Heavens, she’s evil.
I braced my arms over the books, shielding Dalkhan’s name.She fixed her sights to Theo and Tavrik, staring at them like filth beneath her shoe before flicking her attention back to me.
I met her stare with disinterest, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a reaction, though every fibre of my being screamed to hurl one of the heavy tomes directly at her head.
“Mira will be in to help you soon,” she continued, inspecting her nails.“And then I will be back to escort youall.”
I shot her a wide smile, which only seemed to annoy her.
Good.
She turned on her heel, leaving just as suddenly as she’d appeared.
“Well, isn’t shelovely?”Theo snickered.
“Yeah, she’s a real ray of fucking sunshine,” I muttered, dropping my head into my hands and digging my fingers into my scalp.
Tavrik choked on a laugh.“At least you won’t have to deal with them alone.”
The thought made it a little easier to breathe.
I needed a moment alone before I had to endure the exhausting process of getting ready.Theo and Tavrik must have sensed it, because they left without another word.
I turned toward the bathing chamber, already stripping the clothes from my skin, letting them fall to the floor in a trail of discarded fabric.The water was already drawn, steaming gently, infused with scents that should’ve been soothing but weren’t.
I didn’t know how it got filled, but at this point, I honestly didn’t care.Nothing mattered except the momentary escape.
I slid in, sinking beneath the warmth.No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t stop thinking about him.My presence alone seemed to anger him.I rested my head against the stone rim, letting the steam fill my lungs.I closed my eyes for the briefest moment, seeking escape in the darkness behind my eyelids—
“Elira.”
I lurched upright, the water sloshing around me.
Mira.
I guess I would have to get used to complete lack of privacy.Reluctantly I pushed out of the bath, shoving my thoughts down before they could drown me.
Mira had fashioned something even more daring than last time, but I had no energy left to argue.The fabric hugged every curve of my body, delicate yet provocative.
I may not have voiced my annoyance, but it pulsed in the air between us.Mira remained silent, sensing my clearly sour mood.She lined my eyes, darkening them—accentuating their intensity that made the green of my irises glow with unnatural light.When she finished, she gave me a gentle tap.
I stood in front of the mirror, brows drawn together as I studied my reflection.A deep sadness settled over me.I sighed quietly, pressing my lips together to stop the trembling.
“I’m sorry Elira,” she murmured.
There was genuine regret in her expression.
“It’s not your fault—” I paused, a humourless laugh escaping me.“Well, it is, sort of.”I gestured to my appearance.
She let out a small laugh.
“I don’t know why it upsets you,” she said.“You look beautiful.”
I scoffed.“Have you seen them?They’re otherworldly and—”
I quirked my head from side to side, as though another angle might reveal a different person.
“I just feel so… out of place.”
