Page 152 of As Above, So Below

Ryc shields his eyes with a hand and begins to laugh.

“Oraphia, surely you can give us more time,” he says laughing, attempting to squint in her direction. “Ves was in the middle of thanking me. I’d like to hear more.”

A weak laugh escapes me, followed immediately by a wince.

She throws open the curtains in another window and the intensity of the light grows painful. I groan as Ryc laughs harder. He pulls an extra pillow over our faces. The relief granted by the darkness is immediate.

“Do not play these games with me, Sovereign King.” The woman’s voice is muffled through the pillow.

“Ignore her. She’ll go away eventually,” Ryc half-whispers playfully and I can’t help but smile.

“I will do no such thing!” Oraphia exclaims, jerking the pillow away from us, exposing us both to the assaulting light once again.

With a roguish grin, Ryc kisses me quickly before leaving the bed. My brows shoot high at the casualness of the action.

Is this how it could be between us?

Easy and full of light?

Do I deserve such a thing after all the choices I’ve made?

Or is this yet another cruelty of Fate? Showing me things I’ll never have.

“I’ll see you at dinner, little demon,” he drawls with a smile that leaves me breathless as he backpedals toward the door. “Be gentle with her, Oraphia,” he warns with a grin.

“Your Majesty, please.” She sighs, placing her hands on her roundhips. “You wouldn’t have asked me to tend to her if you expected anything less.”

The door closes after Ryc, and Oraphia turns her attention to me.

She’s an older woman, graying black hair, bright brown eyes, dressed in a simple but well-tailored black dress. It’s outfitted with a matching apron that features a plethora of pockets, a couple of brushes protruding from them.

“Good afternoon, Lady Vestaris,” she greets warmly, an entirely different tone than the one she’d used with Ryc seconds ago. “I’m Oraphia and I’ve been assigned as your personal attendant.”

“What?”

He’s given me an attendant?

Does he expect me to reside here?

I can’t do that.

Can I?

“Yes.” She nods once, firmly. “Now, it’s time we get you cleaned up and ready for the day. Or at least, what remains of it. Of which there’s dinner.”

With a groan, I pull myself from the bed and she ushers me to the bathing room at the other end of the room. Stepping around me, she beelines toward the deep clawfoot tub and begins to draw a bath. As it fills, I remove my camisole, letting it puddle at my feet.

“Come, come, Lady Vestaris,” she urges, taking me gently by the arm.

Good gods, I will not be calledLady Vestaris.

“Ves is fine,” I say and she gives me a confused look. “Please call me Ves.”

“As you wish, Lady Ves.” She leans over the tub, testing the heat of the water with the back of her hand.

I level a flat glare in her direction she fails to see.

She guides and urges me into the tub where, upon contact, the hot water melts into the very essence of my being. I could spend an eternity right here in this water. I would fight an army to do just that. Sinking into the fast-filling tub, I hug my legs to my chest, resting my cheek against my knees.