Page 33 of Swords and Curses

"Very new, but I'm learning quickly thanks to good teachers."

Nimue squeezed the water from her waist-length hair. "I'm sure you are. They taught me much, but I learned most from…from Deryn. I see the family has grown since I was here."

"And one is still in Italy," Rosa answered, wondering how much she could tell her.

"The dark-haired one is very handsome." Nimue's lips curled into an appreciative smile.

Rosa took a deep breath before trusting herself to answer. "That is Balthasar. Your kind call him Leiddiad."

"They aren'tmykind. I'm half made—neither human or Seelie," Nimue corrected. "I did hear of him from the common Seelie when I was trying to escape."

Nimue smiled unexpectedly, and it was stunningly pretty, though there was a strained panic in her eyes that didn't sit well with Rosa.Maybe she's as cracked as Eldon says.

Now that Nimue was clean, Rosa noticed the undertones of her skin were gold, not pink, and it made her skin shimmer when the light hit a certain way.

"Come on. We'll find some clothes for you to wear."

After the doomed ball, the Gwaed Gam had fled the mansion, many leaving all of their possessions behind. Rosa had raided the haul of designer labeled outfits until she found clothes that would be close to Nimue's size. Rosa couldn't hide the smile as Nimue tried on modern fashion with equal amounts of scandal and enjoyment.

In the end, she settled on black leather tights, chunky heeled ankle boots, and an asymmetrical button-up blouse in a shimmery gold. Her burnished gold hair had dried in smooth waves, and Rosa couldn't help but feel a touch envious of her. Ryn had bestowed all of his Seelie beauty onto her.

Nimue smiled at her reflection. "I think I'm going to like this new time."

Downstairs, she charmed Vera and Belinda, and the other serving staff eyed her with a reserved jealousy. Rosa tried to remember Eldon's warnings about Nimue and her ability to make everyone around her admire her, like most of the Seelie.

Rosa found her fists clenching at times, even though her face was smiling. She could remember the Seelie court far too well. She couldn't forget that Nimue was Ryn's daughter. Ryn, who had been like a charming prince while he danced with her, before he showed her what lay underneath. She could still feel his hands squeezing her face as the Autumn Queen poured the elixir down her throat. She wondered how Nimue would react once she learned that Rosa had killed her father.

As Nimue made the sensible Mr. Goode blush, Rosa suddenly wanted to lock Saul and Balthasar in a packing crate and send them far away. Despite her newly acquired abilities, and how much she knew Balthasar loved her, she still felt a flicker of insecurity. She thought that now she was Unseelie, she wouldn't have to worry about fickle human emotions so much. In truth, everything she felt was magnified.

"Come on, we need to see Eli," Rosa interrupted, escorting Nimue out of the kitchen. Rosa took small and petty satisfaction in seeing Nimue look nervous. Rosa knocked on the office door.

"Enter," Eli's voice echoed out with such a force even Rosa paused before opening the door.

Eli sat at his desk with Eldon standing beside him like the king's advisor. Saul and Balthasar watched them carefully onthe other side of the room. They stood in front of the windows, so even if Nimue tried to make a run for it, her exits would be blocked.

"Sit," Eli instructed and Nimue took the chair in front of him.

Rosa retreated to Balthasar, her arm snaking under his suit jacket. The tension in the room made the hair on Rosa's arm stand on end, but the touch of Balthasar's warmth calmed her. His face was a steely mask, but he still put his hand on her hip and drew her close.

When Rosa turned, she saw Nimue watching them. Her head tilted to one side as if she was finally realizing they were together. Rosa's grip on his shirt tightened.

"Rosa has convinced us to hear you out instead of killing you, Nimue. This will be your only chance to convince us of your usefulness." Eli's voice held an edge that cut to the bone. "Do you understand?"

"Yes, Seren Du," Nimue murmured respectfully.

Beside Eli, Eldon's face betrayed nothing, but his golden eyes refused to rest on her.

It's okay, cefnder. I'm with you, Rosa thought, hoping it would touch his mind. His face didn't change, but Rosa saw his fists unclench at his sides.

"You will tell us the truth about why you betrayed us," Eldon demanded. "We took you into our home and under our protection, and all you brought was death."

Nimue flinched, the sound of his voice robbing her of any confidence or bravado she still might have possessed.

"Rosa informs us that you were held prisoner by the Autumn Queen. Tell me about it," Eli said and folded his arms.

"Before Merlin found me in the forest, I was found by one of the Seelie. They knew me to be Ryn Eurion's blood, and he was summoned," Nimue began, her voice barely a whisper. "I was told that the Autumn Queen would grant me a place in hercourt if I delivered Merlin to her. Even then, she was afraid of his power and of what he might grow into. She hoped to turn him to her side so you would have no choice but to return to the Aos Si. She knows you'd do anything for your family. For a girl who had been feared, shunned, and abused her entire life, the prospect of belonging was irresistible."

Eldon's face had shut down completely, his emotions locked away as he listened. Despite that, Rosa could see the unspoken fury and pain in his golden eyes.

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