Ch. 39
“Beguilement”
My hands are covering my mouth as I slide down the door I am leaning against. A heavy sigh moves past my fingers. I did not. Nyx.
I move from the door and move toward the back of the bathing room where a table sits. I start emptying my pockets and sheaths. I finish by placing six daggers on the table, the tiger’s eye stone, my satchel, and the locket Oana gave me. Which is buzzing…
I quickly pick it up and place it by my ear. I hear Oana, but it is barely more than a whisper.
“Witch. What did you do?” She whisper yells through the locket.
“What do you mean?”
“Did you use your telepathy to talk to Zanir earlier?”
“No.”
“Something happened. He was talking Iamys about something in the library and he then suddenly took off. With fire in his eyes.”
“I didn’t say…” I start and then it starts to finally click. He said we were connected. He could feel me. Could he sense my panic, my fear, my pain? This is so confusing. “I was panicking. I think he may have felt it.”
Oana doesn’t say anything for a couple minutes that I start to put the lock down before I faintly hear her voice. “What do you mean you think he felt it?”
“He mentioned before that he could feel me. Maybe that includes strong emotions…I mean I don’t know…. But GIRL.” I start waiting for her to realize that I am about to drop something big.
“I had to distract Iamys, and Zanir hasn’t left your room. I’m in your entertainment room. You should really finish some of these paintings. They look like a child painted them.”
“You witch, listen. His ears are…pointed.”
There is silence on her end, again. I start taking off my boots, careful about my wrapped ankle. “And how did you figure that out?”
I walk over to the large bathtub, way too big for someone my size, unless you wanted to have a bathtub party. I run my fingers along the water. Lukewarm at best. My eyes fall on my wrist. Purple and pink finger marks around it. Shit. “Well, um, I, well you see.”
“Spit it out.”
“I distracted him by running my fingers through his hair, and then used my wind to blow his hair away from his ears…” I say in a single breath and exhale loudly. I glance to the door, it remains quiet. I wonder what he is doing out there…
“You…did not…No, you didn’t”
“I don’t know it just happened.”
“Well um, will have much to discuss later.”
“What do you mean?” I say to the locket. I look around the bath chamber and say, “Warm the tub, please.” The water starts to bubble and steam. At least Mother made this wing full of magic when she decided to lock me in here.
“Meet me after dinner. Like a few hours before midnight. I will need to gather somethings, or you won’t believe me.”
“That is reassuring.” I kick off the boot from my good ankle, ripping the sock off. I start unbuckling my leg and chest hoisters Devlyn gave me. I pull my too large pants off. The sleeveless shirt Devlyn is the final thing to come off. I hope she know this is mine now. I move to the tub and the tray that sits next to it.
“Um, I would recommend using your beast room before you meet me.”
I’m in the middle of unwrapping my ankle, “Why?” What a strange thing for her to say…
“No particular reason, other than you can be a raging ball of fire or ice storm it sounds like lately, and I don’t think you’ll take this news lightly, even though I am not sure why you would be upset. He is handsome, like really attractive, and given the looks you both exchange I have a feeling he is matching your assholery and snarky shit in that mind of yours.”
“Your fae research has something to do with Zanir…and me?” With just finding out the Zanir is in fact fae, what kind has yet to be determined, but what does that have to do with me? And I am going to bypass the fact she just called me an asshole.
“I mean it is about all shapeshifters, but with the information you’ve giving me recently, the side information I found may include you…both… enjoy your bath.” Is all she says before the locket in my hand goes quiet, no more buzzing.
I stand there for a moment trying to figure out what possible information she could have found that would make her tell me to use my beast room. The room I try very hard NOT to use. Good thing Devlyn requested it to be set up. Hopefully it isn’t too far gone by the time I get there. I scowl. Fucking shit. Other than a few claws drags I haven’t heard much from my beast, Kiza. I don’t know if that is a good thing or not. I do need a release and to rip something a part...with my teeth.
