Page 18 of Royal Captive
And a woman, dabbing a cool cloth against the fire in my temple. I tried to sit up, but she pushed me back down, holding me there. To my embarrassment, she was too strong for me. My eyes lifted to the pointed ends of her ears.
Fae.
Dark hair like mine curled riotously around her ears, cut short like another fae female I’d known; one with pink hair, who’d died back in our realm.
Peri.
“Gina mundari.”
Fae language. I didn’t know any of it.
I sat up slowly as she slung the rag back into a bowl, getting up and fussing with a dinner tray. The smell of meat and garlic met my nose. I tried to focus, but it was hard as my stomach demanded attention.
“Feyanna.”
She set the tray of food down roughly on my lap with a loud clinking sound as the cutlery banged together. I stared down at what looked like chicken and potatoes, trying to make sense of the strange word she’d just said. Was it an animal that lived only in the fae realm?
She eyed me with one dark eyebrow raised, arms crossed over her chest like I was dim. It was an expression I’d seen so often on Viana that a physical ache bloomed in my chest. This fae’s eyes were a bright, pure gold. That in itself was my only salvation in looking at her and not seeing a twin of Viana. I took a large bite of food just to have something to do that didn’t include staring at her or having to respond.
Oh, it was wonderful.
Guilt assailed me, clogging my throat and turning the food in my mouth to ash. Had Eve received the same treatment, with a nice bed and hot food? I tried to remember if she’d eaten at the picnic when we’d first arrived, but I don’t think she had.
The fae female huffed, and dramatically put her palm over her chest, emphasizing her words like I was deaf.
“Feyanna.”
Oh.Oh.It was her name! A hot blush creeped up my neck and face. Maybe they’d hit me harder than I’d thought and caused brain damage.
I set the fork down and put my palm over my chest.
“Ellis.”
She snorted.
“Pe sai.”
I might not know what she was saying, but the tone said enough, transcending any language barrier.
“Mang.”
Feyanna pointed again to the tray, then leaned back in her tray to watch. Mang meant eat, I supposed.
“Do you know where Eve is? Has she eaten yet? Can I send this to her?” I asked hopefully though I knew it was likely a losing battle.
Feyanna tilted her head to the side, eyebrows furrowing.
I gripped my fork harder than necessary, willing myself to remain calm. “Eve. The princess?”
She smirked. “Rainea?”
I had no idea. Gently, I set the tray aside and flung the covers off. Only to hurriedly snatch them back as Feyanna giggled behind her fingers.
“What—Why am I naked?”
I’d felt ridiculously powerless as of late, but nothing took power from you quite like waking up naked when you didn’t expect it. I covered myself back up in horror. It was understandable why I’d be shirtless, but naked?
Feyanna clapped her hands and laughed at me in delight, babbling a string of fae I had no chance of interpreting. From the burning of my ears, I knew my face was bright red again.
