“I wouldn’t get too attached to a corpse,” he snapped, making me wince. His face was inches from mine, his breath warm on my face. My chest brushed against his with my breath, and a warmth rippled through me at the contact. Xavier’s nostrils flared, his gaze flickering to my lips.
“You’re a brute,” I spat. His eyes flicked back up to mine, locking on with a gleam of amusement dancing in their depths. A wicked smile spread across his face.
“Kill me and be done with it,” I breathed, my voice steady, “otherwise, let me leave.” I held his penetrating stare, challenging him.
Xavier leaned forward, “I plan on doing many things, little stalker,” he whispered, his voice thick with promise. “Killing you isn’t one of them.” The words brushed my lips, his breath a heated tease that quickened my pulse.
With a sudden, forceful push, Xavier released me from his grip, sending me stumbling backward. Before I could regain my balance, Xavier waved his hand dismissively toward me.
Dark mist curled around me, suffocating and cold. I blinked against the disorienting pressure, and when my senses cleared, I found myself back in his room, alone.
Chapter 16
Zara
Hours had passed, each one dragging slower than the last as I wrestled with Xavier’s blasted barrier on his door. After countless failed attempts, I finally gave up and collapsed onto his bed. My mind whirled with all the satisfying ways I’d like to kill him, and I smiled at the thought of smothering him with a pillow while he slept.
A light popping sound broke the silence, and I sat up, startled, to find a plate of bread and cheese now sitting on the night table. Scowling, I grabbed the plate and hurled it at the door with more force than necessary.
The plate shattered against the barrier, its contents spilling toward the floor. But before it could hit the ground, it vanished into thin air. I stared, blinking at the spot where it had disappeared, then narrowed my gaze at the wall.Stupid magic castle.
A soft clinking sound caught my attention, and I turned to see a bowl of soup now sitting on the table in its place. With a sigh, Idropped back onto the bed, crossing my legs as I tried to ignore the growing hunger gnawing at my stomach.
I was still starving and as the minutes passed, I peered into the bowl reluctantly. It appeared to be some sort of vegetable soup, the smell making my mouth water. My stomach growled as if in agreement and I sighed heavily.
With a muttered grumble, I picked up the bowl and gave in. As I ate, I wondered if it was Xavier or the castle that was providing me with the food, but the door creaked open, interrupting my thoughts.
I tensed, expecting Xavier, but instead, a plump, older woman peeked in. Her eyes met mine briefly before she disappeared into the hallway again. A second later, the door widened, and she stepped into the room, wheeling in a rack full of clothes.
The woman had sharp, high cheekbones, and she wore her dark hair twisted tightly into intricate curls against her scalp. A strip of blue fabric wrapped around her head, blending seamlessly with her hair. Her sharp black eyes peered at me from behind tiny lenses that perched precariously on her crooked nose, giving her a stern, almost analytical expression—as if she were weighing my worth with every glance.
I squirmed under her scrutiny. She was shorter than me by at least a head, but the way she carried herself made it feel like she was taller. Her light blue sweater was tucked into a long black skirt, and the simplicity of her clothes contrasted with the ornate golden charms clinging to her hair. With each step, the charms gave a soft chime, almost musical.
“So, you are the girl, are you?” Her voice was sharp, carrying an air of authority that made me sit up straighter.
My muscles tensed, and instinctively, I lifted my chin in defiance. “I am notthegirl,” I replied, setting the bowl of soup on the nightstand before swinging my legs off the bed and standing. “You may call me Zara.” The way her eyes narrowed,followed by a small, dismissive huff, made it clear she wasn’t impressed.
Silence hung between us, thick and uncomfortable.
“And who, may I ask, are you?” I said into the silence, my gaze steady.
Her lips twitched as though she found my question mildly amusing. “My name is Tia, but you can call me Ms. Tia,” she said, tugging at the clothing rack and dragging it further into the room. “His Majesty wanted me to gather some clothes for you, and as I had no idea what you looked like, I brought a bit of everything.” Her eyes raked over me, head to toe, before sighing and turning back to the rack of clothes behind her, rummaging through the hangers.
I shot her a reproachful look, sighing softly as she continued her task. Ms. Tia seemed to be evaluating each piece of clothing with careful scrutiny, her expression never betraying what she truly thought before either discarding it or yanking it into her arms.
I watched the rhythmic motions, tempted to offer help but knowing it would probably come off as an insult. She didn’t seem like the kind of woman who appreciated unnecessary assistance.
So, I waited, feeling slightly awkward just standing there, unsure of where this was going. After several minutes, she turned to me, her arms piled high with clothing. Without a word, she brushed past me, spread the clothes out on the bed, and turned to face me.
Now that she was closer, I couldn’t help but notice how stunning she was. In fact, everyone here seemed gorgeous.
Her sharp gaze lowered again through those tiny glasses. “You're skinny,” she said bluntly. I couldn’t tell if she had another tone or if this was simply how she spoke.
“Sorry?” I said, not knowing what else to say to that.
“Night clothes, day clothes, and a gown for tonight,” she said, her hands sweeping over the garments as she listed them off. Ms. Tia gave me another once-over. Her assessment apparently incomplete. She returned to the rack, grabbed a box from the bottom, and set it near my feet. “Shoes and accessories are in there. If there's any issue with anything, inform Xavier. I'll handle it from there.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Ms. Tia grabbed the rack and began backing it, and herself, toward the door.