I move to the sink where a toothbrush and some mint…fucking mint… paste, that Oana made me a while ago. I can finally brush my teeth. I know well be having dinner soon, but I doubt I’ll eat anything anyway, and the layer of grossness on my teeth is absolutely disgusting.
After finishing, I move to the side table where I laid my daggers on. I pick up the crystal opal dagger that the Faymore fae blacksmith gave me. Definitely my new favorite. I walk back to the tub, steam is filling the room and fogging up the mirror above the sink.
I place the dagger on the tray next to the tub and climb in. I feel my eyes roll from the soothing wave of heat that hits my cold skin. Nyx, I missed this. I sink into the tub. My face moves under the water. My hair following after me like hands grabbing for the surface. I could stretch out fully in this tub and still not reach both edges.
I break the water surface with a deep exhale. I could stay in here forever and turn into a pruney lump of flesh.
I break the water surface and I look to the tray next to the tub. There is a small bowl of oils and paste type things. I grab the paste and start working in through my hair. My fingers get caught on the tangles. This hair is becoming a pain in my ass. After managing to comb through all the tangles, I lean back in the tub, rinsing my hair off completely. I reach for the bowl of oils, rose petals, lemon slices and dump it into the steaming water. The aroma fills my nose. I never want to leave this tub. I move my hands up and down spreading the oils over ever inch. I reach for the crystal dagger and start moving it across the length of my leg. I always love the feeling that it leave me skin, smooth and soft. I nick myself right below my knee.
“Shit.”
Are your baths always hours long?
It has not been hours. They would have been dragging me out of here by now if it was.
Are you bleeding?
I stop the dagger right before my ankle, faint blues, and yellows now.
Why?
I smell it.
You what? I look down and see the trail of blood now dripping into the bath water past the Dipsa inked around my knee. I kill it…I killed when…I can’t remember…I shake my head. Nyx, I need to sleep all of this away.
I just nick myself with my dagger.
What exactly are you doing with a dagger in a bathtub?
Wouldn’t you like to know.
If you only knew.
I scowl. Prick.
He can smell blood. I run a finger past the trail dripping down my leg. I raise it to my face. A slight iron scent tickles my nose. He can smell this all the way in there.
Come here, little bat.
What?
You heard me.
Did he just beckon me? Like some beloved loyal dog. I don’t even call to Halfy like that. The fuck. Who the fuck does he think he is?
I spring out the bathtub, I grab a towel from a stack in the corner and wrap it around me. Dagger still in my hand.
I use my leg to push the door open. I am hit with the smell of mint. Fucking mint.
That was easier than expected.
I whip my head to the bed where he lays with a stupid smirk on his face. I am by the bed in seconds. Gripping my towel to me with one hand and my other around the hilt of my faint pink dagger.
He sits up to face me, about that time my foot is already on his chest pushing against him, but he remains upright. My foot looks so small compared to his chest, his…muscular chest. Focus. I push further and he falls onto his elbows. I angle my dagger down to his neck.
As someone once said, I do as I please, and no one can tell otherwise, including you.
My dagger moves across his adam’s apple as he breathes. Steady and calm. Which makes me core start to boil. A trickle of blood floods under my blade. My finger along the hilt turning a light shade of purple. His cerulean eyes battling the oranges. They are glowing under the canopy lace that darkens the bed under the skylight full of the light from the moon.
Does that mean you came because you wanted to come to me? Because I can think of better ways to make you…
I snarl. I push further. His elbows sliding down the black silken blanket. I came to remind you that I can slit that pretty neck of yours whenever I feel like.
I feel my towel shift as he slides down the blanket. His eyes meeting my lavender one. Never breaking. I hold his stare, but I am not sure how long I can. My hands are purple…but my chest, my core, my soul is burning.
Vicious little bat, you are a worthy enemy. I feel a snarl echo through my skull. Which other than him, is silent. No claws, no raging noises outside the walls.
I drag my dagger over the scar of the gash Iamys gave him.
I never miss.
I will take a scar from you over Iamys or that massive blue woman…any… fucking… day.
I hear shuffling behind me. My head slowly breaking Zanir’s stare and moving toward my bedroom door.
