“So...” Baylen began, plopping down in the seat across from me. “You’re sleeping with master. How’s that going? Does he snore?”
I shrugged. “No, not really. He barely moves, actually. Just kind of lies there.”
“And how is it?” Daphne purred, wagging her eyebrows.
I frowned, not understanding. When I realized what she was implying, my eyes widened, my face burning with embarrassment. “Oh, no. We’re not... He’s not... I mean, he’s just keeping me in there, so I don’t try to run away again.”
Daphne and Elise exchanged a knowing smile.
“I hope he hasn’t been ungentlemanly to you.” Cookie gave me a pointed look. “He may be our master, but I won’t stand for any shenanigans.”
I snorted. “He’d have to be in the room longer than just to sleep for that to matter. He stays on his side of the bed and me on mine. Nothing untoward happening there.”
“Do you have someone back home then?” Baylen asked, a curious, almost hopeful gleam in his eyes.
Shifting in place at his question, I didn’t know how much to tell them about my life back at the factory. I’d never really thought about finding someone to love or even marry and have children with. My life belonged to Rumple, and that was all there was too it.
“No,” I said finally, figuring it was safer to just keep it simple. “I don’t have anyone back at the factory.”
Baylen’s answering smile made me uncomfortable. I feared I’d gotten his hopes up. I liked Baylen and didn’t want to ruin the friendship we’d started because of a misunderstanding. And yet, if Fran didn’t come through, I might not be here long enough for it to matter.
“Oh, there you are,” Fran’s voice appeared as if summoned. “What are you doing in here? You’re to be in the dining room with master. Come along now.”
Fran grasped my elbow and led me out of the kitchen. We walked at a brisk pace until we reached the dining room where Blackthorn was already sitting at his end of the table. When he saw me, something seemed to relax in his body.
“Here you go mistress.” Fran pulled my chair out for me, then pushed it in as I sat down. “Right where you belong now.”
I glanced up at Blackthorn, our eyes locking across the table. He might think that he had won, but this was far from over. Fran might help me break this spell, but that didn’t mean that I had to stay here afterward. Especially not with a master who thought he could just keep me tied up for days without consequences.
I lifted my cup to my lips and muttered, “I suppose I am.”
Chapter 16
After dinner, I laid in the bed facing away from the door, fuming. I’d tried to go to my old bedroom, but Fran shot that down when she escorted me back to Blackthorn’s room. Soaking in my fury, I went about changing for bed, all the while cursing my captor’s name.
Dinner was a torturous event. The tension between Blackthorn and me could have been cut with a knife. I’d spent a good part of it just shoveling food into my mouth so I wouldn’t say anything that would make him tie me up again and the other half thinking of ways to escape.
By the time dinner was over, I hadn’t thought of any new ways to get out of the castle or ways around the spell, and all I’d done was rile myself up against my so-called savior.
Fran had implored me to just tell Blackthorn about the spell or try to like I had with her. For some reason unbeknownst to me, she thought he would figure it out like she had and then more than likely let me go. I didn’t have that kind of faith.
Still, it was one of the few things I hadn’t tried yet. But bringing it up was another matter.
The bedroom door clicked open. My back stiffened. After a moment, I forced myself to relax. Blackthorn had proven he wasn’t about to ravish me in my sleep or even at all. Except for a few times where his touch had lingered, I would suspect he didn’t find me attractive at all. Which made sense, if I recalled the portrait of the beautiful woman I’d found on the first day.
Why would he want me when he could have her?
Blackthorn moved around the room, opened and closed a few doors, no doubt getting ready for bed.
I laid there, trying to decide if I should say something to him. Telling Fran had been easier than I thought even with the complications from the spell. It helped that she knew a lot about spells. However, I didn’t think she would try to tie me down to the bed like this psychopath had. And, while she assured me he would figure it out, I wasn’t so positive.
The bed sank in, and Blackthorn’s bare back appeared before me as he sat on the edge of the bed. I sucked in a breath and prepared myself for the possible consequences.
“I...” My voice cracked. I cleared my throat. “I have... Rumple gave me...” I struggled against the spell’s hold and then blurted out, “a terrible rash.”
Shit. That’s not what I wanted to say.
“Well... that’s unfortunate,” Blackthorn stated stiffly. “I’ll have someone bring you a cream for it.”
