“It will be paraded around court and then hung in the great hall, Your Highness.”
I swallow. “Okay. Thank you.” I wish I had never asked.
The door opens and shuts. I open my eyes. The sheet is gone. It’s just me and the wispy-haired woman.
She flashes me a smile that I think is meant to be kind, but her needle-sharp teeth are a little menacing.
“Let’s get you in the bath, Your Highness.”
Oh, that does sound good. The first pleasant event of the day. In fact, the first pleasant event in what feels like forever.
I heave myself out of bed. Even my arms ache. Though I guess that makes sense, I was on all fours for quite a while.
Heat rushes to my cheeks again. Why am I thinking of such things? They should be locked up in a far corner of my mind and never thought of again.
The servant leads me to an adjoining room. One that is tiled, floor, walls and ceiling, in a deep verdant green. In the centre is a near pond-sized sunken bath. Steam is gently rising from the water, and I can feel the heat from here.
Wow, this looks amazing. I am already naked, so there is nothing left to do except get in. As I approach the clear water, I see shallow steps leading all the way in.
Gleefully, I make my way into the blissfully hot water. As it reaches my neck, I sigh. Oh that is so much better.
I find an underwater bench that runs along the edge of the bath. I sit down and feel my muscles sag in relief. Heavens, if I get to do this every day, then being married to a prince is going to be wonderful.
The servant offers a sponge, and I take it gratefully. I start scrubbing myself all over vigorously. But no amount of cleaning is going to wash away this strange hollow feeling of my magic being gone.
I had no idea it would feel like this. I don’t know why it is so unpleasant. What’s the use of hoarding magic you cannot use? It would be pointless to keep it. And now it has been tapped, it will grow back. My magic will return. Ready for Prince Selwyn to take again.
It is the natural order of things. I am a vessel. I’m like a wine jug, except I am a person and it is magic that I fill with. And it is magic that Selwyn drinks.
This aching, empty feeling of loss is the way things are meant to be. It’s fine. I’m sure once my magic starts to reform, I won’t feel so lost. My magic was a part of mefor my whole life, so of course its absence is going to feel strange.
I look up and find the servant staring at me with a strange expression.
Oops. I am scrubbing quite frantically.
I stop and let go of the sponge. It floats to the top of the water and bobs, dancing on the gentle currents of the gigantic bath.
On the tiled floor, above the water, the servant unfurls and holds out a large white towel. It seems bath time is over.
I climb the shallow steps and walk out of the bath. I thought she’d wrap the towel around me, but instead she gets to work, gently drying me. She dabs the cloth all over my body. I feel less sore now. The bath has done wonders.
As soon as I am dry, she leads me to a dressing room, where two other servants are waiting. They dress me quickly and efficiently, in robes of shimmering green.
Then they lead me to a bright and sunny breakfast room. My feet stumble to a halt in the doorway when I see Prince Selwyn sitting at the table.
His attention is on an iPad in his hand, and the sight of a fey prince holding modern human technology is jarring. My mind is balking at it and refusing reality.
With a deep breath, I regain my composure and step into the room. My place is set across the expanse of snow-white tablecloth from my husband. I gingerly take my seat, but my ass only twinges a little.
Prince Selwyn doesn’t look up.
I look at the bowls of fruit and cheeses. I can’t face eating a thing. But the smell of peppermint is wafting from the silver teapot, and peppermint tea seems manageable.
I pour myself a cup and take a tiny sip. My stomach rolls. I’m going to have to force this tea down. I will feel better once I don’t have an empty stomach.
I look around the room. All the servants have left. We are alone. Why isn’t he talking to me? Is he angry with me? Displeased? He seemed pleased enough last night. I thought he had enjoyed my body.
Maybe it is my magic he doesn’t like? If I feel strange with it gone, and with sensing magic that was my own, pulsing from him, then it must feel equally strange for him to feel bloated with it.
