I hadn’t known what he’d meant byresidence, but my wildest imaginings wouldn’t have conjured such a vision. Stars above, had I known such accommodations existed when we stayed during the solstice, the guest suites would’ve been an insult.
Endless windows stood in place of a wall on the far side, giving the aquamarine lake beyond full dominion over the room. Cradled by an impossibly white beach, its calm surface glittered in the bright afternoon sun as if flirting with me to join—and oh, how I ached to oblige, longing to wash away the invisible stains that marred my soul.
The colors inside mirrored the landscape: light sandy tones, whites, and delicate splashes of blue and teal. The décor was effortless, as though the space had simply become this way rather than being carefully curated—perhaps it had.
A sweet citrus scent washed over me, and I drew in a deepbreath, letting it overwhelm my senses. I was helpless to stop the soft moan that escaped me at its promise of a warm, comforting bath.
Following its silent summons, I found Kai’s lanky form bent over a massive claw-foot tub that stood proud along another set of windows overlooking the lake.
“Kai!” I yelped, joy flooding through me at the sight of her.
“Lady Nyleeria!” she exclaimed, nearly jumping out of her pale-green skin as she whirled to face me, then dropped into a full curtsy. “I didn’t hear you come in; my apologies.”
My brows knit together, thrown off by the formality. Since when did she curtsy? And where had the fierce, outspoken female I’d known gone?
“Are you okay?” I asked, concern threading through my voice as I took in her stunning feline eyes.
“Of course, Lady.”
I resisted the shudder that wanted to crawl down my spine at the title and took a small step toward her, forcing a warm smile. “Kai, it’s me, Nyleeria.”
“Yes, Lady,” she said again, confusion now knitting her delicate features.
“What’s going on with you? Why are you being so formal?”
“My lady,” she said in the soft tone one might use with a child. “You’re High Fae and a member of Lord Caius’ court. Lady is your proper title now, and how I’m to address you.”
I opened, then promptly closed my mouth.High Fae. I was High Fae.
Mother help me, the thought of whattypeof fae I’d become hadn’t even crossed my mind.
A glint of a mirror caught my attention out of the corner of my eye, and I turned my head away, unwilling to face the truths my reflection would surely reveal.
Feeling grossly uncomfortable with the revelation—and the prescribed title—I refocused on Kai. “I’m still me,” I said, my voicebordering on a plea. “The same woman you ordered around and whose wounds you tended, the one you had no problem throwing out of bed and chiding as you saw fit.”
She scrutinized me for a brief moment. Head cocked, she said, “But you’re not a woman anymore, now are you?”
Her words hit like a dagger to the chest, drawing me up short. It was such a subtle shift in vernacular between human and fae, yet it pointed to a much larger truth—man belonged to humans. As fae, I was female, but I could no longer claim myself a woman. The realization was unsettling, as if a piece of my identity had been stripped away. And for the second time today, I found myself wondering if my humanity had been taken with it. Given how I’d lashed out at Endymion—had delighted in the rage he’d invoked—I feared it was closer to the truth than I cared to admit.
Bunching the fabric of my shirt in my fists, I looked down, unseeing, trying to keep my emotions at bay. “Please, Kai,” I whispered, my voice raw with emotion.
Silently I begged for her to have mercy on me in the one, tiny thing.
She was quiet long enough that I forced my head up, my eyes finding hers instantly. They shone with a kind of sad curiosity—if such an emotion existed.
“Okay.” She sighed. “But mind you, Nyleeria,” she started, and the familiar admonishment in her tone had me stifling a smile, lest she scold me for that too. Crinkles formed at the corners of her eyes as she caught it, but she didn’t miss a beat as she continued, “I’ll only entertain such foolishness when we’re inside your quarters, alone. Are we understood?
My smile cracked wide open as I stood at attention. “Yes, ma’am.”
She waved me off, muttering something about my ridiculousness, though a slight curl at the corners of her mouth was quickly replaced by a scowl as her eyes swept over me. “For the love of theancients, girl, why is it you’re always coming to me in worse shape than a barn cat?”
“Occupational hazard?” I shrugged.
Kai’s scowl deepened, her nose crinkling as if my joke stank worse than her proverbial cat.
“Or—and hear me out—maybe it’s my irresistible charm that gets me into these situations,” I said with a wink.
Still unimpressed, she motioned for me to lift my arms. I obeyed.
