AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"You'll only be next door," Ryze told him.
Reluctantly, Zared followed Joviena out, and Ryze leaned against the door frame of the washroom.
"Do you need any help getting undressed?" He gave me a suggestive, lopsided smile.
I couldn't stop myself from thinking about the way his hand felt on the inside of my calf. Part of me wanted to say yes. On the other hand, me and my clothes were revolting, and that water looked more tempting than sex.
I saw it on his face that he knew how close I was to saying yes, but when I politely declined, he smiled and backed out the door.
"I'll have Joviena come and get you when it's time to talk." He gave me a nod and disappeared out of the room.
I waited until I was sure he was gone before I stepped out of my boots and dirty clothes and into the delicious heat of the bath.
We had baths at the temple, but none as deep or as warm. I sank down until only my face was above the water. I closed my eyes and relished the feeling for a few minutes before reaching for the perfumed oils on the shelf beside the bath.
For this alone, I was glad I followed the Fae through the portal. If this was what the whole city was like, no wonder the Fae looked down on humans. I doubted even the daughters of King Mikohal of Fraxius were as pampered as this.
Did they know about electricity and taps that water came out of by themselves? Maybe their castle had all of those amenities and they simply didn't share with us regular people. Or perhaps they did share, but the Temple refused, priding itself on austerity.
I sighed at my ignorance.
I washed my body and my hair, then lay there for a while longer before I realised, if I stayed there too long, Joviena would come and find me here. Or one of the men. Nothing would keep Zared out of here for long, much less Ryze and Tavian. I couldn’t rule out Vayne either. In spite of his gruff demeanour, he was as attractive as the other men.
I climbed out of the bath and wrapped myself in one of the plush towels from the shelf beside the oils.
It took me a few more minutes to realise the wooden disc on the chain at the bottom of the bath was the plug and that if I pulled the chain, it would release the water. I hesitated, wondering if I should leave the water for someone else, but then I decided if this was my room and my washroom, no one else would be bathing here.
Unless I bathed with them. The bath was big enough for two or three to fit in comfortably. How would it feel to be pressed up against the edge and fucked while the water sloshed over the side onto the tiles?
The water gurgled happily away down the plughole, taking that enticing thought with it.
I dried myself and peered out into the sleeping area. Joviena must have entered and left without a sound, because fresh clothes lay on the bed. I stepped over and picked up a pair of pants which would have fit a Fae child. Made of the softest fabric, they fell all the way to my ankles. Snug around my hips, a mirror on the wall showed they did my ass a lot of favours.
A tunic in the same shade of grey-blue fell mid way down my thighs. It was modest at the front, but plunged low at the back, exposing everything just above my rear. The temple would have found the outfit scandalous, but I felt beautiful. Sensual. I looked at myself in the mirror and did a little wriggle.
I smiled at my reflection and ran my fingers through my hair to try to tame it. In the end, I gave up and tied it back in a ponytail at the nape of my neck.
Joviena had also left a pair of butter soft shoes, which actually fit. She must be magic too if she could find clothes that fit me, after just a glance.
I was just finishing when someone tapped at the door and opened it slowly.
"The High Lord will see you now," Joviena said. Her voice was as musical as the rest of the Fae. It curled around me like a warm hug.
"Thank you— What do I call you?" Having spent the last ten years surrounded by women referred to as sister, or priestess, and men who were priest or brother, I had no idea how to address anyone else.
"Joviena is fine, my lady," she said politely.
"Oh, I'm not a lady," I said quickly. "Please just call me Khala."
She smiled briefly but stepped back out the door. "We shouldn't keep the High Lord waiting, my lady."
I sighed. Apparently I wasn’t going to win that battle. I followed her out and in the opposite direction to the sitting room.
She led me through opulent corridors adorned with paintings, and the occasional window overlooking the city. I had to resist the urge to stop and stare out of each one.
We finally arrived at a door at almost the other end of the palace. It stood ajar.
As she had with mine, she tapped on the door before pushing at the rest of the way open. She nodded for me to step inside and hurried away.