“Oh, shit, sorry… To interrupt whatever…is going on here.” Oana’s eyes falling to my towel that has also fallen a bit and is open between the foot I still have on Zanir’s chest. I am practically standing over him. I move my gaze back to Zanir. His eyes still where I left them, raging. He wouldn’t look away, no he valued his life too much. “Chalia, I’m going to say they don't need any tea. They seem warm enough.” Oana moves back into the hallway. “Get a room, figuratively, you two. We can smell you guys out here.” What? She can smell us. The fuck does that mean? Is it my power? Did I give him more of his power back? The fuck?
I’ll break you down one day. Maybe not today, tonight, or even a week from now. You will break. You will let me in.
I lean down to him, my blade still on his throat that I push further into his neck. The pink crystal is turning red once again. Our blood mixing together on his neck.
“This is war, Zanir, send your best warriors.” I purr leaning close to his ear, his pointed ear, as I quickly swipe the blade across his neck leaving a two-inch slice on his flesh. “Pretty sure I still owe you a kick to the face, too.”
He didn’t even flinch, but he is biting the inside of his cheek. I hit my mark.
“You are not interpreting anything of importance, Oana.” I yell and it echo through the room and down the hall. “I am just reminding Zanir…” His eyes narrow, but orange glows at the edge of his eye lashes. “That I can make an attractive mortal into a skinless one. Easily.”
I remove my foot from his chest and move my glance to Oana who is peeking in the doorway, again. She wasn’t gone long, and I’m not surprised. I’d be just as nosy.
Her eyes wide.
Without turning back to him, I launch the dagger. I could feel his feet beside mine. I knew exactly where he was. I can feel him. I can feel his raging eyes. I can feel his heart racing, but his breathing is steady…and starving.
The dagger hits the corner of the wooden canopy of my bed, and it shakes the post with force.
“How about you go clean yourself up.” Blood pools are the edge of his shirt that meets his neckline. “Maybe wash those filthy thoughts while you are in there.”
Ch. 39
“Beguilement”
My hands are covering my mouth as I slide down the door I am leaning against. A heavy sigh moves past my fingers. I did not. Nyx.
I move from the door and move toward the back of the bathing room where a table sits. I start emptying my pockets and sheaths. I finish by placing six daggers on the table, the tiger’s eye stone, my satchel, and the locket Oana gave me. Which is buzzing…
I quickly pick it up and place it by my ear. I hear Oana, but it is barely more than a whisper.
“Witch. What did you do?” She whisper yells through the locket.
“What do you mean?”
“Did you use your telepathy to talk to Zanir earlier?”
“No.”
“Something happened. He was talking Iamys about something in the library and he then suddenly took off. With fire in his eyes.”
“I didn’t say…” I start and then it starts to finally click. He said we were connected. He could feel me. Could he sense my panic, my fear, my pain? This is so confusing. “I was panicking. I think he may have felt it.”
Oana doesn’t say anything for a couple minutes that I start to put the lock down before I faintly hear her voice. “What do you mean you think he felt it?”
“He mentioned before that he could feel me. Maybe that includes strong emotions…I mean I don’t know…. But GIRL.” I start waiting for her to realize that I am about to drop something big.
“I had to distract Iamys, and Zanir hasn’t left your room. I’m in your entertainment room. You should really finish some of these paintings. They look like a child painted them.”
“You witch, listen. His ears are…pointed.”
There is silence on her end, again. I start taking off my boots, careful about my wrapped ankle. “And how did you figure that out?”
I walk over to the large bathtub, way too big for someone my size, unless you wanted to have a bathtub party. I run my fingers along the water. Lukewarm at best. My eyes fall on my wrist. Purple and pink finger marks around it. Shit. “Well, um, I, well you see.”
“Spit it out.”
“I distracted him by running my fingers through his hair, and then used my wind to blow his hair away from his ears…” I say in a single breath and exhale loudly. I glance to the door, it remains quiet. I wonder what he is doing out there…
“You…did not…No, you didn’t”
“I don’t know it just happened.”
