Page 35 of The Court of Thorns and Wings

That was the last thing I wanted, but maybe if he focused on me, he would spare Finnian and Tavish some of his spite.

Despite knowing I wouldn’t be able to sleep, I desperately needed time alone to clear my head. Since I’d woken up here, I hadn’t had time to process everything that had occurred. “That sounds good to me.”

He smiled. “Now there’s my little girl.” He gestured to the closet next to the bathroom door. “And it’ll be nice to see you back in Seelie garments.”

I nodded, though I didn’t want to remove these clothes. They were the closest thing I had to Tavish.

When he bent over, I tensed, ready to defend myself. But he kissed my cheek, his beard tickling me the same way it had the last time he’d kissed me, right before I left for Earth.

Tears burned my eyes, and I wasn’t sure if it was from fond memories or the irony of the situation. The last time he kissed me, I hadn’t wanted to leave him, but now I wanted to be as far away from him as possible. Still, my heart ached for the relationship we’d lost and may never have again.

“Good night, darling.” He leaned back and touched my arm. His eyes glistened in a vulnerable moment.

In less than a minute, he’d gone from happy to think he’d broken me to tearing up at having his little girl back. The two emotions felt like whiplash, but I had to remember the way of the fae. They loved with all their heart but being feared meant more to them than anything. In that way, he was no different from Tavish, and maybe I would’ve been the same way too, ifI’d remained here, but Earth had allowed me to see a different path… one with mercy and compassion.

With as steady of a voice as possible, I replied, “Night, Father.”

He backed away, and I hoped, for her sake, that Eiric had overheard the end of the conversation and wouldn’t be camped outside the door.

I headed to the closet to the right of the bathroom just as Father opened the door to leave. Eiric was missing, and I exhaled in relief.

Thankfully, the wardrobe had been updated with outfits to fit my adult body. My hands ran over the gowns, and I noted the golds, blues, and greens that were predominately my future wardrobe. Then I came to the section with my nightclothes, which were all nightgowns. I shouldn’t have been surprised, seeing as they were similar to the ones I’d worn with Tavish.

I removed a white silk sweetheart-cut gown with a matching thin jacket, then locked the bedroom door and headed into the bathroom, eager to cleanse myself of the day.

The moon shone through the window over the white tub and lit up the entire bathroom. My feet hit the cool, sparkly sea-green tiles, and I noticed a white, fluffy towel hanging on the rack beside the tub. I turned on the water and stripped off my clothes. I needed to take off the Unseelie outfit and wash off the Unseelie smells if I wanted them to believe I was conforming so that Tavish, Finnian, and I could escape as soon as we had the chance.

Not waiting until the tub filled, I stepped in and settled down in the corner, looking out the window. Lights glowed from the windows of the cottages at the bottom of the hill, and another mountain range towered behind them, giving a majestic view. The high fae who worked in the palace lived in this village. Only the high fae could hold jobs as advisors, guards, or any otherimportant station within Caisteal Solais or protecting Gleann Solas.

The water tingled, providing relief for my tense muscles, and my eyelids grew heavy. But the more refreshed I felt, the more the lack of warmth from my connection with Tavish came to a head, and the strength of the strange, warm magic in my chest took on a whole new life. I shouldn’t get to feel this sort of comfort when he was chained against his will.

This had to be similar to what he’d experienced when he was forced to play his role while I took part in the gauntlet. The knowledge that a guard could enter his cell at any time and kill him while I sat here safe in a tub had my skin crawling.

I held my breath and dunked my head under the water to get clean. Even though Tavish had told me to listen and behave, I couldn’t sit here and not check on him.

My water magic pulsed in my chest, wanting to be let out, but I didn’t have time for that. I stepped from the tub and let the water drain as I toweled off. I quickly slipped on the nightgown and grabbed a wooden-handled brush with thorns as the bristles. I ran it through my hair, despite there not being any tangles, and set it back on the countertop made of vines that resembled the ones in my fated-mate tattoo. The ache of his absence stole my breath once more.

Determination and adrenaline pumped through my body. I stepped back into the bedroom and tiptoed to the door, then placed my ear against the wood. I held my breath, listening for sounds of anyone walking by or guarding me. After a few minutes of not hearing any sounds that concerned me, I determined the time to move was now.

Taking the lantern that sat on the thorned nightstand, I walked into my bathroom, shut the door again, and locked it. If anyone came inside while I was gone, I hoped they believed that I’d fallen asleep in the tub.

I moved to the wall between the countertop and the tub, squatted, and pressed the latch underneath the vined bottom drawer. A thorn poked my finger, and the wall in front of me separated into a door and opened. I stepped inside the dark secret passage and forced the door closed.

I lifted the lantern as I stepped into a cobweb. A chill ran down my spine, but I remembered that no spiders actually lived in Gleann Solas. It had to be dust.

Taking deep breaths, I began the journey toward Tavish.

With each step, the warm magic inside me continued to pulse steadily. I wasn’t sure what was going on. I’d felt a pulse like that only a few times, and usually when I was injured.

I was fine.

My bare feet brushed the cold stone floor, and I regretted not putting on any shoes.

I was moving at a slow, steady pace when a voice startled me.

“Did you hear about how she injured the king to save the Unseelie thornling?” a deep voice spat.

I spun around and lifted the lantern, expecting to find someone behind me.

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