Cyrus’ eyes scan every inch of my face, and for a moment, they dart to my lips as he rests the towel on my cheek for a long moment. Longer than the other parts. Then he clears his throat quietly and takes it away, dipping it back into the water. “Are you hungry? Thirsty? I can fetch you?—”
The assistant is scurrying back to us, leading an elderly man dressed in white robes with a bald head and long white beard. Elder Fredrick—if I remember his name correctly. He was the one who tended to me when I was here in the infirmary after the trial. He stops at the foot of my bed and scans me. “Do you remember your name?”
I nod, and he asks, “Where you are?” When I nod again, he motions with his chin to Cyrus. “Who this is?”
“Yes,” I murmur.
Cyrus stands from his chair, his height unrivaled by anyone else I’ve ever seen. He makes even Elder Fredrick and the assistant look like children with his stature. “Elder Fredrick, how long do you recommend she stay bedridden?”
The elderly man twists his attention off me to Cyrus. “I’d suggest at least until her color returns.”
Everyone shifts their gazes back to me, and at the amount of attention, I flinch. Cyrus nods to Elder Fredrick and the assistant. “Thank you. I’ll call upon you should I need your assistance.”
Elder Fredrick bows, then sweeps his assistant off down the long, rectangular room until they exit. All around us are rows of empty beds. The other three women sent here yesterday are gone. Two of them were to be dismissed, perhaps are already home now. Though I hadn’t seen Moe rejoin our ranks yet. Perhaps she’s been transferred to her room.
I swing my legs over the side of the bed toward Cyrus as I say, “I want to leave.”
“Leave?” Cyrus jerks forward, ready to catch me should my knees buckle. He holds out his open, gloved palms should I need it. “Leave to where? You shouldn’t walk on your own yet.”
I rest my palms on his as I rise off the mattress, fighting a blush rushing to my cheeks at the sight of my hands in his. “I don’t like infirmaries.”
“Fair.” He dips his head. “I’d venture to say most do not.”
But he doesn’t know how often I’ve been in them.
I slip my hands off his and run them down my dress to disperse the nerves buzzing under my skin again. When I look up at him, he’s watching me. And for a quick moment, I peer into his eyes, looking for what—I do not know. “Where is Marcella? Have you sent her home?”
He blinks. “No, I haven’t sent her home. She’s with the other women.”
“Was she in trouble?”
He squints. “Why would she be in trouble?”
“Devin sent for her earlier, and she was gone for an hour.”
His eyes relax. “You care for her?” It’s more realization than a question.
I retract my head at such an odd question. “I…”
A small grin lifts his mouth. “It’s alright. There’s no rule that you cannot be friends. And besides, my wife will be allowed to hold whatever company she wants.”
The wordwifeon his lips has another blush creep to my cheeks, and I have to force my eyes away from his mouth. Lowering down, I fix the strap on my left shoe as an excuse to stop my staring.
“Are you sure you’re alright?” he prompts. “Because I only wish for you to feel better. Lying down for a few days will not affect your position here, I guarantee you.”
“I just need something to eat, that’s all. I’ll feel better afterwards,” I mumble honestly.
“Well, in that case…” with a dazzling smile, he offers me a bent elbow. “I can certainly fix that.”
Slipping my arm through his, I’m silently grateful for his support as he leads me out of the infirmary. We slowly walk the halls, and I can’t help glancing around every direction we pass. Trying to etch every room into my memory. Luckily, Cyrus doesn’t force any conversations.
Once we get to the end of a hallway with double doors, he knocks for a moment before swinging it open. The warm scent of sugar and vanilla wafts over me, and I can’t help but smile.
It’s a kitchen. Three chefs buzzing about freeze, eyes all shooting to us in the entryway.
Cyrus dips his head. “Good afternoon. May we have the room? If it’s not too much trouble?”
“Never, my King!” a woman squeaks, and all three of them bow before abandoning their tasks and leaving through a side door.
