And yetachingfor something more…
“Fucksakes, Mila,” the captain said, already finished. A large portion of his meal left untouched. “That was impressive.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Was it?”
“I’ve never seen a woman eat with such—” He paused to stroke at the stubble on his chin, then said, “Enthusiasm. Where could you have possibly hidden all that food? You’re such a little thing.”
“Yes, well.” I cleared my throat. “These things are bound to happen. Especially when your all-powerful master forgets to feed you for days on end.”
It was his turn to blush, and he inclined his head. Affording a point where it was due. “If you’re finished,” he said after a beat, and moved to stand. “I’m nursing a cankerous hangover, and”—he grimaced—“I can smell myself. It’s time for a bath.”
13
The bathhouse.
We were back.
To a place that held horrible memories of being exposed… the truth of my heritage revealed, where the captain had put his mark on my skin and enslaved me to his every crude whim.
It was a traditional Caledonian bathhouse, one that supported communal bathing and a full harem. Where women wereeagerfor the male attention that offered a paltry sip of power in the form of coin. A place where I might have been trained for use in all my holes, where I’d be made to learn the art of seduction and feminine cooing. To be devious if it meant my own survival.
A place that wasn’t my destiny, for instead, I’d been cursed with priestess blood.
Choking on a breath heavy with the scent of perfumed creams and oils—the air nauseatingly moist and humid—I staggered. Clinging to the captain’s jacket to keep myself upright as I blinked through the urge to vomit.
“It takes some getting used to,” he admitted, not unkind when he laid a steadying hand on the back of my neck. Grounding me.
I shook him off, turning instead toward the harem and the large public bathing pool where the very last of my secrets had been shampooed away.
“And where exactly do you think you’re going?”
Teeth bared, I didn’t bother to meet his eye when I hurled a biting, “You get exactly one guess,” over my shoulder.
He chuckled, low and sinister. Catching my wrist, he made me turn. “I don’t bathe with the slaves, Mila. We’re going upstairs. To the private baths.”
I shook my head. “No. I’m not—”
“You know, it’s funny,” he said, and stooped. Setting his shoulder against my stomach, his left arm swept the backs of my knees and he lifted me before I could do more than squeal in protest. “But I don’t recall asking whatyouwanted to do.”
“Put medown,” I hissed, hands scrambling to ensure my nudity was concealed. That the breeze caressing my nethers wasn’t evidence that I’d been exposed to any who might glance our way
But he ignored me.
Taking the stairs two at a time, my weight seemed not to bother him despite the cankerous hangover or the heat. And when he pushed open the door to a large, tiled room, he didn’t so much as falter when steam billowed around his feet.
It wasn’t until the sound of male laughter echoed from inside that he went stiff, the band of his forearm tightening about my thighs. Dark flames flickering hot and possessive against my ribs.
“Still haven’t broken her in, eh?”
Setting me down, the captain made sure I had my feet before he turned to face the other—a face I recognized from General Tilcot’s disastrous dinner. A bound elite, the very same man who’d been so jealous to learn my freedom had been worth a mere fifty dollars.
With a shrug, the captain said, “As I’m sure you’ve heard, the last few days have been especially…stressful, Colonel Viridian.”
“Conrad, please,” the colonel said. “I think we can forgo the appropriate designations while soaking in the nude, hmm?”
They both laughed, but when the captain’s fingers found the ties of my dress, I balked. “Alright then, Conrad,” he drawled, following when I tried to bolt. “It would seem I’ve managed to find myself a rather rare priestess.” His jaw grew tight, and without giving me an inch, he pulled at my ties. Leaving me to scramble in an attempt to keep my modesty intact. “One whose power I cannot use without dire consequences.”
“Yes, thatisthe most current gossip,” the colonel hummed. “What was it the general said? Off active duty until…”
