Page 7

CHAPTER 7

A fter Heidi was satisfied with the stream of burns following the length of my spine, two of the guards escorted me to my room. I’d been given a robe to cover up with for the walk, given my dress was destroyed and my back was too sore to put tight clothing on.

Tears sprung to my eyes each time the fabric ghosted over the burned flesh. I’d decided to hell with attempting to find a vial to heal the wounds first. I wanted a bath, to sink in on myself, and maybe, if I was lucky, I’d get lost under the water and fail to resurface.

The piney scent of the arnica oil I’d mixed in with the bath water lingered on my skin as I toweled off, squeezing droplets of water from the ends of my hair. I’d had to fight falling asleep in the tub, the cool water so blissful against the exhaustion and pain that threatened to pull me under. There was only so much a body could take in one day, and I feared I’d reached my limit. I almost couldn’t help myself from allowing my eyes to shut, which was a clear sign to get out.

For the duration of my bath, I’d hunched forward rather than sit back in order to save myself the excruciating pain of the porcelain on my wounds. Not before long, my grumbling stomach stirred my half-awaken state in the water, further spurring me to unplug the drain. I hadn’t eaten much today aside from the muffin I’d snagged on my way to see Taylin, and my stomach was finally protesting.

As it was now late and everyone was presumably turned in for the night, I threw a silk cardigan over my nightdress, careful not to wrap it tightly around my front so it wouldn’t brush the wounds too hard, before heading out of my room toward the kitchen. I could snag a bite to eat and use a healing vial from the drawer they kept stocked with medical supplies in case a cook cut themself while prepping meals. They never noticed when I’d borrowed some in the past, as I was always sure to refill the vial exactly to where it was before I used any.

My hair was still damp, the ends cold as they dripped every so often, but the chill was welcomed against the burns.

I padded down the stairs before making my way down the hallway, then rounded a corner, coming upon the kitchen. It was dark, aside from the single candle lit in the center of the wood island. I didn’t want to light any lanterns, lest a guard see I was in here and insist on escorting me back to my room. Nor did I particularly want to be around a fire vial at the moment. I had nothing against the magic itself—it wasn’t its fault, but instead its user—but my mind still steered away from the idea of using it for a while after each punishment.

Opening the pantry door in the corner of the kitchen, I rifled through the few baked goods that were left in a basket from earlier in the day. Eyeing the flavors, my belly ached for something more than another muffin. Grabbing one of the blueberry ones, I scooted the basket back on the shelf and turned out of the pantry with a hand on the door.

My heart nearly leapt out of my chest at the sight of a person standing in the opposite corner, cloaked in complete darkness.

The muffin dropped from my hand, rolling across the floor as my back banged into the wall behind me.

“Fuck,” I shrieked, but not toward the stranger in the room, but rather the unbearable pain that shocked through me, racing down my spine like a knife being dragged through my heart. My hand plastered to my chest, like that alone might keep the organ inside my body.

Bowen stood there, clouded in black as he watched me, as if he was simply a shadow in the room. “Quite the mouth on you, Princess.”

I took as much of a steadying breath as I could, though it did little to slow my heart’s frantic pace.

At least it knew to stay on edge around him.

“What are you still doing in my home?” I asked, clearly breathless from the scare and trying my best to keep the strain out of my voice.

“Staying a bit,” he answered casually, crossing an ankle over the other as he leaned against the counter behind him. Even in the dim candlelight, I noticed his eyes fall to my bruised wrists. Quickly, I dropped my hold on my chest to hide them behind my back, careful to avoid the wounds.

“Please, do enlighten me on why,” I said, trying to distract him. I truly didn’t care about his reason for staying in the castle, I only needed to get the healing vial from the drawer he was currently blocking.

He tried to hide his smirk, like it was funny to him that I was bothered by his presence. “I have some meetings to attend before I return home.”

“You mean like the one you forced yourself into earlier?”

