Page 40 of Lord of Dance and Desire

“Not in the bathroom, Constin,” Mathen said, appearing in the doorway. “You need to eat, Anali.”

I made a face. “I summoned you to play, not to fuss.”

“You summoned me, Lady, so you get both,” was the firm reply. Andrei murmured something in a low voice and Mathen snorted, then disappeared again.

“You guys don’t like the word summoned, do you?” I asked.

“You were a little high-handed, darling.”

I frowned. “What did Andrei say?”

My bonded entered the bathroom, an arrogant angle to his jawline. “I informed them their Lady required their attendance in all due haste.”

“. . .really, Andrei? In that exact tone?”

Constin stepped out of the tub and headed towards towels. “If you keep hanging out with him, he’s going to get you in trouble,” the luudthen advised me.

“Aren’t you one to talk,” Andrei said. He glanced over his shoulder and left the bathroom.

“Anali, dinner’s ready,” Mathen called. “In bed tonight, since you’ve had a trying day. No, Lord, not lingerie. Choose something comfortable.”

“Why does she have to wear anything at all?”

Con pulled me out of the tub and wrapped me in a towel, then nudged me towards the bedroom. “Food first, fun second.”

An edge underlaid their interactions with me as we ate. I didn't take it personally, chalking it up to tension, anger, fatigue, and whatever other emotional trauma this attack on me had stirred up. Since Andrei and I had first met, life hadn't exactly been smooth sailing.

I lay on my back, staring up at the ceiling, sinking into deep relaxation as they conversed in their language. Either they didn't want me to know what they were talking about, or they were too tired or agitated to speak English. I ate enough to avoid their ire, and watched them plow through the rest of the food and haul in thirds.

Fae warriors could eat.

After a while I rose, heading to the bathroom. When I was done, I took my time washing my hands in the sink, running the water on full blast as I examined the tell-tale signs of stress on my face.

My face was paler, though that was an artifact of it being early autumn and not getting much outdoor time for the last several months.

But I couldn't excuse the strain in my dark eyes, or the subtle tightening of my lips. They were a little dry also, which meant I was suffering from stress dehydration. I tended to stop drinking when I was unhappy.

“How has my life gone off the deep end,” I said, staring at the woman in the mirror, “let me count the ways.”

“One: I was kidnapped by a Cassanian High Lord. Pros: the accommodations. Cons. . .hmm, see Two.

“Two: I am now the subject of growing obsession for another Cassanian Lord, sanity in question. Pros: none. Cons. . .about what you would expect.

“Three: I now get to deal with the moods and baggage and fussing of three Fae warriors. Pros—the sex,obviously. Cons: the inexplicable micromanaging of everything from my diet to my selection of bath salts.

“Four: I’m a Fae quarterling? Or an eighthling, I’m not sure. Pros: I have an edge on my human competition. Cons: I also apparently eat people if I’m not careful. Though that isn’t as much of a con as it should be, which is disturbing.

“Five.” I stopped whispering to myself, blinking back unexpected tears. “I may never see home again. Pros: my new home. Cons: I miss my family.”

I hadn’t before now. I hadn’t thought of them much. But it hit me, leaning against the counter, that I no longer believed in the back of my mind that I’d see them again, whenever I wanted. I couldn’t; Andrei controlled my access to the realm gate.

I left the bathroom and stopped when I saw all three men looking at me. Andrei was on his feet, Mathen at the window and Constin leaning on the bed.

Cursed Fae hearing.

“You’ll see your family again, Anah,” Andrei said softly. “And four isn’t a problem if you just eat us.”

I blinked. “How did you manage to make that sound dirty?”

---