Five

EVE

Shyllon took me down into the basement, which was the opposite of what I expected. There were no dark cells, nor iron bars that kept everyone in, like in the king's palace. Instead, it was white and bright—I squinted—and filled with water coming from the walls and ceilings. The room was massive, and I couldn't help but gawk as streams of water poured down from the stone ceiling like rainfall, allowing many people to bathe quickly while standing up together. How was such a feat possible? I couldn't take my eyes off it.

And the naked people—lots of naked people. They were all women, and it was likely Anne was somewhere in the multitude, but still. They were all strangers, bathing together, naked.

My grip around him tightened on instinct. I'd never been naked in front of anyone before, not even my maid! I supposed someone had to have bathed me when I was younger, but that didn't count. Not really. The only other person who'd even seen me in any state of undress was currently in parts unknown, pretending I didn't exist. And Gregory, I suppose. Though had I ever been truly naked with him? Our stolen moments in the barn had been more about shoving articles of clothing up or down rather than removing them.

"Horse girl. You have to let go."

Shyllon was trying to pry me from his shoulder and set me down.

"My name is Eve," I protested back as if that had anything to do with the situation at all.

His expression shifted from annoyed to sympathetic. "Eve. Let go, please. You need to bathe and join the others for their examination."

Ha. Fat chance of that. With Ellis abandoning me, Shyllon was the only steady figure I could hold on to.

I'd let go only after being knocked unconscious, and I told him so.

Dark brows furrowed at me, those thick lips parting in exasperation. "Eve, let go. You're filthy. You must get clean. Surely, you won't refuse to take care of yourself?"

Tears gathered at the corners of my eyes. Horror and embarrassment flooded me. Why? What was there to be so upset about? I'd survived a rebellion, death games, being carted to another realm, and just now I was breaking down? Over showing some skin?

Shyllon sighed, but tightened his hold on me, looking around. The brown-haired fae from earlier (Alm?) saw us and frowned, marching over and asking a question in the smooth fae language. Shyllon shot another look down at me, sighed, and replied.

What were they saying?

Alm rolled his eyes but waved his hands at us in what was a clear dismissal. Shyllon turned and carried me out into the corridor and down a long hallway. More of their blasted ramps took us up before we entered a very utilitarian looking room. Before I could protest or ask what he was doing, he stepped into a side room off our new room, one with a large clawfoot tub.

My feet met the cold slate floor moments later, and Shyllon turned to me with a fierce look before I could part my lips.

"No questions. Use the knobs on the tub to get water and use the soaps to clean yourself. You have five minutes. That's all I can spare before it's likely someone finds out. I suggest we not let anyone find out you received special treatment. Alm owed me a favor, and it won't be good for either of us if anyone else finds out I'm here with you. I'm supposed to be at the palace at the moment."

Oh, well, excuse me.

Indignation parted my lips, but I barely stopped the argument from spouting out of my mouth. He'd neatly answered all of my questions. For now.

Besides, a new problem had presented itself. Surely, he didn't expect me to bathe right in front of him, did he?

As if reading my thoughts, he sighed. "It's either me or the room full of humans and their guards."

Well, when he put it that way … and he was trying to be nice, in his own way. He certainly hadn't needed to go out of his way for me, or risk getting either of us in trouble. I snorted. Who was I kidding? The only one likely to get in trouble here was me, not him.

Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I threw my dirty clothes off and tried to ignore the fact that this gorgeous, huge fae warrior only stood a few feet away from me, his back to me. Goosebumps erupted over my flesh as the cool air hit it, and I nearly broke my neck trying to step into the tub too quickly.

With dismay, I stared at the knobs and levels, hugging my arms to my body as if I could shield myself from this strange new world. Turn the knobs, he'd said.

"I could help you, if you like. If you're not careful, you could scald yourself. You must mix them properly."

