“Where’d you come from?” I choke out, rubbing a hand over my chest in surprise.
The woman gives me a warm, gentle smile. It’s hard to tell in this lighting, but her eyes seem to be a soft brown. Her curly hair is a chestnut color, the masses pulled back into a ponytail, with parts framing her face. Tilting my head to the side, I squint, uncertain of whether my eyes are playing tricks on me.
Are those cat ears poking out from her hair?
“Follow me,” Her voice is low and sweet as she turns for the stairs.
Quietly, I fall into step behind her, my gaze moving from her head down her body and I gasp in surprise.
“You– you have a tail!” The words are out before I can stop them. I cover my mouth, my eyes growing wide. “Shit, that was rude.”
Oh, gosh, I feel sick. I am not making very good first impressions.
The young woman glances over her shoulder at me and simply smiles, her long, brown spotted tail whipping back and forth. “That I do.”
My shoulders slump with shame and exhaustion. I need sleep, food and a shower. In any order, I’m not picky.
Chapter six
Everly
The wooden beams running along the high ceilings create an arch, giving the darker rough stone walls of the corridors a tall and regal atmosphere, while the plush carpets run down the middle of the smooth lighter stone floors, making it seem comforting and cozy.
My fingers itch to run along the emerald heavy velvet curtains that frame the gigantic arched windows, spaced evenly along the corridors. The young woman leads me through the castle and up several flights of stairs before coming to a stop in front of a large set of wooden doors.
I press my teeth into my lip to prevent myself from expressing my appreciation or inquiring her name. Nix’s words repeat over and over in my head. Is it all fae who have these set rules, or just the fairies?
When I stop beside her, she pushes open the doors and waves me inside. “There is hot water in the bathroom and a change of clothes for you on the bed. I will be back with some food.”
I step inside, and she shuts the door with a resounding click, leaving me standing in the entrance of a room that’s bigger than my entire apartment.
Everywhere I look, there are hints of the medieval era, but the glow of electricity is unmistakable. Slowly, I make my way through the large room toward what I assume is the bathroom. A gasp escapes my lips as I step through the doorway, slowly rotating in place to take it in. The bath is sunken into the ground and could easily fit two or three people in it, and in the corner stands a shower with a huge waterfall-type shower head, and no curtain or doors blocking it from view.
As dirty and smelly as I am, I really don’t want to shower. The idea of getting undressed and being naked here seems to make me feel unsafe and vulnerable. Glancing down at my dirt-stained clothes, I let out a deep sigh. Maybe I can wash up and quickly change into some clean clothes. The woman did say some are laid out on the bed. I walk back to the bedroom and make my way over to the bed.
I giggle as I feel the luxurious, soft fabric beneath my fingers. They have to be joking, right?
The dress is gorgeous, and judging by the size, won’t fit my curvy body at all. My breasts are more than a handful, and my hips are wide. I am a true hourglass figure, and this dress is made for someone who is tall and slim.
I glance around but don’t see any other clothes. I lost my pack in the forest, so I don’t have a change of clotheswith me from home.
Shrugging, I make my way back to the bathroom, deciding to wash my face and armpits at least. The basin is lined with several sparkling glass bottles. I carefully unscrew the bottle of pink liquid and take a deep whiff of its contents. The sweet, fruity scent drifts through the air, and I hum in delight, the fragrance instantly melting the tension from my muscles and making me feel at ease.
I glance up in the mirror, my eyes widening in shock, and my body freezes. My long, thick, blonde hair is a mess. I wince at the thought of trying to untangle these knots with no conditioner to help me. Instead, I reach up and artfully twist and knot my mess of hair into a loose bun, creating what one might think to be an intentionally disheveled look. It still looks like a bird’s nest up there, but it’s as good as it’s going to get for now. I turn the tap on, and the sound of running water fills the room. I cup some cool liquid in my hands and splash my face. Oh my god, that was nice.
Removing my shirt and tank, I grab a washcloth and lather up some soap, standing in just my bra and jeans. I make quick work of scrubbing my face, neck, arms, and chest, getting the majority of the dirt and sweat off me.
“There,” I whisper to myself as I dry off.
I look down at my clothes, which are stained and exude an unpleasant smell. The last thing I want to do is put them back on, but I don’t really have a choice. With a deep, forceful sigh, I pull my tank back on, then make my way back into the room and collapse on the bed. I am so exhausted that I can barely keep my eyes open, yet mymind is wide awake.
A soft knock at the door has me jolting off the bed, looking for a weapon. I hear the handle turning, and my eyes dart toward the door as it swings open, my heart in my throat.
The woman from earlier backs into the room, pulling a cart with her. The sweet smell of food hits me, and my mouth instantly waters.
“Miss?”
I must have zoned out, completely focused on the food, because I didn’t hear her speaking.
