Well, look at him. The big, bad, indomitable warrior who could not be stopped by the darkest, most terrifying tests of humanity.
Good for him.
Good forfuckinghim.
My trembling fingers curled into fists. “I get that killing, torture, and violence are regular parts of your daily activities. But inmylife, the one where my eyes are brown and I’m just another villager, being kidnapped, blindfolded, and bound is a big deal. Having my eyes turned into a kaleidoscope of color is jarring, and being hunted by the most powerful leaders—one of whom slaughters his own people for entertainment—without knowingwhyis a bit overwhelming. Liken me to a child, but in my reality, a child would not have made it this far.”
The levity on his face vanished, something implacable and firm in its place. “If you’re seeking pity, you won’t find it here. You’re going to have to make it much further than you already have.”
My fists nearly flew right into that granite jaw. “I’m not stupid enough to seek anything fromyou,” I hissed instead. And the only place I was going tomake itwas home, once I escaped him.
He didn’t react, making it abundantly clear how little my words mattered. Instead, he nodded to a tub in the corner of the room and abruptly said, “You can take a bath. Callen will bring you clothes, food, and new bandages in an hour. Try to open the door or leave this room, and you won’t have a pleasant evening.”
What, was he going to sit outside my room all night, waiting for me to defy him?
Part of me hoped so, only because the hard floor would beuncomfortable.
Without another word, Harthon turned his back and strode from the room, closing the wooden door behind him.
Chapter 5
The violet of my eyes wasn’t solid. It was made of lilac and purple streaks that swirled and danced like flowing water along the outer edges of my irises. The vibrant hue slowly melted into a stunning gold that was both warm and cool—what I imagined real gold might look like—toward my pupil. It, too, looked like a liquid pool.
I pulled away from the mirror, and the colors lost the intricate detail that was almost beautiful. From here, they were startling andwrong.
The grime and dirt shading my skin weren’t helping matters. I’d nearly yelped when I first found the mirror in the room. My hair, naturally streaked with dark blondes and light browns, was matted and greasy in the haphazard braid. Indigo circles hung heavy beneath my eyes, and my cheekbones seemed hollow, making my normally heart-shaped face appear long and narrow. My lips were nearly void of color, and my clothing was a torn, dirty mess.
I walked across the generous room to the bath, which sat beside a roaring fireplace. With its massive bed and soft maroon rugs, this room was the nicest space I’d ever set foot in, and I’d done so looking—and definitely smelling—my absolute worst. The irony wasn’t lost on me. And neither was the fact that I was given such a luxury as acaptive.
I supposed the inn didn’t have any dungeons for Harthon to throw me in. Yet, it likely had a stable and plenty of closets. Still, I’d been placed here.
I quickly stripped, mindful of the hour I had until Callen entered. To me, baths had always been like yeast: nice to have but an unnecessary delicacy. At home, I only ever used a basin and cloth to freshen my body or dipped in the village stream when no one was around. Bathtubs were incredibly expensive, and few in the village had one. Besides, no one wanted to spend hours warming water over a fire only for it to turn cold before they could truly enjoy it.
I nearly moaned as I stepped into the hot water, submerging my body and head so quickly that it spilled over the sides. Glorious warmth melted into my skin, soothing the aches and soreness that blanketed my body. Palming the lavender soap that’d been provided, I began the tedious process of scrubbing the filth from my hair and skin. I watched in gross satisfaction as brown suds fell into the water, replaced by white foam as the dirt washed away. Nicks and scrapes burned as I passed over them, but I didn’t gentle my touch, knowing any exposed flesh was probably filled with grime.
My bandaged wrists were my last task and the only thing I dreaded. I unwrapped the white fabric, revealing two thick, angry red rings where my skin had rubbed off. A few sections had been spared, but the rest was open wound. Grinding my teeth into my lip, I hissed as I dunked the area. When the soap touched my first wrist, it felt like I’d thrust it into the fireplace itself.
A strangled noise tore out of my throat, and I pulled the soap away.
Whether it was Harthon or someone else, my door was likely guarded. The last thing I wanted was to be heard wailing in pain from abath.
Wounds like this needed to be cleaned. I knew that. They werethe kind of injury that exposed enough flesh to bring infection and the unpleasantness that followed. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Perhaps it was a blessing that I’d been unconscious as Harthon wrapped them.
I snorted at that and reclined, letting my arms dangle over the edge of the tub. No blessings came from Harthon.
With the crackling fire keeping the tub warm, it was no surprise that I fell into a blissful state of half-sleep. Sometime later, a sharp knock on the door jolted me into action.Callen.Water sloshed as I shot upright and jumped from the bath, scrambling for something to cover myself with.
“Hey Fish Eyes, I come bearing gifts,” he called from the door. The door that was slowlyopening.
I dove for the towel set on the floor beside the tub. I’d just barely wrapped it around the essentials when he strode into the room, a tray in one hand and a stack of fabric in the other.
He paused, taking in my form. Then he laughed.
I tucked my dripping hair behind my ears, well aware I was standing in a massive puddle.
“I suppose I should have asked if you were decent before barging in,” he said, striding to a table beside the bed. He deposited the items and faced me, planting his hands on his hips. His grin was annoyingly big.
“Thatisthe expectation. Like, from everyone in the world.”
