“I am going to see if your clothing has been delivered yet,” he says, turning toward the hallway. “I instructed the proprietor to leave it at the door.”
I try to respond, but my mouth is still too dry to speak. I notice a glass of water on the nightstand and eagerly reach for it, wondering when Merak placed it there. There’s a half-full glass on his nightstand as well. Hmm. He must have grown thirsty in the middle of the night and briefly left the bedroom for a drink. Why do I feel oddly touched that he also brought me water?
Well, I suppose it was a thoughtful gesture. One of many he’s shown me since buying me from the auction platform.
I resolve that I must keep reminding myself how I came to be in his custody. He saved me, that much is true, but he also took possession of me. I’m his slave, perhaps only in name, but a slave nonetheless, and he has no intention of letting me go. He informed me that he plans to keep me forever.
He departs the bedroom and quickly returns carrying a stack of colorful boxes.
I lift my brows in surprise as he places everything carefully atop the bed near my feet. I’m shocked by the number of boxes. There’s nearly a dozen of them, each tied with a satin ribbon. Surely this can’t all be for me. Perhaps he asked the proprietor to find clothing for him too or other supplies for our upcoming journey.
“What is all this?” I ask, still doubting this is all for me.
“Your clothing,” Merak replies. “I thought you might appreciate having choices.”
He unties the ribbon on the largest box and lifts the lid. A gasp escapes me before I can prevent it. Inside lies a gown the color of midnight blue, fashioned from a fabric so smooth that I instinctively reach out to touch it. My fingertips sink into the soft but thick material. I’ve never felt anything like it before. As I stoke my fingers over the unusual fabric, the sunlight catches on the faint silver embroidery that decorates the bodice of the dress.
“Gods,” I whisper.
Merak’s expression softens as he watches me admire the fabric. “Do you like it?”
Like it? I can scarcely comprehend wearing something so beautiful.
“I…” My voice trails off. I seem to be at a loss for words.
He opens another box, revealing a dark green gown trimmed in white fur. Then another containing thick but soft stockings, delicate undergarments edged with lace, and fur-lined slippers.
My chest tightens.
There are sturdy leather boots as well, polished to a shine, and a thick hooded winter cloak so luxurious I stare at it in disbelief. The cloak is a rich midnight blue that matches the first dress he showed me, the inner lining impossibly smooth beneath my fingertips. It looks fit for royalty.
Until now, nearly every dress I’ve owned has been threadbare and patched at the elbows. I think of the way the children at school used to tease me. Some of the crueler boys even delighted in yanking on a loose thread as I walked by, or poking their fingers through a hole that hadn’t been patched yet.
Thankfully, until the Winter Court army’s arrival in Braemar, it never really got that cold in my home city, so I didn’t suffer physically from the cold and my lack of sturdy clothing, but theteasing left a mark on me. It made me reluctant to make friends. It’s why I pushed Helena away even when she was kind to me. I was afraid of getting hurt.
Surely I can’t accept all this.
Not from Merak.
Not from the fae lord who purchased me off the auction platform.
If I accept these extravagant items, will he expect something in return? Worse, will he take them away if I displease him? It feels too risky, too dangerous, to accept even one of the gowns.
And if he’s being genuinely kind?
Well, that also feels dangerous… and overwhelming.
“Merak…” My voice cracks. “This is too much.” I let go of the dress I was just admiring, sit back, and fold my hands in my lap.
“These items are yours, and I will provide more gowns for you, tailor-made to fit you perfectly, once we rejoin the Winter Court army,” he says, and the sincerity in his voice steals the breath from my lungs.
Before I can think of a response, he gestures toward the boxes.
“You should try everything on and see what fits best. I’ll wait outside.”
My eyes widen slightly. “Outside?”
A faint smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. “Yes, my dearest. Unless you would like me to stay and watch. Or perhaps you would like my help? I would be happy to offer my opinion on the undergarments.”