“Well um, will have much to discuss later.”
“What do you mean?” I say to the locket. I look around the bath chamber and say, “Warm the tub, please.” The water starts to bubble and steam. At least Mother made this wing full of magic when she decided to lock me in here.
“Meet me after dinner. Like a few hours before midnight. I will need to gather somethings, or you won’t believe me.”
“That is reassuring.” I kick off the boot from my good ankle, ripping the sock off. I start unbuckling my leg and chest hoisters Devlyn gave me. I pull my too large pants off. The sleeveless shirt Devlyn is the final thing to come off. I hope she know this is mine now. I move to the tub and the tray that sits next to it.
“Um, I would recommend using your beast room before you meet me.”
I’m in the middle of unwrapping my ankle, “Why?” What a strange thing for her to say…
“No particular reason, other than you can be a raging ball of fire or ice storm it sounds like lately, and I don’t think you’ll take this news lightly, even though I am not sure why you would be upset. He is handsome, like really attractive, and given the looks you both exchange I have a feeling he is matching your assholery and snarky shit in that mind of yours.”
“Your fae research has something to do with Zanir…and me?” With just finding out the Zanir is in fact fae, what kind has yet to be determined, but what does that have to do with me? And I am going to bypass the fact she just called me an asshole.
“I mean it is about all shapeshifters, but with the information you’ve giving me recently, the side information I found may include you…both… enjoy your bath.” Is all she says before the locket in my hand goes quiet, no more buzzing.
I stand there for a moment trying to figure out what possible information she could have found that would make her tell me to use my beast room. The room I try very hard NOT to use. Good thing Devlyn requested it to be set up. Hopefully it isn’t too far gone by the time I get there. I scowl. Fucking shit. Other than a few claws drags I haven’t heard much from my beast, Kiza. I don’t know if that is a good thing or not. I do need a release and to rip something a part...with my teeth.
I move to the sink where a toothbrush and some mint…fucking mint… paste, that Oana made me a while ago. I can finally brush my teeth. I know well be having dinner soon, but I doubt I’ll eat anything anyway, and the layer of grossness on my teeth is absolutely disgusting.
After finishing, I move to the side table where I laid my daggers on. I pick up the crystal opal dagger that the Faymore fae blacksmith gave me. Definitely my new favorite. I walk back to the tub, steam is filling the room and fogging up the mirror above the sink.
I place the dagger on the tray next to the tub and climb in. I feel my eyes roll from the soothing wave of heat that hits my cold skin. Nyx, I missed this. I sink into the tub. My face moves under the water. My hair following after me like hands grabbing for the surface. I could stretch out fully in this tub and still not reach both edges.
I break the water surface with a deep exhale. I could stay in here forever and turn into a pruney lump of flesh.
I break the water surface and I look to the tray next to the tub. There is a small bowl of oils and paste type things. I grab the paste and start working in through my hair. My fingers get caught on the tangles. This hair is becoming a pain in my ass. After managing to comb through all the tangles, I lean back in the tub, rinsing my hair off completely. I reach for the bowl of oils, rose petals, lemon slices and dump it into the steaming water. The aroma fills my nose. I never want to leave this tub. I move my hands up and down spreading the oils over ever inch. I reach for the crystal dagger and start moving it across the length of my leg. I always love the feeling that it leave me skin, smooth and soft. I nick myself right below my knee.
“Shit.”
Are your baths always hours long?
It has not been hours. They would have been dragging me out of here by now if it was.
Are you bleeding?
I stop the dagger right before my ankle, faint blues, and yellows now.
Why?
I smell it.
You what? I look down and see the trail of blood now dripping into the bath water past the Dipsa inked around my knee. I kill it…I killed when…I can’t remember…I shake my head. Nyx, I need to sleep all of this away.
I just nick myself with my dagger.
What exactly are you doing with a dagger in a bathtub?
Wouldn’t you like to know.
If you only knew.
I scowl. Prick.
