Considering that I’m not someone who could ever be bought, Camden must be right: I share that strange trait with the witches from other realms. I can’t help but wonder what other quirks I share with them, ones I know nothing about because my information on them has been extremely limited.
The thought of sharing anything with mythics churns my stomach, but witches don’t deserve my hostility. They don’t actively humiliate and demote humans to the bottom of their food chain—that’s primarily done by shifters. On the contrary, I’ve heard accounts of witches going to human villages and offering their help.
They’ve even visited Aesara a few times to my knowledge, and each time I hid away on my farm with Leisel for fear of discovery. From what I’ve heard, they’re more prone to frequenting other human villages to offer aid and healing—though perhaps that’s due to Aesara being surrounded by shifter territories. Witches are known for havingsolitary covens that don’t ally with other mythics—from what I’ve read, mythic species are not known to cross lines or intermingle with each other often.
It’s no wonder Camden’s so set on having Leisel and me under his thumb; we’re a very useful novelty. I have the feeling that getting out from under it will be no easy task.
Chapter Sixteen
The rooms Leisel and I are given are luxurious, elaborate, and regal. They’re both the size of my entire cabin, with bathrooms half as big, and closets already bursting with garments.
They’re also connected by a wooden door, so I can go to and from her room at my leisure, without having to step foot out in the hall. It also means I can keep a close eye on her, as I’m accustomed to doing.
My room is decorated in cream, gold, and teal tones. The walls are made of cream-colored polished stone with teal spiral patterns. There’s a five-piece golden furniture set in front of a cream-tiled fireplace that is bigger than I am. In one corner of the room is an empty bookshelf built into the wall. The four-poster bed looks like it could comfortably fit five people, and has teal sheets and coverlets. On either side of the bed is a golden nightstand, each sporting a beige lamp. The closet is bigger than my old bedroom and Leisel’s put together. It has a full-length mirror, and each side is decorated with cream shelves, as well as row upon row of clothes.
The bathroom has a golden bathtub that can easily fit eight people, a two-sink counter with toothbrushes, paste, and fragrant soaps already provided, a grand tiled shower with a stone bench built into the wall, and three showerheads.
The lavishness sickens me. The ornate decorations and expensive furniture alone must’ve cost a fortune—not to mention all the clothing in the closet, and other things I’ve been provided with.
It’s all blood money.
Part of me wants to rifle through the closet to settle my curiosity, which just reaffirms that I probably do share an acquisitiveness with witches. That part of me also marvels at the entirety of my living quarters. The rest of me, however, is nothing less than appalled. The richness, the wealth, the vastness…all of it serves as a reminder of the poverty I grew up in, because mythics—especially shifters—took all the wealth and beauty for themselves.
Leisel’s room is similar to mine, except slightly more feminine and suited to a young girl, with tones of pink and gold. I watched as she explored with wide eyes filled with excitement, curiosity, and trepidation earlier, her hair flying behind her as she scurried around it, examining each table, lamp, and furniture item with intense interest.
When Camden escorted us here, telling us to press a button on our bedside tables if we needed servants for whatever reason, Leisel looked both awed and intimidated by her new enormous room. While I unpacked our meager belongings, she busied herself exploring both rooms. Though I know she’s not the happiest with our current situation, I also understand there’s an element of child-like wonder for her in such a beautiful new place. That, or her acquisitiveness is also coming into play.
Now, as she bathes, I sit on my bed, pondering how much my life has changed in a matter of days. The door connecting our rooms is open, so I can hear the faint sound of running water from Leisel’s bathroom and keep an eye out.
I want to be within shouting distance of her at all times, in case Wyatt makes a surprise appearance or something else goes awry. I’veobserved he seems very inclined to spend time with her, but Leisel does not seem to share the sentiment.
It’s not quite that she’s frightened of him, as I initially assumed. There is a fear factor between her and shifters, but I suspect it’s more Leisel’s anger that steers my sister away from her so-called mate. Leisel knows our mother and father are dead—I never hid or sugarcoated that fact, but it’s only been in recent years while she observed other children with their parents in Aesara, that the true magnitude of what she’s missing has hit her. She also knows the specific medical complications our parents died from and is naturally furious with mythics for takingourtechnology away from us and effectively depriving us of our parents.
Hence, she has no interest in Wyatt. Or any other shifters, for that matter. In fact, she seems to hold a great deal of anger towards them. I don’t know how to feel about that.
A certain amount of guilt assuages me because Leisel is too young and toopureto be living with such anger in her. It’ll taint her view of the world. On the other hand, that anger might very well keep her alive and sane with the events to come.
The water running in her bathroom shuts off. A few minutes later, she pads into my room, covered only with a towel, and blinks at me. “Is it bad to put on the clothes in my closet?”
I expel a deep breath. “Of course not, sweet girl. We might as well take advantage of what we’re offered. No sense in cutting off your nose to spite your face.”
While here, I hope to ensure that such luxuries will once again be afforded to humans. Although I can’t stand Camden, it’d be a betrayal to humankind not to take advantage of the opportunity he’s given me; the opportunity for change. I understand that it’ll take quite some time to achieve my goal, and there will likely be many steps I must takebefore even amassing enough influence to make real changes, but I’m willing to do what it takes.
Leisel nods solemnly and makes her way back into her room, emerging soon after dressed in new pants and a white sweater, made of expensive soft-looking material, both of which probably cost more than what I make every harvest.
“I’m going to go wash up,” I tell her. “If anything goes wrong—if anyone knocks on your door, call for me, and I’ll be right there.”
She nods, kisses me on the cheek, and then heads over to my bookshelf—which is now stocked with a dozen novels and several textbooks. I leave her to read and make quick work of washing myself.
Much to my dismay, I appreciate the steaming hot water and the expensive products I’ve been provided with. It’s so rare for me to truly feelclean, since the water pressure in my cabin was a joke, and my soap and shampoo were both dismal and mostly useless. The cleanest I felt was when bathing in the river a short hike away from our cabin, as the rushing water was able to wash away the dirt and grime built up from life on a farm.
When I reemerge from the shower, intending to head into my closet and throw on clothes, I glimpse Leisel curled up on her bed, fast asleep, with Chip snoozing next to her. After hastily pulling on clothes—flexible loose pants and a shirt made of material so soft it feels like a cloud against my skin—I pull the bed covers over Leisel and leave her to rest. Poor thing is so exhausted she doesn’t stir at all.
The stone making up the palace gives both of our rooms a natural chill, so I start fires in both her fireplace and mine. Then, sitting on the soft sofa in front of my fireplace, I think. I spend hours contemplating everything, absently fiddling with my hair.
My instinctual inclination to get away from Camden at all costs is overshadowed by his cunningness. By making my acceptance of himnecessary to give me the power to facilitate change for humans, he’s metaphorically chaining me to his side. In addition, the point he made about the high courts most likely ruling in his favor just to keep the peace seems true, though it’s frustrating to no end.
Although I hate to admit it, the position he’s offering—no,coercing—me into is rather enticing. In addition to the chance to help humans, I also have the chance to learn as I never have before. I’d assume the castle has a library somewhere, which probably houses extensive literature about all the mythic species, and if I’m lucky, witches. Hopefully I can read about them and learn more about those like me.
