Page 56 of King of the Unsightly

How was I so relieved to be back in this room?

Ryas coughed and shifted uncomfortably. “I assume tomorrow will be rough, so eat the food on the tray and rest because it will only get worse from here.”

Without thinking, I ran up to Ryas and hugged her.

Tears trickled down my face and a small sob escaped me.

I had no clue why I was hugging her ... maybe the sleep deprivation, the familiarity of her presence, or the tray of food.

Probably the food.

Ryas stiffened under my embrace, but I didn’t care. I felt somewhat normal as I squeezed her tighter.

It became painstakingly obvious—I needed more friends.

Ryas slowly patted my head like some pet and pried my arms off her. “You’re making me feel uncomfortable if this is all it takes to make you happy. So, let’s not do this again. Okay?”

A patheticokayleft my throat as she walked out of the room leaving my thoughts to devour my wavering sanity.

I had to be starved for physical and emotional affection—and it didn’t feel too great.

The bathroom door stood a few feet from me, and I wobbled into the room before witnessing the bath magically fill up with hot, steaming water.

The room had pure white marble with gold laced throughout it. The massive cast-iron tub complemented the floors as it glowed a coppery hue from the candles. A heavy contrast to the other part of the room.

I peeled the clothes off that clung to my body and submerged myself.

All the events I had gone through flashed like a cinematic movie through my closed eyelids with all the heart-pounding emotions to follow.

I didn’t know how long I stayed in tub, letting all the emotions flow through me like waves crashing on the shoreline—each one hitting harder than the next.

My pruned hands rubbed against my soft skin, and I hissed when I hit my open wound on the side of the tub.

I stood up and grabbed the towel hanging on the wall, dried myself, and wrapped it around me.

The mirror caught my attention as I took in my reflection after what felt like an eternity.

I looked like a stranger. My cheeks were flushed from the steam and my wet brunette hair rested in loose waves below my chest. My blue eyes with specks of gold shimmered in the candlelight and had dark bags below them.

I sighed, ambled out of the bathroom, snatched the plate of food with my good hand, flopped myself on the bed, and started devouring the meat first and then the fruit.

A shadow shot to the corner of the room and shifted.

Did Ryas forget something? I knew for a fact she wasn’t coming back for another hug.

Kaschel rose from the darkness and stalked toward me.

My gaze lowered with distrust as I studied his outfit. A loose white silk shirt and matching pants, leaving his muscles exposed when the candlelight hit him just right.

Kaschel’s eyes swayed like purple flames as his damp hair draped behind him.

He pointed at me. “Let me see.”

I moved my hands up to cover my exposed collarbone. “Excuse me?”

Kaschel tapped his hand impatiently. “Your wrist.”

“Oh. I’m sure you could have Ryas look at it, or give me the proper supplies and I could handle it.” Or anyone besides you.

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