I had no clue what he was on about. An awkward pause descended between us, and he turned to face me. When I didn't scream at him he took a hesitant step toward me. I cringed and tried to curl more into a ball to hide myself.

His silver eyes had a hint of indigo in them, though he quickly shifted his gaze to the tub and turned the handles.

"Move back. At first it'll be—"

An undignified squawk left me as ice cold water hit me, and I scrambled to get to the back of the tub.

"—cold," he finished, chuckling darkly.

I glared, but I'd been expecting as much already. Still, I watched with interest as he turned both handles on either side with one callused hand, and the other checked the temperature of the water.

Gawking was my thing today, I guess. Or maybe it was just him. I mean, he had to be checking the temperature, because what else would he be doing? And yet, that suggested there was hot water coming out of the tub! And as difficult as it was to wrap my brain around the thought of water magically appearing in this tub on its own, I drew the line at hot water.

The proof was in the water swirling around my ankles. It quickly turned from ice cold to tepid, to lukewarm, then to a scalding hot that wrapped me in its embrace. My body relaxed as the water rose, an audible groan of appreciation leaving my throat.

Shyllon shot me a look, and I blushed.

Once the tub was full, he disappeared out through a small archway. I took advantage of his absence and grabbed the soap, which smelled of lavender and some other tingly scent I couldn't place. I roughly washed myself, ducking my head under the water and scrubbing frantically.

I took a moment to just float under the water; the warmth wrapping around me like a warm blanket as I held my breath and submerged myself fully. It was quiet here. And safe. What would it be like to just … stay here? Not that I'd ever entertain thoughts of ending my life, but it was intriguing to imagine endless peace. It would be simple. It would be—

Air bubbles streamed from my nose and lips as hands grabbed me and pulled. The grip was hard and painful, but I couldn't scream with water in my mouth. Gasping as I broke the surface, the first thing I saw were those furious, indigo silver eyes.

He held me up by my arm and neck, spouting off a stream of unintelligible fae. I tried to focus on what he was saying, but a warm, heady sensation was spreading through my body at the pressure he had on my neck. My eyes closed as I shut him out. I felt safe. I felt … controlled.

He growled, and my eyes snapped open.

"I said, what are you doing?"

My brows furrowed. Why was he so angry at me?

"Uh … bathing?" I pointed warily to the lingering soap suds in my hair, and he jerked back as if I'd insulted him. His expression changed so rapidly I almost missed that strange flash in his eyes. Was he … embarrassed?

"Apologies. I … that is …" He lowered me back into the bath. "Many humans cannot swim," he offered lamely, but I nodded anyway. It was true. Many couldn't. The only reason I knew how was because of the little pond out in back of the manor.

We were so close, so very close, and I still was naked, so very naked. My face heated and Shyllon let go of me and turned, picking up a large wooden chair that was lying haphazardly on the floor, next to a pile of clothes and a bright purple, fluffy towel.

Oh. That's what he must have left to get.

To my growing horror, he picked it up, spun it around neatly, and sat down right across from me. He leaned back in the chair, arching one eyebrow at me as he rested his hands on his thick, muscled thighs.

If he patted his lap, I might die.

Wait, where did that thought come from?

I bent over and dunked my head that way, determined to finish while baring the least amount of flesh possible.

"Horse girl, I have seen it all. Stop cringing and finish cleaning. Time is limited."

Ha, yeah. Easy for him to say. I couldn't tell if my body was so heated from embarrassment or the water. Either way, I finished in record time, hanging the soap back on the little knob by its rope and boldly staring at him.

"Good. Stand."

It took every ounce of self-control to keep my arms at my sides and not cover my breasts. All that bravado, and his eyes never left my face.

My hands reached out for the towel, but he seized me with it instead, roughly rubbing it all over my body with a utilitarian efficiency that left me unable to protest. With a few quick pats and a twist, he had my hair tied up with the towel so that it wasn't budging soon. I touched the design, wondering at how he knew how to do that. Then again, lots of male fae had long hair, didn't they? Perhaps they simply knew how to care for it.

