"I—"
"If you can imagine, it is incredibly difficult trying to shower with a stab wound. Hinders your motor skills a bit.” My mouth stays agape as I watch him try to re-wrap the bandage himself. “You're out of soap, by the way.”
My eyes are blinking rapidly to make sure that I'm not hallucinating this interaction, and the only words I can string together are, "you used my soap?"Not the most important issue here.My conscience snaps, and I shake my head, pushing off the stone to stand by the side of my bed. "How did you get in here?!Whyare you in here?!"
Rorin rakes his fingers through his wet, cropped curls while walking over to the opposite side. I watch as his hands move to the edge of his loosely wrapped towel, and quickly, I spin on my heel and face the wall to avoid whatever is happening behind me.
"What the fuck?"I mouth, clearing my throat. "How. Did. You. Get. In. Here?" I repeat, placing a harsh emphasis on each word.
His laughter hits my back, and I steel my resolve against his answer, "I. Am. The. King.”Consort.I add silently, but I don’t interrupt. “Your new squires don't exactly have spines of steel. I said I wanted in, and they graciously opened the doors."Great,I think,I'll have to get rid of them now."Wow… you didn't flinch that time when I used my title. I knew my kisses were good, but—"
I twist back around, Wielding out a tendril that wraps around his mouth, "do not finish that sentence." I seethe, embarrassment burning through my skin, undoubtedly flushing my cheeks red. I feel his grin grow underneath my magic, the subtle movement causing my skin to buzz and my serpents to writhe in a frenzy. "I'm going to take this away now — andyouare going to tell mewhyyou are in my bedroom." He cocks his left brow up at me, and I ignore the sensation of him flicking his tongue out at the tendril as it slips away from his mouth.
He's clad in those same ridiculous satin sleep pants he had in Vellar, and nothing else – save for his poorly wrapped bandages. "You know if you'd stop staring for one second, I might actually believe you don't want me in here, Nightmare."
Well, unfortunately for me, that's quite difficult to do when — even injured — you look like you’re sculpted by the bleeding fucking gods.I snap inside my mind. Vada's rumbling laughter echoes in my head, and I make a conscious effort to shove her out, not needing any more conversations about how my pathetic human emotions make her nauseous.
"That does not answer my question." I huff, leaning forward onto the mattress.
He mirrors my position, the tips of his curls flopping onto his forehead and lets out an exaggerated sigh, his face growing serious,"I told you I would not accept any more of your absence." The tone is final, but the eyes are soft, that sly smirk returning. "It's alright if you don't remember, I believe I said it right after you were finished tasting the inside of my mouth. If I were you, my memory would be a little hazy as well." My jaw drops more at his boldness, and he reaches across the bed, grazing my chin with his finger, "is that an invitation?"
I clamp my lips closed, my teeth grinding together from the force of it.Bastard.
Pulling away, he stands back to his full height, throwing me a wink before flopping down onto the blankets. I choke out a stunned laugh, "do not tell me you're thick enough in the head to believe that I'd let you sleep in here."
"We slept in the same bed more than once in Vellar."
"We were playing a part. To keep appearances for your fucking court." I argue.
"And now we're playing a different part — the one of a married couple. Which, according to Felix and Armond, means it's time for us to play them foryourfucking court." He folds his good arm behind his head, and closes his eyes, nestling into the blankets.
On my way to the bathroom, I loose out another tendril and smack the smug and satisfied look right from his rosy lips. "Ow!" He hisses, and I grin.
"Get off my bloody bed,princeling."
When I eventually reappeared after my long and scalding shower, I found he’d abandoned the plush mattress.
He's contorted his long body into an awkward and stiff position on the chaise. Guilt twinges in my chest for a moment,seeing him bandaged and uncomfortable. Then I remember that he invited himself in here, and if he wants to stay, then I'll make sure he's uncomfortable enough to rethink that choice.
Eveera
His snores were anything but white noise.
After about two hours of restless sleep, I woke up to him having an even worse time, his body having a fit on the chaise. Quietly, I slide out from underneath my blankets and tiptoe over to where he's contorted himself. He has deep lines furrowed between his brow, and his mouth is turned down in a frown. Of course, now that I’m awake and standing over him, he’s completely silent.
But you couldn't be silent when I was trying to sleep.
I roll my eyes at his display and trudge over to where my clothes are still piled in the bathroom. Not wanting to risk him hearing me open the heavy door back out into the passageways, I choose the more daring route — walking straight out into the hallway.
Considering I’m not dressed, I'm relieved to be met with no squires standing outside the doors. Though that means at some point tonight, Rorin dismissed them.Wonder if that will become a habit now that we’re… married.
With no time to waste, I move away from the door, awkwardly hopping down the hallway as I pull my pants on underneath my nightdress. My arms fight to get the tight neck of my tunic on over my curls while I stomp my foot all the way down into my boots.
By the time I’m done, I’m a sweaty mess.
Stealthy? In theory. Quiet? Not as much as I would like to be. I step through the wall of magic, cloaking my end of the hall, and make a beeline for the courtyard where I know Vada already waits for me.
"Eveera?"
