Page 26 of Ruling the Green

“Don’t think that’s it,” Vishen murmured.

“Do you want a bath?” Jet asked. I nodded. “I’m lost,” he said to Vishen.

“Alright. She wants a bath. Do you not want the servants to bring it?” I waved a hand at that, then crossed my arms and fanned myself.

“No… hot?” Vishen guessed.

“You don’t want hot water?” Jet clarified. “You want a cold bath?” I nodded, feeling the knots in my shoulders loosen.

I couldn’t have anticipated how frustrating it would be not to be able to communicate. I suddenly had a lot of empathy for people who spoke different languages or even babies, who simply hadn’t learned any language yet.

I would never take my voice for granted again. If I were looking for a silver lining in this whole awful situation, I guess it was that Grimwood made me appreciate something I once never even thought about.

“Alright. I’ll get the servants to bring up cold water for the bath. Then I’ll lead you down to see your father. And you,” he said, looking at me, “will have Knight with you. But make sure to lock the door while we’re gone.”

With that, everyone’s plans were set in motion. While I sat and ate and drank and hoped to hell the bath would ease the ache in my arms, legs, and shoulders that was getting stronger by the moment.

“She’s going to need something other than your clothes to wear around the castle,” Vishen said as I moved into the water closet to dip my fingers into the water as an assembly line of servants brought in buckets of crisp, fresh water.

“I suppose there is some royal dressmaker who handles that sort of thing.”

“I’ll look into it while you try not to argue with your father.”

“Appreciate it,” Jet said as I moved back into the bedroom.

“Any progress?” Jet asked, pointing to his throat.

I opened my mouth and a little squeak escaped me.

His brows rose.

“How about a name?” Vishen asked.

It took more effort than I thought possible, but I managed to wheeze out, “Serin.”

“Serin,” Jet repeated, and something about the way his voice caressed the curves of my name had my belly feeling liquid.

“Well, things are looking up,” Vishen said.

Several of the servants squeezed around me on their way to ease the burden of their buckets into the tub.

I felt a sharp pinch on my hip, like maybe a splinter from the bucket poked at me, but thought nothing of it.

“What about what kind of fae you are?” Jet asked.

I opened my mouth, ready to rasp out the truth.

But no sound came.

My eyes went round as I stared at Jet.

The two men shared a look.

“Well, it’s a good sign that you even got that out,” Vishen said. “Just give it some time. Take your bath. By the time we get back, you should be able to start talking.”

I hoped that was true, but my mouth and throat felt even more numb than they had right after Grimwood had drugged me.

The men made their way out with some words I didn’t understand to the dog, who almost appeared to nod at them like he understood.