AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The room is fit for kings. Black porcelain tiles cover the walls. A free-standing tub is constructed from natural stone and bigenough to lie flat in, flap my arms, and still not touch the sides. Cautiously, I peer over the edge and smell minerals on the dry stone. No faucets. The water must be plumbed like the ones back home. Natural springs are a source of power for fae, a place to refill their inner well with mana rapidly.
I’m too cowardly to sit in the bath, but I’ll happily strip, use the toilet, and clean myself with a washcloth. If only a shower were here, I’d be better. I particularly enjoy covering his sweet, woodsy-scented soap with the blood splashed on my body.
Oblivion was all we ever desired until you.
There’s more than one way to get revenge, and if I can’t kill them, I’ll ruin their lives, too.
I dress in Fox’s clothes instead of the uniform. I’m sure there will be consequences for that. As long as I cause embarrassment to the House of Shadow, I’m here for it. Afterward, as I brush my hair, a knock at the window startles me.
“Yoo-hoo, love.”
I run to the window and release the latch. A flurry of snow drifts in. Finch dangles by a rope from a harness. He must have rappelled down from the castle roof.
“I’m so happy you came,” I gush and hug him through the small opening. “I hope you’re not freezing on my account.”
“No problem at all.” He valiantly pretends he’s not shivering and hands me another harness. “When Master Fox walked past in a huff, we had an inkling the castle had fun with your rooms last night. Put the harness on if it pleases you.”
“Oh yes, it pleases.”
He smirks. “I’ll go on up and drop the rope down again.”
I touch my fingers to my mouth and push them down toward him in the Elphyne hand sign for gratitude.
He gives me an odd look. “You’re not from around here, are you?”
“Um. No.”
“I’d love to hear about it all. So would Cricket. And the chatty gossip in the kitch too. If you hurry, you’ll make it in time for breakfast in the dining hall.” He tugs on his rope, and someone slowly pulls him up.
I quickly put on my boots. The dagger fits on my belt beneath Fox’s loose-fitted black shirt. It might not have worked on him, but it’s still a weapon. Maybe it works on others.
His shirt has pretty lace detail down the buttons, cuffs, and collar. I smell like him. Frowning, I take my cape from the mirror and check my reflection to ensure Tinger’s pendant isn’t glimmering through the shirt, but the thick fabric hides everything.
My face is still an unavoidable disaster, but for some reason, the ugliness seems a little less severe today. Inadvertently, my thoughts shift to Fox’s eyes as he caged me against the wall. Gray, forlorn, and hurt. And that one moment, that flicker of desire when he told me to keep killing him softly.
What did he mean? Frowning, I run my fingers down his shirt.
“I have to admit. These Sluagh have nice taste in clothes.”
By the time Finch tosses his rope back down, I’m already in the harness and with one foot out the window. He pulls me up two levels with surprising strength for a thin man. Cricket is waiting at the top with a smile, puffed and bright-eyed from heaving Finch up earlier.
“Well, you survived the first night.” She clasps her hands excitedly. “And I heard the wildling made a mess of your room. Don’t worry, I’ll get in as soon as possible to tidy up.”
“How did you know?”
“Finch peeked through your window.”
“Oh. Of course.” When he was searching for me. “But don’t worry about tidying. I can do that myself later.”
“Not you too,” she groans. “You need to let us do our job.”
“But you said?—”
Finch mutters to me, “Let her have what she wants. Happy wife, happy life.”
“Well, in that case, I’d appreciate it. Wait. You’re married?” My gaze darts between the two of them. “As in the human bonding ritual?”
I almost miss their wide eyes, and then Cricket starts rambling about breakfast and something else the chatty gossip said in the kitch that morning. It’s a diversion, which is weird. Why would she be ashamed of being married? They’re Nevers—mortals. Why hide it?
