Page 42 of The Nightbound Soldier

“I will call for a bath,” I tell her.

“Sleeping,” she says softly.

“You should bathe first.”

“I’m dead to the world.”

“That’s a vampire line.”

Evie’s eyes close like shutters. “Oh well.”

I search the floor for staff, but when nobody arrives, I shrug off my coat and throw it over the chair on my way to the fireplace. I grab the fire-starting bundle and unwrap a rope holding a bunch of dry branches dipped into combustible oils.

Instead of the rope, they could use silk wraps like bow ties or even masculine sailor knots made of silk, for silk adds a finer touch to the kit design and looks prettier on display in the basket near the fireplace than the heavy rope. Small things, often overlooked and underestimated, can bring us joy.

Footsteps sound in the hallway, and I turn to see one of the twin vampires standing at the door. It’s Ledger.

He bows quickly, then looks over at Evie.

“How is she?” he asks.

“Tired.”

“Will you two share the room?”

I shake my head. “I’m just starting the fire for her.”

He snorts. “Do you even know how?”

“I do. However, I will say one of the many perks of living in the Summer Court is not having to do this often.”

Ledger walks to the end of the bed and removes Evie’s boots. He tucks them neatly under the foot of the bed, then stands there for a beat before turning on his heel and facing the wall. “I will get the fire going,” he says, his back turned to me. Some Unseelie would have his head for this.

Standing, I wipe my hands on the towel hanging from the side of the fireplace, expecting Ledger to tend the fire like he said he would, but he’s facing the wall still.

“Um, may I ask what you’re doing?”

“I’m waiting for you to leave.”

How strange. “I would prefer to watch how you get the fire started so that I can learn to start my own later. The staff hasn’t arrived yet.”

He nods, still not looking at me. “I mean no offense, but I have orders.”

“What are they?”

“They’re…mine.”

He’s reluctant to tell me, but I want to know. “Your orders?”

“Yes, Princess.”

“Nottuza gave them to you?”

Ledger nods.

“Did he order you not to look at me?”

“Correct.”

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