She was in a stunning, architecturally astounding tower hundreds of feet in the air, with no direct way to escape.
Avery turned and saw a plate of food was on a small table. She’d eaten so little since her capture. With nobody in the room to manipulate her thoughts, Avery ate ravenously.
Her magic coursed under her skin. It felt as if it had become significantly more potent since her bindings were removed. Somehow, despite the tonic and the bindings, her power must have blossomed, and now she needed to use it. It was like an itch under her skin that she couldn’t scratch. Yet, she didn’t dare use her magic. Not when she knew that her behavior could be the life or death of her friends. Where were they, anyway?
The sound of locks unlocking startled her from her thoughts. She turned from the balcony, and sawfourlocks click as the door opened. Selene entered the room, her velvety black feathers tucked tight behind her back.
“King Rylo desires your presence in the throne room. I am to oversee your preparations,” Selene muttered as she came into the room. Her silver cheeks sparkled against the deep sable of her skin. Like so many fae, she had a long, willowy frame with unnatural beauty and grace. She wore an elaborate silver dress with iridescent embroidery.The bodice must have a corset built in, because her waist looked tiny in the dress. The shoulders came to a sharp point, and the sleeves were tight against her skin, tapering off at her middle finger. Selene’s closely cut hair brought attention to her many earrings, decorating her pointed ears.
Behind her, a shorter fae woman, obviously older than the stunning woman, came in. This woman’s complexion and hair reminded Avery of red clay. Earthy and gritty. Her skin was the bumpy texture of sandstone. This woman had no wings. Unlike the other woman, she wore a simple dress with an apron attached. She also carried a burgundy gown, similar to the one Selene wore.
“Edet’s the name. I’ll be cleaning you up, madam. An honor to meet a human, it is. I ne’er thought I’d see the day. Dare I say, you smell like what I was told humans smelled like! Do you know the old saying ‘you stink like a human?’” the woman said.
Avery looked down at her own appearance. She wore the same dress she woke up in on the day Selene fed her. The blood that coated her was gone. However, she wasn’t clean at all. Avery’s fingers couldn’t make it through her hair. It was a riot of tangles, dirt, and greasy hair. She didn’t want to know what these fae smelled on her. Sweaty armpits? Unwashed hair? Fae and their naturally perfect scents were so annoying.
Avery remained silent. What do you say to your captor’s servants? Although Selene was probably not a servant. She hadn’t acted like one when she’d put a knife to Avery’s throat, and she certainly hadn’t when she admitted to torturing Savine.
The two women stared at her, waiting for her to speak. Finally, Avery said, “Um. Yeah, I’d like to get cleaned up after traveling. It’s been a while since I’ve had a shower.”
“I’ll draw a bath and help you wash that hair of yours,” the clay skinned woman said as she opened a rounded door that Avery hadn’t explored yet.
Avery turned and looked at Selene, standing ramrod straight near the door. “Where are Susan and Rue?”
“Just down the hall. They can join you later, if King Rylo approves.”
Avery frowned. “Are they in shackles? Why am I not bound?”
Selene walked closer to Avery. Her towering height caused Avery to take an apprehensive step back.
“Would you prefer you and your friends be prisoners in the Tower of Teeth?” Selene asked, a snarl on her perfect face.
Avery’s eyes widened. “No. I just want to know that they are safe.”
“Then I suggest you be thankful for Rylo’s hospitality and get cleaned up.”
Avery decided it was best not to test this woman’s patience and walked into the bathroom. Edet filled the porcelain tub with water. The room smelled like lilacs.
“Come, come. The water will scrub that travel dirt off your peachy skin in no time,” Edet said.
Before she responded, the woman pulled the dress over Avery’s head.
“I’ll have that tossed,” the woman said.
Avery nodded as she quickly stepped into the warm bath, and the woman began to scrub her skin roughly. No, this was not happening.
“Okay, seriously, this isn’t necessary. Can you wait with Selene?” Avery asked.
Edet gave her a scowl, but said nothing to Avery. As she opened the door, Avery heard her mutter, “My services are not needed.”
Avery lingered in the bath. She looked down at her hands and could still feel the sticky remains of Weston’s blood, despite it being gone.Weston was dead because of her, and for what? For her to be part of more twisted games that Rylo thought up? She would forever have his blood on her hands, and she didn’t know who else she may have to kill to survive.
He was a good man, and he didn’t deserve to be killed for her sake. Avery would never forgive herself for what she did to that man.
The bathwater stayed perfectly warm as Avery scrubbed at her clean hands. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t remove the feel of Weston’s blood.
Eventually, Avery washed the dirt and grime from the rest of her body before she tackled her unruly hair. Finally, she tamed it as much as she could manage.
When she stepped back into the bedroom, she saw the two women waiting. Edet sat on Avery’s freshly made bed, and Selene stood against the wall.
