Page 96 of Thief of Hearts

I growled. I needed this Lia voice out of my head.

Especially since Zain had chosen that moment to come out of the washroom with his hair still damp and a linen wrapped around his hips and the voice had a great deal of inappropriate things to say about it. I averted my gaze and marched past him, closing the door behind me.

The water coming out of the faucet was warm, just as it had been in Sagaris. I filled up the marble tub and took off the silk dress, flinging it to one side. Had it really just been a few days ago that I had decided to keep it so I would have good memories of my time with Zain?

I spotted a comb and soap on a tray near the tub. A brief image flashed in my mind of Zain lathering himself up and I immediately banished it. He had already used my body against me once. I wouldn’t allow him to do it again.

I had just finished rinsing my hair when there was a knock at my door. “Go away!”

“Queen Thalia, may I speak to you?” It was a woman’s voice, but not that of the steward who had shown us to our rooms.

“Just one moment.”

I hadn’t brought a tunic with me to change into. And I was not going to put Zain’s dress back on ever again. So I grabbed a dry linen and wrapped it around myself. “You may enter.”

Did that sound regal enough?

This was one of the reasons I hated lying. I was bad at it.

A beautiful dark-haired woman came into the room. She looked as if we were close in age. She had on an elaborate pale blue tunic, and black, swirling lines traveled up her arms like vines.

“My name is Dione and the king has selected me to act as your liaison while you’re here and to answer any questions you might have. As well as overseeing your care.” She glanced around the room. “Do you not have maidservants with you?”

Oh goddess, was that another sexual question?

When I didn’t answer, she added, “To do your hair and help you dress?”

“No, it is just me and my . . . Theogenes.” I needed to stop calling him my manservant.

“And you only have a few clothing items with you. I have already sent word for tunics and dresses to be brought for you tonight for your dinner with the king. Will you require anything else this evening?”

I couldn’t think of anything and started to say as much until Zain spoke.

“My queen enjoys drawing and will need papyrus and lead.”

Was he hoping that doing nice things for me would abate my anger? It did not. And it reminded me of something that I did want. “The Dracanians who brought us here—they took my armor and weapons. I want those back.”

Dione nodded. “I will see that it’s done.”

I pointed at the dress on the floor. “And can you take that and make sure that it’s burned?”

She went over and picked it up. “Of course. If you will wait here, I’ll have the maidservants join you.”

I was grateful for the reprieve she had just offered me. I could hide in here without looking like a coward.

Dione closed the door behind her and I heard the sound of voices, as if she and Zain were talking.

I went over to look at my reflection in the mirror. It was so strange to see myself without my tattoos. I hadn’t been this way since I was . . . thirteen years old. At fourteen I had bloodied my sword for the first time.

I’d killed an Epirian.

Sitting on the side of the tub, I waited for the maidservants to arrive. I heard Zain moving around in the room and found myself wondering what he was doing.

I grimaced, annoyed. I didn’t want to think or wonder about him. I wanted him to go away and for this to be over.

He stuck his head into the bathroom doorway and I jumped, not expecting him. I was about to yell at him when he said, “Whatever you do, don’t use my real name here.”

“What? Why?”