Page 27 of Beneath the Cursed Veil

“Kaia, please escort the lady back to her quarters. We can continue this conversation when you return.”

“I can walk myself?—”

“Of course, my king.” A note of amusement touched her tone. “Lady Eleanor.”

A loud feminine harrumph sounded before someone stomped away. A few seconds later, the silver door handle turned. My attention snapped back to the predicament I found myself in.

Frantic, I kicked at the blankets, trying to free myself from the tangled mess of fur and fabric. The weight liftedfrom my legs as I swung one over the side of the bed, but before I could fully escape, my other foot caught on the cover.

I tumbled off the bed with a heavy thud, groaning as I landed in a heap on the floor. My dress had hiked up over my hips, and the blanket still clung stubbornly to one of my legs.

“She is beauty, she is grace,” the cat drawled as the door closed. A lock clicked into place, making my heartbeat thrum like a hummingbird’s wings.

The memories of last night rushed forward—his words binding me, demanding my compliance. Fear and fury crashed through me in equal measure. I pushed myself upright, scrambling backward until my back hit the wall.

I dug my heel into the carpet and shoved backward, kicking at the tangled blanket in a desperate attempt to free myself. I thrashed, wild and unrelenting, my breath coming in sharp pants?—

“Meera?” The soft rumble of his voice made my chin snap up.

Dark brows knit together in concern. He had both hands lifted in a sign of surrender, but I don’t know why. He wasn’t the one in danger. I noticed a tattoo on one hand with deep red lines that twisted around his wrist and formed a sword in his palm.

Instead of approaching, he knelt at the other end of the bed, putting us near eye level.

“Where . . . where am I?” My voice was hoarse, every note grating.

“Where do you think?” He arched an eyebrow, as if challenging me to answer my own question. I swallowed, but it hurt, my throat was too dry.

“Faerie.”

Vareck nodded. “We’re at the castle.”

“This,” I swept my eyes over the room. “This is your bedroom?”

He hesitated for a moment before inclining his chin once more. “It is.”

“Why did you bring me here?”

“Why do you think?” he asked in return. I scrunched my nose in annoyance.

“You can’t just answer every question I ask with a question.”

His full lips twisted, like he was fighting a smile.

“I can’t?”

“Ugh!” I threw my head back without thinking. Stone met the back of my head, and I groaned in pain. Something suspiciously like a laugh sounded from the bed. Probably the damn cat.

“Don’t do that.”

“Do what? Hurt myself? Wasn’t trying to,” I muttered, rubbing at sore spot.

Vareck shook his head. In amazement? Confusion? Disbelief? Let’s be real, it was probably all the above.

“You’re not what I expected,” he said slowly.

I snorted. “I hope that’s a compliment.”

His lips pulled up into a grin. “It is.”

---