“How are you sleeping?”
“Fine.”
“She’s not. Can we get a tonic?”
I glare at Kassandra as Eli produces a vial from his pocket. He hands it to me. No one says a word as I uncork the bottle and drink the entire tincture.
—
When morning comesand I wake once more, head aching, despair and guilt greet me. Briar throws open the blinds, sunlight pouring in, while Kassandra does her makeup, plopping down vials and bottles loudly, as if the pair are determined to disrupt me. She quips that I look treacherous.
“Thanks,” I say.
“Hungry?” Briar asks, bustling around the bed.
I shake my head.
“You should eat anyway.”
Reluctantly, I do, and I feel better. I can’t go to the House ofHealing yet, or Reign, but I can’t sit in bed anymore. I drag my feet over the edge of the mattress. Kassandra dabs cream under her eyes while seated before the vanity.
She turns. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Tending to some business.” I peel away the covers. “You can have your bed back.”
“Who are you to order me around?”
“Do you not miss your silk sheets and queen-size mattress?”
Then Kassandra does something I’ve never seen her do. She blushes.
“Well, I—” she sputters. “I mean, who wouldn’t miss those things?”
Briar snickers from her corner, now dusting a bookshelf. Kassandra whips around.
“You have something to say, Briar?”
“Absolutely not, mistress.”
“You’re awfully interested in that bookshelf.”
“Very interesting titles, mistress.”
“Anything else?”
“I think you may do well with some beauty sleep before your guests come tomorrow.” Briar bites her lip. “You’re awfully cranky.”
Kassandra gasps and the faerie laughs. It strikes me now that perhaps the two of them are always like this in private together, having spent two centuries side by side, and it is their relationship to me that’s changed. As if I am included in their private lives now.
“It’s hard work taking care of someone, day in and day out.” Kassandra sighs, combing knots from her hair with her fingers. This time, I laugh. My mistress glares. “Especially when the patient is so stubborn.”
“I’m not stubborn.”
“Yes, you are,” Briar and Kassandra say.
“Well, I’m better now thanks to your care.” I reach for the robe at the foot of the bed and slip it on over my nightgown. Kassandra wrinkles her nose.
“You may want to bathe.”
