I nodded. “Semuel, when would you like your rooms cleaned, and at what times do you have your breakfast, lunch, and dinner?”
He chuckled. “You see, I knew I made the right choice to hire you.” Then he nudged my elbow. “Let’s walk to my stables. I’ll let you know your duties on the way there. It’s only a half-hour walk south.”
I missed him.
“Hello?” my quiet voice called out again. Silence.
I hugged the towels against my belly and walked towards the bathing chamber, cautiously peeking my head through the open door. I saw nothing but dark blue tiles.All clear.
It felt a bit cooler in here, I thought, as I made my way towards the dresser and stacked the towels neatly at its centre. I was about to leave when I heard a faint sound, a brief crackle that captured my attention. I had barely taken a second slow step towards the dark blue bath, brow furrowed, when I realised that the surface of the bath was covered in a thick layer of ice. The crackling sound amplified, and a heartbeat later, a beast of a brawny male appeared before my eyes. He stood tall and fierce, ready to strike. Water dripped from his sculpted, unclothed body, a lethal ice spear the shape of a stalactite clenched in his right hand. My breath caught and I jerked backwards, my feet stumbling, my heart racing. I quickly found the dresser at my back. I held on to its top, my breaths uneven, utterly stunned.
“Don’t you know not to sneak up on Fae like that?” the Ice Prince rumbled. The spear melted in his hand. The sound of a curtain of free-falling water echoed throughout the chamber.
I pivoted to face elsewhere, still holding on to the dresser top with my right hand. It was too late to realise that I should have turned to the other side, the one that faced the door.
“I—I knocked, and I called,” I muttered, head bowed towards my worn shoes.
Do not talk to him! Oh! And do not look at him.
Well, I had definitely violated the latter.
“I did not hear you knock or call,” he countered, his voice thick.
“Well, that’s probably because you were—” What was I supposed to say?You were cocooned in a giant ice cube?“I—I’m just here to leave the towels. I’ll go tell them to get you some food. Goodbye.” I locked my eyes on the tiles, bowed subtly, then pivoted awkwardly until I faced the door.
I scurried away, stopping only when I reached the first set of stairs. I rested my back against the wall and closed my eyes, catching my breath, focusing on making an impassive face.
As suspected, everyone was gathered in the kitchen, waiting in anticipation.
“You survived,” Ralfe commented, eyes gleaming.
“Tell us already, what does he look like?” Nadya asked.
“Would you say he’s a scary brute?” Tomas.
“Is he really big with strong muscles?” Sabriela.
“Calm down, all of you,” I breathed. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but he wasn’t in his room. Now, if you are all so curious, why don’t you prepare a tray for him and go to his room yourselves? He might be back soon.” I looked at Ralfe from over my shoulder and slid the tray along the worktop. “What’s wrong, Ralfe? Are youafraidof him?”
He narrowed his eyes at me and said, “Nice try, Delia.” And that was the last thing I heard before everyone fled like a flock of chickens being chased.
Fuck me.
I reluctantly made my way back to Semuel’s room, carrying the Ice Prince’s late-night meal, each step feeling heavier than the one before it. I knocked—all right, I pounded on the door, and waited for him to call me in. Nothing. I was about to knock for the second time when the door opened and I almost stumbled forward, clenching the tray. I tilted my head up to catch a glimpse of his face, but then averted my gaze. Hewas clothed now, although I must say he did not appear very princely. Scruffy hair, torn shirt, and all. He moved to the side, making space for me to enter his room. Semuel’s room.
I set up his table, then made my way towards the dresser. I took out a set of lavender-scented white bedsheets and made his bed, tucking in the corners neatly under the mattress and smoothing out the creases. By the time I was finished, the plates were licked clean, and he had already moved on to polishing his twin axes.
I gathered the empty plates, and before exiting, I asked quietly, “At what time would you like to have breakfast tomorrow, Lord Hailin?”
“An hour after sunrise.” He did not lift his eyes from his weapons.
I still gave him a courteous nod before exiting.
With silent movements, I slipped into my bed, Nadya already in her own, her breaths uniform and deep. My mind replayed over and over what I had seen. It happened so fast—too fast—yet my brain somehow managed to conceive it in slow movements.
Had he not created an ice spear right before my eyes, I would have never guessed that he was an Ice Fae from Silch. His skin was tanned, golden-brown like caramel. And his thick, curly hair that reached down to his tapered ears was a shade or two shy from being called black. I had somehow forgotten that during the teachings of history, we were told that the new King of Silch, King Ryvar Hailin, was a Demi-Fae with direct roots from the pale Fae of Silch, his mother, late Queen Akaterina, and the dark Strongmen from the south region of Sijar, his father, late King Rynn. I wasn’t sure why I expected his younger brother to appear any different.
I tried to drift my mind elsewhere, but my persisting thoughts kept circling back to him.
