Page 22 of All's Fair in Lion and War
How could she not remember anything?
There were slivers of memories from yesterday. She remembered pain vaguely. She remembered Saul taking her from where her captors, Ka’Lagh warriors, had trussed her up and tossed her to the ground.
Their queen.
Rivian was responsible for all of this. She knew that.
But nearly all her memories were missing or jumbled and everything seemed to be out of reach hidden in a foggy mess.
Her body showed evidence of fresh trauma. Bruises and cuts wouldn’t last long. She healed fast. All Reyleans did. At least when they were well-rested and not starving.
Lorelei climbed out of the bathtub of still-warm water and dried with the towel provided. It felt good to be clean. She didn’t remember the last time she’d bathed. Her hair had been grimy and so oily. Had to have been a long time. Even her skin had been ashy and dry.
Now it was gone.
Cleaned away.
And yet the cobwebs in her mind still remained. The fog wasn’t clearer.
She remembered Tallix. She remembered being in bed with him yesterday, except that wasn’t right. Yesterday she’d been in the forest with the Ka’lagh warriors and Saul had saved her. Saul glowed like thesoul callwas reaching for her again. But that couldn’t be true. Not unless her mate was passed from the world.
Tallix was dead.
The love of her life.
She’d lost her mate and her world and she couldn’t remember anything.
Dalmeck!
It felt like she’d known these things for a while, grieved the knowledge and losses before, but the memories weren’t there. Not clearly.
“Aaaargh!!!” She growled out loud and slammed her hand down on the counter in front of her. She looked up at herself in the mirror.
It wasn’t her face looking back at her.
Her eyes were red from the tears she couldn’t stop from rising within her. Her hair was clumped together and ratted. She was covered in bruises and healing claw marks all showing different levels of healing.
Bite marks.
Her body was a battlefield of endured pain.
At least she’d fought valiantly. Even if she’d lost. She’d fought. With everything she had, she’d fought. But she was so thin. So worn down. Her face was gaunt and hollowed, evidence of just how long she’d been mistreated and starved. Evidence she could see, but not remember.
Maybe it was better that way, but she hated the emptiness.
“Lorelei?” Saul’s voice called from beyond the bathroom door.
“What’s wrong with me?” She asked the reflection of herself in the mirror.
Saul opened the door and stepped inside, closing the door behind him.
The softsnickof the lock made bumps rise on her skin. She pulled the towel tighter around her naked body. Wiped the fresh tears from her cheeks.
“Why are you here?”
“I’m here for you,” he said, his voice soft, but void of any demands. Just an offering.
“I’m not yourshuarra.I can’t be. I already have a mate.”
