The glamoured slaves depart the bathroom and head for the door. Just like last time, King Theron sends a gust of wind to open it, then it slams shut after they exit the room.
He gives me a smug look, as though daring me to call him rude again. I’m too nervous about possibly getting naked in front of him to offer a retort of any kind, and I press my lips together and focus on the massive tub that sits in the middle of the bathroom.
To my relief, he releases my hand and nudges me inside. He lingers in the doorway. I take a few steps closer to the tub, then turn to face him, only to wish I hadn’t. His leather pants have become very tight, and there’s an unmistakable bulge in the crotch area. I quickly avert my eyes. Heat engulfs my face.
After a few seconds, I force myself to meet his gaze, fully intending to order him out, but he speaks before I can.
“Let me know if you need any help, darling human.” He winks at me, turns on his heel, and the bathroom door slams shut behind him.
I exhale a long breath. Oh, thank the gods. He’s gone. He’s giving me the privacy I so desperately need.
My body breaks into a tremble, and I sink down on a chair near the tub, needing a moment to gather my wits. I glance at the door and frown when I don’t see a lock. Not that a locked door could keep King Theron out. I have no doubt he could blast the door down with his fae magic. A fierce winter wind.
Perhaps I should hurry just in case he returns. I remove my shoes and quickly strip my dress and stockings off. Since I don’t have an extra outfit or a nightdress, I fold the clothing neatly, intending to put the outfit back on after my bath. I remove my chemise and set it on the pile too. After another worried glance at the door, I tiptoe to the steaming bath and step inside.
Mmm. Delightful.
I sink into the water, unable to suppress a groan of pleasure. I haven’t had a proper bath in months. Not since I left the cottage. My little room above the bakery didn’t have a tub, so I’ve been making do with sink baths, which are, admittedly, far from satisfying.
Several partially filled bottles sit in a basket hanging over the tub. I grab one at random and open it. The crisp, fragrant scent of eucalyptus hits me, and I pour a dash into the steaming water. Just as I start washing, a flash of light catches my eye. I gasp and turn to see a long-sleeved nightdress suddenly appear on the chair, a pair of undergarments alongside it.
A hint of peppermint drifts on the air, a remnant of King Theron’s magic. I stare at the nightdress with a sense of growing wonder. There's another flash of light, and a pair of fur-lined slippers materializes beside the chair. Finally, a third flash produces a thick, white robe.
“You’re welcome!” comes a deep, masculine voice from the other side of the door.
CHAPTER 10
THERON
The little human is a temptation,a distraction I cannot afford. And yet, she is now my responsibility. A deep growl echoes from my chest as I navigate the passageways of the castle, my hair still damp from a recent bath. I cannot believe I allowed a human to take over the bathing area of my bedchamber, forcing me to go elsewhere.
You should have joined her.
My cock lurches in my trousers at the prospect. Fucking fires. It’s my godsdamn bedchamber, the one I took over after seizing Braemar Castle. Yet I not only arranged for her to take a bath, but I also gave her complete privacy and provided her with a luxurious nightdress and robe spun from the finest fabrics in the north.
She’s not your mate. She’s not Elssandra.
Another growl rips from my throat, and I hasten my steps down the passageway. Two human servants scurry out of my path, eyes wide, faces pale with fear. I’m used to being feared,and I relish it. The certainty of my power. The knowledge that no one, not a single fucking soul, could best me in battle.
Yet I didn’t like seeing similar fear in Helena’s eyes. I didn’t like the coldness of her terror when she feared I might kill her or force myself between her thighs.
Why the fuck did Alaric gift her to me?
I drag a hand through my damp hair and walk faster. Despite the conflicting feelings she rouses within me, I’m eager to return to the little human’s side.
We’re going to share a bed.
My cock thickens further at the thought, even as I curse myself for issuing the order without giving it proper consideration. If she’s in my bed every night, close enough that I can feel her warmth, I am not certain how I will be able to resist her. Perhaps I secretly like to torture myself.
The sconces lining the stone walls are burning low. Occasionally, the terrified scream of a human echoes throughout the castle. After Tribute Day, the castle will be teeming with even more humans my people might prey upon, those taken in lieu of the ten pieces of silver we expect each household to offer.
Normally, thoughts of Tribute Day fill me with eagerness and bloodlust. Yet… as I approach my bedchamber, all I can think about is how it might affect Helena. Unless I erect a soundproof ward around my bedchamber, she’ll hear the screams of families being torn apart. Unless I board the windows shut, she’ll see the line of frightened humans waiting outside the castle, stretching through the city all the way to the gates.
I try to tell myself that her opinion doesn’t matter, just as I try to convince myself that her fear doesn’t matter either. She’s my possession, a human female who holds no more rights than a slave.
A growl builds in my throat, and I quickly decide that I will erect no soundproof wards on Tribute Day. I summon an auraof winter power to remind myself of who I am. I am the Winter King, and I will not hide my true nature from the female who belongs to me.
Finally, I reach my bedchamber. I blow the door open with a gust of winter magic and stride inside… only for my steps to falter at the sight that greets me. My breath catches, and my cock lurches in my pants again, heated desire burning away the chill that always clings to me.
