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Chapter22
My lips seemed heavy as the remnants of the passion Noah poured into our connection tingled on my mouth and screamed throughout my mind until nothing else mattered in the world.
I tried to listen and pay attention as he led me back to my own bedroom, instructing me that we had to ensure the spell was truly gone. But my mind flitted back and forth between watching the back of Noah’s head as he spoke, and seeing the fire in his eyes before he pulled me into him.
He stood to the side of my door until I’d caught up and acknowledged him, then he opened it, letting me enter first. He took a quick look around the open, airy space and immediately walked toward my bathroom.
I leaned on a chair facing the door and watched him pull something out of one of the cabinets. I hadn’t ever opened the cabinets in my bathroom, I’d just used what was already set out for me.
He took a large bag and shut the doors, moving now to the large bath I had yet to use and began filling it with water.
I wondered on how many occasions the prince had taken care of anyone, let alone a servant.
Servant.
That’s what I was though, wasn’t it? Could a fae be with a human, let alone a servant?
I rubbed my arms, not wanting the magic of the moments in that kiss to turn to overanalyzing and worry.
“Salt,” he said as he caught me eyeing him from my perch on the chair. “It cleanses magical spells away. Which is handy to remember.”
I nodded, knowing he was saying something else. His lips were moving but I was too focused on them, remembering the way they searched my own for an unspoken answer minutes before.
“Okay,” I replied, or thought I did. I wasn’t actually sure.
I left the chair and walked to join Noah in the bathroom. He watched my movements from the corner of his eye, and it finally clicked that he was looking at me as though I was some sort of caged animal. Like I might have a total breakdown at any minute.
I guess I hadn’t really thought about the ordeal Nicole and I had just been through, and this whole time, as Noah was gentle, even when angry, there was an edge to him. Like he was waiting to make sure I’d stay sane.
“I know the spell didn’t seem to affect you or any of the humans within our walls, but I want to be cautious,” he said. “Safe.”
I looked down at the water pouring into the tub and then back up at the prince in front of me. “I’m going to be okay. I’ve been through rough situations before.” Though this was the worst by a long shot.
My voice was calm, steady, and while I believed the words I spoke, there was a trembling deep within me.
I didn’t look up, and Noah kept a good amount of space between us, not reaching out to comfort me as I spoke like he had in his own bedroom.
I leaned closer to him. “Do we have any idea who set the spell yet?”
The question was stupid, he’d been with me since the courtyard, save for a few minutes where he insisted he check the halls for others before taking me out of his bedroom. There wouldn’t have been time for him to learn anything, let alone who was responsible.
“I haven’t had a chance.” He stopped, perhaps noticing I had realized the same thing. “Captain Coltrain and I will be on top of it immediately.”
Noah didn’t lean in like I had. Instead he pushed his hands into his pockets, which instantly raised a certain level of doubt in my mind.
Maybe our kiss had been a fluke. He’d gotten caught up in ensuring I was okay.
“What’s clear to me,” he said, reaching down to check the water and then turn off the golden handles, “is that there are spies. And more than just one, based on the strength of that spell. It’s no coincidence this came at the same time Seelie officially declared war.”
He shook his hand off before running it over his face.
He was tired.
Exasperated.
“It’ll get cold if you wait out here,” he said with a small smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I’ll be doing the same, to be sure nothing got to me like it did the others.”
“Why wouldn’t it have affected you?” I asked.
