“Out,” Ava ordered. “And don’t you dare let anyone in that door, you hear me?”
Ava’s body relaxed from holding a lifetime’s worth of fury to pure, loving kindness as she beheld me. It was the look I’d imagine a loving mother would give their child when they were injured or sick.
“Oh, you poor thing, Nyleeria. Here, child, let’s get you out of those clothes.”
Ava cut me out of my garments, gasping when she saw the dark-purple welts hidden beneath. Apparently, they hadn’t gotten any better over the past few days. I’d become accustomed to theomnipresent pain and hadn’t reacted as she’d gently maneuvered me to remove the sodden clothing from my body.
I sucked in a sharp breath and kicked out as she attempted to remove my bloodied sandals.
“I’m sorry, child, but I have to get these off. Stars, the wounds are deep. How long did you walk on them for?”
“Four days.”
Her features pinched together in disapproval, but she remained silent as she focused on the task at hand.
I gripped the sides of the tub, tears prickling my eyes as she peeled the straps away.
“I know,” she said. “Almost done.”
My screech filled the room, and the opposite leg kicked out as the last strap came away. Ava winced as if feeling the pain herself.
“All done. You did great,” she said, releasing my foot back into the water.
Ava had changed the water twice now and was finally washing my hair. I relaxed into her touch, focusing on the floral scent of the soap and the gentle fingers massaging my scalp.
“You can’t be in here,” Ava tsked at someone standing at the threshold.
I tensed, opening my eyes, then calmed when I heard Tarrin’s voice. “I need to see her.” He approached the tub and looked down at me. Luckily, I was fully covered in bubbles. I suspected Ava wouldn’t have allowed him anywhere near me if that weren’t the case.
He didn’t say a word, just stared into my eyes. His lip was split open, and he was sure to have a black eye by the same time tomorrow, but he looked okay. Thank the stars for that.
“Can you get me something for the pain?” I asked him. “I can’t… I can’t feel this anymore.”
His affliction deepened as he continued to take me in, and Ava looked between the two of us as if trying to understand what had happened.
After a few long moments, Tarrin nodded, then turned and walked away.
Shortly after, Tarrin returned and offered me a glass. I looked up at him, remembering the canteen I’d accepted from the king, and how it had cost me a week of my life.
“It’s just for pain,” he said, as if reading my mind. “But youwillbe groggy.”
I drank every drop, not registering the taste.
Warmth crawled through me as a welcome tingling sensation took the place of the pain. I let out a deep, reprieved sigh. My eyes grew heavy from the numbness that swept through me, and I lazily blinked up at him, smiling. He retrieved the glass, and his sad eyes met mine before he retreated.
“Lord Tarrin,” Ava called after him.Lord? How did I not know this sooner?
He reentered the bathroom. “Tarrin is fine, Ava.”
“Lord Tarrin,” she said, clearly ignoring his request, “you’ve drugged her. I’m not going to be able to lift her out of the tub on my own.”
“Oh… sorry.”
She waved off his apology. “I doubt she would have been much help anyway, but I do require your assistance.”
Tarrin hesitated, but as I blinked up at him, straining to keep my eyes open, he leaned down and pulled my naked body from the water. I tried to help but was blissfully limp.
Water splashed everywhere, soaking into his clothes and pooling on the tiled floor. His eyes held mine as he walked past the threshold of the lavatory, then gently deposited me on the bed. He pulled the covers over me, tucking me in, and the pillow hadn’t had the chance to soak up the water from my dripping-wet hair before I succumbed to the forces dragging me into the realm of dreams.
