Page 52 of Owned By the Fae
Dane snorts. ‘You’ve already been punished for your crimes, haven’t you?’
‘They’ll tell the others.’
‘I’ll deal with the others.’ A strange look comes over his face. ‘You’re still one of Varrik’s elites, even if you are human. The way the servants have been treating you is disrespectful to all of us, and I won’t let it stand. If one of the other elites has a problem, they can talk to me.’
He sits down in the chair again, and I look away, not bothering to tell him that they’ll just find another way to torment me when Dane isn’t around to stop them.
I hear a noise at the door a few minutes later and, this time, I watch who comes through the door, half expecting Rikoth to come barreling in, but it’s a line of servants. They’re all holding steaming jugs of water, bar one who’s carrying kindling to start a fire in the small hearth.
None of them look at me nor at Dane, staying silent as they do their work and then leave quickly, all looking happy to be out of the irate elite’s sight.
I stay on the bed. I know I’m being foolish. I’m shivering, and I know the bath is hot now. I hate that I’m excited to get in it and that I have Dane to thank for it.
Dane sighs. ‘You’re so stubborn. I can see how cold you are. Get in the water, Harbinger.’
I stand up and give him a look as I walk across the room in the nude and step into the bath with a small hiss. Hot water licks at my skin, soothing my frayed nerves despite my being able to feel Dane’s eyes still on me from the corner.
They haven’t wavered from me once, but I try to ignore him as I close my eyes and dunk my head for a few moments.
When I come back up and see he hasn’t moved, I wash myself thoroughly.
The door opens again, but this time, Dane jumps up and stops the male servant I don’t recognize from entering. He takes the tray laden with food and orders the other male out, staying between us so he can’t see me and only moving once the door is closed, and we’re alone again.
I’m confused by his protectiveness and give him a look that he ignores.
‘Are you almost finished?’ he asks, not looking at me now.
I sigh, wanting to draw this out for longer, not only because of the bath but because after the meal, he’ll expect me on the bed for him … or bent over the table.
But I nod and grab the bath sheet as I rise and step from the tub. I go to stand in front of the hearth to dry off, shivering a little in the cool air. It’ll take serval hours for the room to heat as there hasn’t been a fire here in a while. I frown at the flames. Once Dane is gone, they’ll let it go out, so I’d better make the most of it while I can. I put my hand out toward it, feeling the warmth and committing it to memory to pretend the next time I’m cold.
‘On the bed,’ Dane says from very close behind me.
I whirl with a gasp. ‘But you said …’ I look at the food on the table. ‘I thought …’
‘Might as well get it done now. Then the bath will still be warm … after, I mean.’
‘Oh.’
My body feeling heavy, I walk slowly over to the bed.
‘Stop.’
I freeze beside it.
‘Turn to face me.’
I do what he says and find him behind me. I stare down at his boots.
‘Look at me.’
I do it, trying to pretend I’m not afraid. It’s not my first time, after all; it’s my second. The day after Grey in the cave when Varrik had appeared, I’d regretted it, but I find now that I’m glad I asked him to be the one. I wanted it to be my choice at least once, and it was.
Dane watches me, unmoving as if he’s gauging something in my expression.
His hands slowly come up to my face, and he cups my cheeks, letting out a small sigh before letting them feather down my neck to my collarbone. He grips my hands where I’m holding the bath sheet up and takes it from me gently before letting it fall to the ground.
He’s seen my body more than once, but I suddenly feel the urge to hide from him.