He offered me a basic linen dress next, white with a brown apron and a black cloak that was too short for me, ending at the bottom of my calves instead of my ankles. The brown leather boots were as well, but they were in much better shape than my old clothes. I shot them a sad parting look as I dressed.

Standing there, my outlook on life suddenly felt much more positive. Amazing what cleanliness could do. Now, if only I could get something to eat.

My stomach rumbled on cue, and Shyllon frowned. "Did you not eat at the welcome picnic?" He shook his head before I could answer. "Never mind. Let's go."

At least he let me walk as he guided me back down into the corridor, though I had to take quick steps to keep up with his long stride. His jaw clenched, and I wondered if I'd made him angry. It wasn't my fault I hadn't eaten; the fae guard had practically smacked the food out of my hand!

"Here she is. No one is the wiser." Shyllon glared at me, pushing me toward Alm.

Alm rolled his eyes. "Wonderful. Now leave. You're a troublemaker."

Shyllon spat something out at Alm in the fae language, and an ache grew in my chest as Shyllon did just that, disappearing back down the corridor without another glance in my direction.

As if I didn't matter at all.

Get it together, Eve. He's a fae noble of some kind. You're a slave. Just because he was making sure you weren't damaged doesn't mean he's friendly, nice, or even gives a shit. Focus on you. Focus on getting home.

Alm sighed dramatically and looked me up and down. "Well, it wasn't like he asked for something I wasn't already ordered to do. Not that he has to know that, right?"

I had no idea what to say to that, so I kept quiet.

"Come on. The others have been sorted already, so now I get to escort you personally." He grumbled out something else in the fae language that was likely an insult to Shyllon. I meekly followed, unable to reconcile that odd feeling of loss I felt.

Ellis was gone.

Shyllon was gone.

I was alone.

Don't. Fucking. Cry.

I stuffed my feelings deep down inside until the bright sun overhead brought me out of my inner musings. I blinked rapidly, barely registered the ornate carriage before the door opened and they stuffed me into it. Royal blue velvet met my hands and knees, and a small, gentle hand helped me up.

"Annie!" I cried out, so relieved to see someone familiar, I threw my arms around her. The door slammed shut behind me.

The carriage lurched forward, throwing us back onto the floor in a tangle of limbs. There were five of us total, all younger women ranging from Annie and my age to two others who looked middle-aged. The fifth was a handsome man, older than me, but younger than the other two women. His face screwed up in confusion.

Uncertainty filled me. "Where are we going? Did they—"

"You don't know?" Annie breathed out, her eyes wide with terror. She clutched to me as we sat on the plush bench, too nervous to take in our lush surroundings or even wonder what it meant.

Unless what she was about to tell me would explain it all.

"They said … They said …" Annie broke off, tears in her eyes, overcome.

One of the older women with blonde hair falling loosely in waves over her shoulders crossed her arms over her chest, her lips in a tight, straight line. "They said we're going to a pleasure house." She nonchalantly looked at her nails and fluffed her hair a bit, eyeing the man invitingly. He frowned and scooted over. The red-head sitting next to him tried to become part of the carriage wall, making herself as small as possible in the tiny space we had.

My jaw dropped. Wait. Hadn't Shyllon mentioned something about a pleasure house? That had been a joke, though. Surely, there weren't actual—

Except there were. Humans had their brothels and whore houses. Why would fae be any different, especially if they had an entire class of living beings who lived as slaves?

"It's better than a labor camp. I'd rather be on my back all day than my feet," quipped the same blonde.

"Speak for yourself," bit back the redhead, glaring.

The carriage ride continued as we fell into an uneasy, anxious silence as dusk settled around us like an extra traveling cloak. I couldn't wrap my head around what my brain was telling me was happening.

Little did I know my nightmare was only beginning.