Page 51 of Hell Bound

Finished with my hair, Sveva did as instructed, filling a bowl with hot water from the sink and bringing it over with a small jar. It held the same snotty substance that Lucifer had applied to my wounds before.

This time, I was more than willing to slather that shit all over me.

Hana dipped a cloth into the bowl, then brought it to my cheeks to dab gently.

I hissed in a breath, but she kept at it until she’d cleaned each point where the mask had met my flesh. She handed the bowl to Sveva and reached for the salve.

“When you’re finished with that, assist the others. Ensure the fire will last the night.”

As soon as Sveva was out of the room, Hana sat on the edge of the tub, blocking my view of the door.

Her hand slipped into the pocket of her dress and emerged with a smushed roll of bread.

There was no fighting the tears that flooded my eyes and spilled over.

“Why?”

“Eat, my lady.”

“Why would you risk it? What if he finds out?”

Hana looked over her shoulder toward the door. We were still alone.

“Because I’ve never allowed you to suffer if there was something I could do about it. That’s the way of it with best friends, isn’t it?”

I had more questions, but she shoved the bread toward me. She was right. The others could come in at any moment, and Tavila would absolutely snitch if given the opportunity.

It might get her a “good girl” and a head pat, and how could she pass that up?

Shaking the excess water from my hands, I took the small roll. It was something so simple, but it meant the world to me. The first bite hurt, my jaw still stiff.

I was so hungry, though, my jaw could have beenmissingand I still would have found a way to eat it.

It was gone in four bites, and in that time Hana had salved each of my small wounds. I felt a thousand times better, and the last of the tension slipped from my body. Letting my eyes fall closed, I rested my head against the back edge of the tub.

Hana stood and my eyes snapped open, my muscles tightening again. I was about to ask her to stay when she held a finger to her lips.

Trust me, she mouthed.

I did. I gave her a nod, and she turned and left the room.

“The queen has elected to soak in the bath. She’s dismissed us for the evening.” Hana’s authority over the other women rang out clearly, and in less than a minute the door had closed behind them.

That alone time I wanted? I was finally getting it.

I sank lower in the tub, my face only above the water so the salve wouldn’t be washed away.

How I longed to sink into the oblivion of the black marble tub. To let the water close in around me and block out everything.

Mental exhaustion and physical pain had taken their toll, and I was on the verge of dozing when I thought I heard something in the other room. I held my breath, listening hard, but when nothing happened, I told myself I’d imagined it.

But then it came again, louder than before.

Someone was in my bedroom, and I was naked and defenseless. The perfect night cap to my shitty day.

I was so fucking over all of this.

“If you’ve come to kill me, do me a favor and make it quick.”

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