“My lady, are you all right?”
She couldn’t answer Mihr. A tray rattled at the bedside table.
A gentle hand touched her hair. “A nightmare because of yesterday?”
Swallowing back her terror, Leya lifted her head, images from her dream still splintering her mind.
“I’m fine, just a headache.” She forced a smile. “Where’s Aerén?”
“The sire went off with his enforcers. He said he’ll see you later. After yesterday’s ordeal, maybe a hot bath would help you relax. Shall I run one for you?”
Mihr blamed herself for what happened at the waterfront, and no amount of telling her otherwise worked. Leya didn’t have the heart to refuse her. She asked instead, “My clothes, do you know where they are?”
“I shall find them for you.” With another quick bow, she rushed off.
Before the girl returned, Leya rolled out of bed, hustled for the bathroom, and hurried through her shower. At least Mihr’s determination to help her bathe was one way to keep her mind off the awful dream.
In the closet, she found a flowing dress in a brilliant fuchsia with cutaway armholes and flat silver links forming the straps. Maybe it was a top, she didn’t know, but it would pass for a dress on her. Leya pulled it on, and it fell to her knees.
She finger-combed her damp hair. About to fasten it into a topknot—
Mihr hurried into the dressing room, hastily setting Leya’s own clothes on the chaise lounge. “Let me do that.”
“Maybe later. After it’s dried a bit?” Leya said.
“Very well, my lady.” Mihr’s gaze did an up-down of Leya. “Oh, good, you found the clothes the sire had delivered for you. I hung them up in the closet earlier while you were asleep. This color is lovely on you. You need footwear.”
What?Her head snapped to the open closet again, and she gaped. So many more things. She wished Aerén hadn’t done that. She wouldn’t be coming back after she left in a day or so.
Curious, Leya opened a drawer.Look at that,underwear. A smile started. She quickly pulled on a silky black pair.
Mihr opened the shoe section and picked out a pair of small fuchsia sandals. “Here.”
Leya slipped on the low-heeled slingbacks, revealing her toes—the nails painted a pale pink what felt like a lifetime ago—and straightened the dainty straps.
“My people are angry with the lord who pushed you into the river,” Mihr said, her expressive eyes dark with anger. “Thanks to Severn’s fast reaction, he saved you. That horrible lord will be executed,” she said with grim resolve.
And Aerén hadn’t said a word about that last night.
“We waited millennia for a Chosen in Cidéra, and Lord Jehel would have killed you because he wanted Lord Eregen for himself. Our magic would have disappeared, never to be found again!”
Wait… “What was that about Lord Eregen?”
“Prince Aerén read his thoughts. I don’t know what he saw, but he punched Lord Eregen and warned him to stay away from you. His Highness put his life many times on the line for peace in our realm, and then this had to happen, ruining the people’s joy.”
So, Eregen wanted both herandthis Jehel?
As ifshewould ever share the man she cared about.
Leya shook her head, glad she didn’t have to worry about Eregen coming after her.
Mihr picked up the towel Leya had left on the lounger. “I always knew Prince Aerén would come through and find the one with the blood magic.”
“We won’t know for sure until the test is done,” Leya cautioned.
“I know.” A happy smile graced Mihr’s pretty features. “Have your morning repast, my lady. I’ll tidy up here, then I’ll show you the indoor gardens.”
“I can take care of this room. I don’t mind.”
