CLIPPED WINGS
Being carted around by this brute was not her idea of a good time, but Hazel resigned to it despite her reservations. She’d spent too much energy trying to pummel Slaide into putting her down, and when he’d finally obliged, she discovered she was still in far too much pain to walk more than a few steps. So, she found herself in his arms again, much to her dismay.
They arrived at an archway with oaken double doors, which Slaide pushed through unceremoniously. “And this,” he said with a grunt, “will be your home for the foreseeable future.” He crossed the room to the wooden four-poster bed and tossed Hazel onto it as though he was offloading a sack of grain and not a woman.
“Hey! Take it easy!” she yelped.
“Says the girl who didn’t want any help. Anyway, as I said, this is where you’ll be staying. Phaedra will be attending you and is currently readying a bath.”
Hazel was only half-listening as she took in her new surroundings. She flopped backward onto the thick, soft duvet and thought it must be stuffed with the most expensive down known to man, because damn was it luxurious.
“Are you even listening?”
“Hmm?”
“Fucking Hel, Hazel. I’m trying to give you some ground rules so you don’t lose your head and you?—”
But she was ignoring him again, cozying deeper into the covers and pillows. She was so, so tired.I amneverleaving this bed.
“Ahem…”
Shit. Right. Currently in the same room—alone—with the most dangerous man in Aeos.“Err… Yes?” She found herself uncomfortable to be sharing this space with him. He could do whatever he wanted to her right now, and no one would know or care.
Apparently, he had a similar thought. “Witch or not, I’m beginning to think it really would be easier to kill you and be done with it. You’re more trouble than you’re worth.” Slaide stalked toward her, causing her to slink up against the headboard, pulling her knees to her chest.
“Just stay out of trouble. Can you manage that? No, don’t answer. Considering how you got here in the first place, I know for a fact you can’t stay out of trouble. Keep in mind, I’ll be around and checking in on you periodically, but I’m not always going to be here to rescue you.”
Hazel rolled her eyes and pulled the covers back over her head without so much as another word.You’re the last person I’d want to rescue me, anyway.
“Don’t forget to bathe; you smell awful,” he reminded her as he left the room.
Only when Hazel was certain the door had closed did she peek out from beneath her covers. For the first time since they’d entered, she was able to take in her surroundings in greater detail.
On the far wall to her right, there were two sets of floor-to-ceiling windows, each with a built-in window seat upholsteredin red velvet. Heavy velvet curtains in a wine-stain red were pulled back on either side and tied with golden rope. Between them, a writing desk with a single drawer rested against the wall, complete with a small stack of parchment and an inkwell.
The four-poster bed was ornate, with whorls carved into the mahogany. The craftsmanship, though extensive, was exquisite and unlike anything she’d seen. Which, of course, was only fitting. She was in the home of the High King himself, after all.
Hazel’s thoughts were interrupted by a tiny noise behind her. She turned to find a small yet statuesque woman standing there. No, not just a woman.
An angel.
She was curvy yet petite, with pinched features and much smaller wings than she would have expected.Though I suppose that’s fitting, seeing as absolutely nothing has been what I’ve thought it would be.
The angel bowed low, revealing the intricate, delicate-looking wings on her back. When she stood, she spoke in a melodic voice the likes of which could only come from… well, an angel.
“Mistress, I am Phaedra. I do believe Master Elias told you I’d be attending you?”
“I—yes. He did. But it’s alright, really. You don’t have to worry about me.”
“Worry, Mistress? I don’t understand.”
“Well, most people here don’t trust me, and I can only assume Slaide—er, Master Elias—expects you to keep a watchful eye on me should I decide to do anything stupid?”
“No, Mistress. He said nothing of the sort. In fact, he told me you’ve had quite a harrowing few days and would need to be attended to until you are able to care for yourself.”
Hazel didn’t know what to say. Being in the presence of what she understood to be a supernatural being was disconcerting tosay the least. But being waited on by one? No one talked about what went on in this castle, and they certainly never mentioned angelic servants.
“Mistress? If it’s alright with you, I’ll escort you to your bath now, lest it get cold.”
