Chapter 16
Prince Cedrych
We were back in the baths, me lying on the massage table while Vasil laid cool, damp towels across my back, leaving a gap for my wings to breathe. My lord had whipped me, made me cry, then claimed me while I orgasmed on his thigh. It was a lot to process. My muscles were stiff and sore, my skin sensitive wherever the cool cloth touched it. Wrung out completely, I must have fallen asleep because when I came to consciousness again, it was to the sounds of Vasil and Anika speaking in low voices.
“He’s been uncooperative, my lord. Won’t say a word to us,” the commander said.
“Were you able to determine his clan?”
“It would appear that he’s fae, not elvish. His wings have been mangled, a botched job from the looks of it.”
I propped myself up on my elbows and twisted my torso to look at them. The pain in my back had me wincing. Anika nodded respectfully in my direction before turning her attention back to Vasil. The Lord only stared at me with a pensive expression.
“I can talk to him,” I said, which earned me a raised eyebrow from Anika and a cool glare from Vasil. “I’m fae, and not to be arrogant, but he likely knows my face, considering I’ve been on the pages of the daily scrolls since the time I was a babe.”
“I don’t think that’s–” Vasil began to say.
“It’s worth a try,” Anika interrupted. “This is the closest we’ve gotten to a lead since the attempts on your life began, my lord, and I’ve a feeling this is only the beginning.”
“Please, my lord?” I said.
His expression didn’t change, but I knew he was weighing the risk versus the benefits. Vasil was cunning, strategic, something I admired about him. At last he said, “After you’ve rested. And I’ll be accompanying him,” he said to Anika.
Anika gave a curt nod and dismissed herself. I lay back down with my cheek resting on my forearm. Thank the Goddess for small victories.
“How are you feeling?” Vasil asked while peeling away the now-warm towels to inspect the damage.
“Sore,” I said, and privately, a little embarrassed too. He’d made me cry twice. What must the stoic, ever-reserved lord think of me now?
“This salve should help with that.” He began smoothing the cool liquid across my shoulders, down my back, then my butt and upper thighs. He grabbed my balls and massaged those too, causing me to arch my back reflexively because they were still so tender. The salve must have had some numbing quality to it because when I finally rose to a sitting position, I wasn’t quite so uncomfortable.
“Thank you,” I said and grabbed the clothing he’d laid out for me. I was having some trouble meeting his eyes after the intimacy we’d shared during my punishment.
“What’s this?” he asked, tilting my chin upward, his signature move.
“Nothing, my lord.”
“Cedrych.”
I sighed, aggrieved by his perceptiveness. “I suppose I just feel a little foolish about it all.”
“Foolish? About what, exactly?”
“I cried. Like a baby.”
“Yes,” he said with a small, satisfied smile.
“You liked it?” I asked.
He nodded again. “Immensely. Did you also find it cathartic?”
I took a deep breath. If I was being honest with myself, I supposed that I had. My slate had been wiped clean and there were no bad feelings between us. No lingering resentment or passive aggression, as was always the case with my mother. Vasil meant what he said. “It was quite the release.”
“Are you worried what will happen next time you disobey me?” he asked with a look of concern.
“No, not exactly. More like I don’t want to disappoint you.”
“That’s good, but I don’t want you to fear me, Cedrych.”