He can smell blood. I run a finger past the trail dripping down my leg. I raise it to my face. A slight iron scent tickles my nose. He can smell this all the way in there.
Come here, little bat.
What?
You heard me.
Did he just beckon me? Like some beloved loyal dog. I don’t even call to Halfy like that. The fuck. Who the fuck does he think he is?
I spring out the bathtub, I grab a towel from a stack in the corner and wrap it around me. Dagger still in my hand.
I use my leg to push the door open. I am hit with the smell of mint. Fucking mint.
That was easier than expected.
I whip my head to the bed where he lays with a stupid smirk on his face. I am by the bed in seconds. Gripping my towel to me with one hand and my other around the hilt of my faint pink dagger.
He sits up to face me, about that time my foot is already on his chest pushing against him, but he remains upright. My foot looks so small compared to his chest, his…muscular chest. Focus. I push further and he falls onto his elbows. I angle my dagger down to his neck.
As someone once said, I do as I please, and no one can tell otherwise, including you.
My dagger moves across his adam’s apple as he breathes. Steady and calm. Which makes me core start to boil. A trickle of blood floods under my blade. My finger along the hilt turning a light shade of purple. His cerulean eyes battling the oranges. They are glowing under the canopy lace that darkens the bed under the skylight full of the light from the moon.
Does that mean you came because you wanted to come to me? Because I can think of better ways to make you…
I snarl. I push further. His elbows sliding down the black silken blanket. I came to remind you that I can slit that pretty neck of yours whenever I feel like.
I feel my towel shift as he slides down the blanket. His eyes meeting my lavender one. Never breaking. I hold his stare, but I am not sure how long I can. My hands are purple…but my chest, my core, my soul is burning.
Vicious little bat, you are a worthy enemy. I feel a snarl echo through my skull. Which other than him, is silent. No claws, no raging noises outside the walls.
I drag my dagger over the scar of the gash Iamys gave him.
I never miss.
I will take a scar from you over Iamys or that massive blue woman…any… fucking… day.
I hear shuffling behind me. My head slowly breaking Zanir’s stare and moving toward my bedroom door.
“Oh, shit, sorry… To interrupt whatever…is going on here.” Oana’s eyes falling to my towel that has also fallen a bit and is open between the foot I still have on Zanir’s chest. I am practically standing over him. I move my gaze back to Zanir. His eyes still where I left them, raging. He wouldn’t look away, no he valued his life too much. “Chalia, I’m going to say they don't need any tea. They seem warm enough.” Oana moves back into the hallway. “Get a room, figuratively, you two. We can smell you guys out here.” What? She can smell us. The fuck does that mean? Is it my power? Did I give him more of his power back? The fuck?
I’ll break you down one day. Maybe not today, tonight, or even a week from now. You will break. You will let me in.
I lean down to him, my blade still on his throat that I push further into his neck. The pink crystal is turning red once again. Our blood mixing together on his neck.
“This is war, Zanir, send your best warriors.” I purr leaning close to his ear, his pointed ear, as I quickly swipe the blade across his neck leaving a two-inch slice on his flesh. “Pretty sure I still owe you a kick to the face, too.”
He didn’t even flinch, but he is biting the inside of his cheek. I hit my mark.
“You are not interpreting anything of importance, Oana.” I yell and it echo through the room and down the hall. “I am just reminding Zanir…” His eyes narrow, but orange glows at the edge of his eye lashes. “That I can make an attractive mortal into a skinless one. Easily.”
I remove my foot from his chest and move my glance to Oana who is peeking in the doorway, again. She wasn’t gone long, and I’m not surprised. I’d be just as nosy.
Her eyes wide.
Without turning back to him, I launch the dagger. I could feel his feet beside mine. I knew exactly where he was. I can feel him. I can feel his raging eyes. I can feel his heart racing, but his breathing is steady…and starving.
The dagger hits the corner of the wooden canopy of my bed, and it shakes the post with force.
“How about you go clean yourself up.” Blood pools are the edge of his shirt that meets his neckline. “Maybe wash those filthy thoughts while you are in there.”
