Chapter 18

EIGHTEEN

Cassia

The room has clearly been arranged for our needs. Big beds have been pushed together to form a bed that takes up a whole side of the room, complemented by soft-looking sheets and warm blankets. The fire is blazing on one side of the room, and a tub with steaming water stands at the ready.

I turn to Lady Grave. "Thank you."

She nods. "Your friend, Lady Nova, will be two rooms to the right."

"Good," I say, looking at Lady Nova. "She deserves a hell of a lot after all she did for us."

Lady Nova inclines her head, the smallest smile playing across her lips. The woman is confusing and dangerous, but she deserves credit for dropping everything and taking me on a journey to save the men I love. When I'm queen, I'll make sure she's rewarded for everything she did.

"Would you like your men returned to this room after their healing? We've prepared their own rooms, and they'll need continued healing tomorrow, but we thought you might want to rest together."

My throat feels tight, but I manage, "That would be lovely, Lady Grave."

"There are clothes at your disposal, the bath, and food. I can send in servants to–"

"It's okay," I say, "I can take care of myself."

She looks surprised for a moment before giving a little nod. They walk out the door when Lady Grave looks back. "And can I trust you won't be using our undead to kill us in our sleep tonight?"

For some reason, I smile brightly, "As long as my men are okay." Then I shut the door. Let her push her healers even harder.

I turn back to my room. I don't know what to do with myself, so I just take it one thing at a time. I peel off my clothes, sink into the bath, and scrub the blood, dirt, healing gunk, and scents of death off of me. After I'm done, I dry, dress, and eat. A lot. I don't know if it's a consequence of the fae powers or everything I've done lately, but I'm starving.

When I'm done, I crawl into the bed, but I don't sleep. I curl up in the center of the huge space, and wait. The sky darkens. Night falls. And still, they're not here.

I cry. I don't know why. I've never been a big crier, but the past few days just seem to be hitting me, and I don't know what to do with all my emotions.

There's a quiet knock on my door, and then a healer opens it. She doesn't say a word when I say to bring them in. My men come in, looking like the living dead themselves. The healer closes the door behind them, and I pat the bed. "Let's get some sleep."

They slide in around me, Sulien facing me, Forrest behind him, then Zane behind me, and Coban behind him. The warm blankets are around us, and then there's Sulien's hands, brushing away my tears. We don't say anything, not a word, but when I drift off to sleep, I dream about the four of us, cuddled together in this bed, happy and content.