abyss, lost forever. I exhale a weary breath. It seems not even my own thoughts are safe from the torments of the Mordorin.
Chapter 9
Baev'kalath may be cold and unwelcoming, but this bed is anything but. The covers hold me in a snug embrace, and the warmth enveloping my skin is so comforting I never want to wake. I roll over, still wrapped in a blissful haze, only to realize my cheek isn’t resting on the pillow, but against something firm.
My brow furrows, though my eyes remain closed, and I lazily reach out, my hand exploring the smooth lines beside me—the ridges of a toned abdomen, the hard plane of a chest, the sharp angle of a jaw. My eyes snap open, and there he is—Daed, watching me with a crooked grin tugging at his lips.
“Good morning, wife. Do you know how loudly your stomach is growling? Very unladylike.”
I recoil slower than I would have liked. “What are you doing here?”
Daed tips his chin towards the balcony. “It’s dawn. Your maids will arrive soon, and how will they believe we spent the night together if they do not find us in bed?”
I glance over my shoulder and although my body feels the dawn, I see the sky is dark and dreary as always. I turn back to Daed and narrow my eyes on him.
“You came through the secret door?”
He nods, stretching his arm and putting his hand behind his head on the pillow.
I glimpse his bare chest. “Why don’t you have a shirt on?”
“I never sleep with a shirt on,” he replies. “And being half naked is more convincing.” He inspects my nightgown. “Maybe you should take your clothes off, too.”
A breath hitches in my throat, but he does not remain straight faced for long, throwing back his head and laughing. I clutch the bed covers and pull them up to my neck.
“To make this truly believable, maybe I should look unsatisfied and disappointed?” I say.
My sharp words cut through Daed’s laugh like a blade, and he falls silent, but before I can enjoy watching the color drain from his face, the doors fly open. Solena enters first, followed by the other maids, and when they raise their heads to greet me, I almost hear the collective thud of their jaws hitting the floor.
“Your Highnesses,” Solena gasps, dropping her chin. “I am sorry to interrupt. I did not think…”
“Think what?” Daed snaps, bolting upright and narrowing his eyes on Solena. “That you would find a husband and wife in the same bed? We are fortunate your only duty is washing soiled sheets and emptying chamber pots, if that is the caliber of your thinking.”
Solena shrinks, her chin tucking in tighter to her chest, and I can’t help but stifle a grin. Daed throws away the bed covers and lunges to his feet, taking a long, black robe with silver embroidery from the end of the bed and swinging it around him, but not before I catch a glance of his muscular legs and sculpted hips. He strides towards the maids and lurches over them.
“Take good care of your princess,” he instructs. “Be gentler with her than I was.”
Daed exits the room with a smug swagger, but not before flicking his hand to release an arrow of smoke. The dark wisps coil on the bed beside me, swirling for a heartbeat before dissolving, leaving behind a silver tray piled high with shiny red apples. My eyes widen, and my stomach clenches in response, already imagining their sweet, crisp bite.
The moment the doors shut, a silence falls over the room. It’s the first time I’ve seen the maids at a loss for words, unable even to exchange their usual whispers. Whether or not it’s all a ruse, I decide to play along. If it spares me from their teasing and rude remarks, then it’s a game worth playing.
I grab an apple from the tray, sinking my teeth into its crisp flesh with a satisfying crunch. Chewing, I glance at Solena and, with my mouth still full, say, “I’m ready for my bath.”
She blinks away her thoughts, which I hope are unpleasant. “Yes, Your Highness. Right away.”
The maids hurry to their tasks, drawing my bath and sprinkling herbs and flower petals over the water. They guide me, and I step in without hesitation, unashamed as I stand bare before them. Daed’s reprimand has sparked a surge of confidence, one I’m eager to claim. I’m so satisfied with their discomfort, I push aside the creeping dizziness, the way my limbs feel weaker than the day before. Even as they lift me from the tub and seat me before the dressing table, I pretend not to notice the pallor of my skin, or how my hair and eyes have lost their usual luster since arriving in Baev’kalath.
They comb my hair, weaving it into a long braid that cascades down my back. As they layer face powder and rouge on my skin, I can’t shake the feeling that they, too, are aware of my fading color. Next, they lead me to the wardrobe, and today, in a surprising turn of mood, I permit them to lace me into acorset, and I indulge in two more apples while they fuss with the strings. As they deliberate over which dress to choose, I take joy in solving their dilemma myself.
“Only green,” I say firmly. “I will only wear green dresses from now on.”
The maids nod, brushing past anything black or crimson until they pull out a stunning gown of emerald green. Its simplicity, free of lace and beading, feels just right for the day. As they slide it over me, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and am taken aback by how comfortable this all begins to feel.
When their tasks are complete, Solena claps her hands to dismiss them, leaving her and I alone in the room, but for the first time the idea does not fill me with dread.
