I washed my hair with the lovely smelling soaps she’d brought before leaving the sanctuary of the water. She opened an enormous, fluffy white bath towel, and wrapped it around me.
She was combing my hair—something Ididprotest, to no avail—when strong footsteps announced Arrazyl.
He stepped into the bathroom, suddenly making the massive room seem much, much smaller. Junyv and he exchanged words in vorikaan and she scurried out.
His predatory gaze hungrily took me in, all dripping hair and fluffy towel. He stepped forward, prompting me to step back. He stilled, and I immediately felt bad at the hurt that flashed across his face, quickly replaced by a careful mask. “Let me help you dry off and dress.”
“That’s not necessary.”
He inclined his head and retreated back into the bedroom. It seemed like the air came whooshing back into the room, the bathroom spacious again. Arrazyl was magnetic, that was for sure.
When I went out after dressing the main doors leading into the sitting area were open and Junyv and another steward were carrying armfuls of items in.
“What’s all this?” I joined Arrazyl, who stood off to the side.
“These are for you.” Junyv said as she and the other female brought baskets and small hykh leather trunks of goods into the room.
I frowned. “I don’t understand.”
Junyv flashed a quick look at Arrazyl before averting her eyes again, and he turned toward me. “These are gifts from those who know you.”
“What?” I gazed at the items. “They know what happened?”
“Some of it. They know you were injured, but they don’t know the details.”
“You should open this one first.” Junyv set a basket down on the low decorative table in front of me. It had a soft cloth draped over it. I lifted the cloth and my lips parted in surprise. Small, glistening cakes and drinks in glass bottles filled the basket.
“Isn’t this what you were given when we were out gathering?” I asked Arrazyl.
“Indeed. What did you do to gain Jyyl’s favor?”
“Maybe nothing, maybe it’s poisoned.”
He chuckled and took a small piece of cake, popping it into his mouth. “She wouldn’t dare. She knows you’re favored by me.”
That didn’t make her serve me that one day. “It may be because of her grandson.” I admitted.
His eyebrows rose as he waited for my explanation. I told him about what happened and he stared at me. “You got a ykth to release its prey?”
“I guess I didn’t know the limits of how someone should be saved from it.”
He grinned. “You’re amazing.” I smiled, my heart giving a squeeze at the look in his eyes. “Why don’t you open the rest ofyour gifts? After this, I’ll have to step up my own gifts to you.” He paused, his eyes flickering between mine. “I noticed you kept the jewelry I gave you.”
I touched my neck, though I didn’t have the necklace on. “I was hurt, but that didn’t mean I wanted to forget every memory with you.”
“Jacqueline.” His voice was full of pain and he pulled me into his arms, wrapping his wings around me so I was cocooned, safe. I pressed into him and rested my cheek against his chest. The strong, steady rhythm of his heart calmed me and I slipped my arms around him.
“There is something very special I want to share with you. Would you go with me?” he whispered the words against my hair and pressed a kiss on the top of my head.
I lifted my head and smiled softly at him. It was all the permission he needed, and he gathered me into his arms, cradling me like I was precious. He brushed past the balcony doors and leapt into the air in one fluid movement.
The flight was fast. I looked around curiously, wondering what he was up to. An enormous waterfall draped over the cliff for at least a quarter mile and Arrazyl arrowed for it. He flew behind the waterfall, revealing a cavernous open shelf with what had to be hundreds of colorful vorilh.
“What?” I breathed.
Arrazyl landed close to the cave wall and set me down. “Watch the one there,” he pointed at a vorilh that was pacing, clearly straining. I joined him when he sat down. He pulled me back against his chest and we watched in silence as the baby vorilh came into the world. The female strained and huffed in a weird, bird-like manner, though she was giving birth to a live baby, not laying eggs. Another one, presumably her mate, stroked her long neck with his beak.
Minutes passed and a round sack finally slid free, shining with vivid colors while being see-through. The vorilh let out a relieved breath, but the baby inside didn’t move.
