Page 39 of Rain of Shadows and Endings

“Of course.”

He left and returned a moment later with two bottles of water. He placed one on the nightstand before unscrewing the cap from the other, bringing it to her lips and tipping it so she could drink. She reached to take it from him, wanting to guzzle it down faster, but he stopped her.

“Slow down, Tessa. You are going to make yourself sick. You haven’t eaten in four days, and you haven’t drank anything in nearly as long.”

He put the cap back on before placing it on the bedside table. Turning back to her, he reached out to cup her cheek, and she jerked back. The bond punished her with a jolt through her body, and she winced. Frustration clouded Theon’s eyes, and Tessa dropped her gaze to the comforter.

“I need to take a shower and use the bathroom,” she said, twisting the sheets in her fingers.

“Okay. I can show you where your things are,” Theon replied, pulling the covers back so she could slide from the bed. He didn’t reach for her again, but he stayed close as she stood on unsteady legs. She followed him into the bathroom, the lights automatically coming on when they stepped through the door. She had lain on this floor for hours a few nights ago, but she’d never actually looked around the space. No, her line of vision had been solely the inside of the toilet bowl.

She stilled while Theon went in ahead of her. The bathroom was as luxurious as the rest of the suite. The walls were entirely black tiled, the floor a white marble that was heated beneath her bare feet. To her right was a door that led into the dressing room. Directly ahead of her was a double sink vanity in dark wood tones. Copper faucets and fixtures adorned the space. Next to the dressing room entrance was a cosmetic vanity complete with a cushioned bench seat and mirror that would light up. Beyond that was the semi-private toilet space. In the back right-hand corner stood a large free-standing bathtub big enough for two, and next to it, spanning nearly the entire back wall, was a stunning, glass enclosed walk-in shower. Three large rainfall shower heads came from the ceiling along with various shower heads coming off different parts of the walls. A bench ran along the back.

Theon had gone to the far double sink and opened a drawer, pulling out a toothbrush and tube of toothpaste. “All your things are in these three drawers,” he said, setting the items on the counter. “I had Pen get a hair dryer and other things. They’re in this bottom drawer. If you need something else, let me know. There's a brush and comb here. Hair accessories and makeup are over in the make-up table for you,” he added, gesturing across at the space.

He retrieved some towels from a tall cupboard beside the shower and placed them on the counter. “I have shower products in the shower for you, unless you’d rather take a bath?”

Tessa shook her head, hugging herself tightly. “A shower is fine.”

“Okay,” Theon nodded, running a hand through his hair. He had dark stubble running along his jaw, as if he hadn’t shaved since they’d left the Acropolis. If he weren’t forcing her into some kind of glorified servitude, she’d find it attractive. As it stood, it just made her scowl in annoyance.

“Do you want to see the closet for clothing now or after you’ve bathed?” Theon ventured.

“Can I brush my teeth first?” she replied, hating she had to ask that.

“Of course,” Theon said, stepping aside. “I will meet you in there.”

Tessa brushed her teeth. Twice. And even then her mouth still didn’t feel quite clean. She figured she’d brush again when she got out of the shower. Finding a tie for her hair in the vanity table and pulling her hair up and off her neck, she walked into the closet.

It was huge. She’d been wrong. Six of those small bedrooms could fit in here. Theon’s clothing took up one wall, while female clothing, shoes, and accessories took up the other three. In the center was an island with drawers on all sides. Theon had placed a pair of soft leggings and a long-sleeve shirt atop it.

“Does your skin still hurt, or will these be all right now?” he asked when she entered.

“I’m feeling better,” she murmured, still taking in the massive amount of clothing and shoes. Theon walked to a section and pulled a pair of slippers from a drawer. She was going to have to draw a damn map of the dressing room to remember where everything was.

“You can wear these,” Theon said, placing them atop the pile of clothes. “Since socks are not a viable option.” His mouth twitched at the words, and Tessa gave him an unimpressed stare. “Do you need anything else?”

“I don’t think so,” she said, reaching for the clothing.

He held out the half-full bottle of water, but when her fingers wrapped around it, he didn’t let go. “Drink it slowly,” he warned.

“Yes, Master,” she replied derisively.

His eyes darkened a shade, and a muscle in his jaw ticked. The bond in her chest gave a sharp jerk at her… What? Making him upset? Hurting his feelings? Whatever. Now that she wasn’t vomiting magic or shivering with a godsdamn fever, her head felt clearer than it had in days. She was restless. And irritable. And hungry. And why were there no windows in here? It made the space feel too enclosed.

“Bathe, Tessa,” he finally said, releasing the water bottle. “I will order you some food and have it delivered as soon as possible.”

“Order food from where? Does anyone even deliver out here?”

“Our kitchen staff can make anything.”

“Is there no food in the kitchen? I can just make something when I am done.”

“Aside from the fact that you just woke up from sleeping for three days, my Source is not going to make her own food,” Theon answered, heading for the door. “Yell if you need anything.”

Tessa carried the clothing and the water bottle with her back into the bathroom, setting everything down on the sink beside the towels. She turned to the shower and realized she had no idea what buttons to push or knobs to use to turn anything on. After several rounds of trial and error, she finally got a few shower heads on and adjusted to a temperature that wasn’t freezing. She found shampoo and conditioner that smelled like lavender and mint and a body wash that smelled like jasmine. She nearly moaned as she washed days’ worth of sweat and grime from her body.

She didn’t know how long she stood in the water, but the longer she did, the more her mind tried to wrap itself around her situation. None of this should have happened. She’d been told repeatedly no one would want her. She was scarcely glanced at when the other heirs would come to the Estate to observe them all. She was nobody and nothing, as the Estate Mother liked to remind her every time her behavior needed correcting.

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