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“The queen and I were lovers.”
The sponge fell out of Kelia’s hands, and her mouth parted in shock.
Seizing the opportunity, I dunked my hand into the water, right where it fell. Her eyes widened as I brushed against her leg, and before she tried hogtying me again, I politely handed her the sponge. “You dropped this.”
Her cheeks reddened and she snatched the washcloth out of my hand. “Don’t you think that piece of information would’ve been critical for me to know?”
I moved my chair closer until it bumped against the tub. “No, it was a long time ago and the queen stopped our relationship long before you were even born, little sparrow.”
“It better not interfere with the mission.” She closed her eyes and relaxed against the rim of the tub, her long blonde hair spilling over the sides like spun gold.
“I said we were lovers not that there was love between us. She will never be anything more than the queen who exiled me.”
“Why were you exiled?”
Telling Kelia my past would only involve her further. The dark fae did not welcome me, not after what I had done, regardless of my good intentions. “It’s safer if you don’t know. You and I are outcasts here, unwelcomed and only alive because the queen needs us for something.”
Kelia nodded and that was the end of the discussion. No prodding. She simply took my explanation as is. We’d only been on the road together for a few days, and yet this human had already won my approval. Cold, calculated, yet naïve and curious, powerful, beautiful and terrifying all at once. She was an enigma, and for the first time since we met, I saw her as an ally.
The door swung open, and I shot back into my seat, putting distance between us and spilling the wine all over my pants.
A servant held a tray. Her gaze flicked to Kelia then back to me, the disdain visible even with the servant’s eyes shadowed by the dark hood. “Dinner is served in your own quarters.”
“Of course,” I said, wondering if the servant before us had poisoned the food or held a dagger beneath the folds of her dress.
The servant dropped off Kelia’s food on the center table then turned to leave.
I sighed, not wanting to leave Kelia alone for the night, but I had to, for both our sakes. Picking up the plate of roasted roots and meats, I sniffed the meal, my heightened senses would scent anything dangerous. Satisfied that the food was safe, I placed it back down.
Kelia stepped out of the tub, splashing water on my clothes, and bumping my hip as she passed. “Good night, Callum.” She put on the silky covering and walked over to the table, ending our conversation for the night.
I stood, taking the hint. “Good night.”
She didn’t turn, or say another word, and that bothered me quite a bit.