The only thing that gave away his surprise that I knew he wasn’t meant to be there was the pause in his response. “Eavesdropping, are we, Princess?”

I scoffed. What was everyone’s problem with that?

My eyes narrowed slightly. “Where is your home, anyway?” It was foolish of me to ask, but I’d never met him before, and I was overly curious for no good reason.

This time, he failed to hide the lift of his mouth. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

My jaw nearly dropped at his slight insinuation—that I was being nosy for something other than innocent reasons.

Moving on.

“Why doesn’t my father like you?”

“Shouldn’t that be a question to ask your father?” His tone seemed bored, like he’d rather be doing anything else than standing here chatting with me.

He wasn’t the only one.

I only wanted a snack and to heal my burns. Then I’d be back in my room feeling an immense amount better and finally get the rest I craved.

“I’m asking you.”

Bowen shoved off the counter, grabbing an apple from the bowl on the island before tossing it in the air once, his eyes admiring the shine on the red fruit as he turned it over in his fingers. “So many questions for a stranger.” He hummed. “I’d think you were trying to distract me from something. Perhaps why you’re really in here?”

My lips rolled together as I adjusted the cardigan over my shoulder, making sure it wouldn’t slip down my arm. I shouldn’t have thought I could get away with diverting his attention.

“I’m only here for a snack,” I said innocently.

His thumb rubbed aimlessly over the fruit. “Little late for a snack, isn’t it?”

I eyed the apple. “Not for you, it seems.”

He spun the drupe in his fingers. “Go on, then. Grab what you’re here for.”

He was challenging me, all too curious as to why I was really in the kitchen while everyone else slept. Even my guard had turned in for the night, the only ones awake posted outside the castle walls.

Swallowing my nerves, I crossed the kitchen to him with as much confidence as I could muster, hiding my hands in the sleeves of my cardigan to ensure he didn’t see the bruises. I stood directly in front of him, with mere inches separating his chest from mine. His head cocked ever so slightly, studying me.

His breath was a ghost across my cheek as he stared down at me. This was a bad, bad idea. If anyone were to walk in and word got back to my father, he’d never let me be without a guard again. Worse, I feared what he might do to Bowen.

“You’re in my way,” I stated, breaking the tense silence hanging thick in the air between us.

He took one small step to the left, keeping his eyes trained ahead. I stepped forward and reached for the handle, pulling open the drawer. Quickly, in the hopes he wouldn’t see what I grabbed, I pocketed a healing vial and closed it again.

When he didn’t speak up, I turned around, heading for the exit.

“Now, why would a princess need a healing vial in the middle of the night?” Bowen asked, stopping me in my tracks.

I inhaled deeply, clutching the sleeve of my cardigan. “It’s a good thing I’m not a princess or I’d be wondering the same thing.”

Before he could question me further, I hurried out of the kitchen and toward my room.

On my way, I mentally kicked myself for asking where he lived.

I had a godsdamned fiancé now. I shouldn’t be asking random men those types of things.

Frustration forced away the exhaustion I’d felt moments before, making me forget all about my grumbling stomach and the muffin I left on the floor. Typically, I handled healing myself right then and there, but now I’d left with the vial, which meant I had to find a time to bring it back so no one would notice it was gone.

Once I was back in my room, I popped the cork off the vial and slipped my cardigan off one shoulder. Doing my best to reach behind me without straining the wound, I angled the glass upside down at the top of my back, letting it dribble down the sensitive, scorched skin. The thick liquid might not hit every inch on the way down, but it’d work its magic on the parts that it did. It’d be enough to at least make the pain ebb.

I braced my hands against the end of my bed and sucked in a breath through my teeth as a cooling sensation followed the trail of magic. The contrast against the burns sent shivers skating over my arms. I gave it a moment to settle in, knowing my skin would scar regardless of healing the wounds because of how much time had passed since they were inflicted.

Before slipping the rest of the way out of my cardigan, I called for my magic, the pinkish hue instantly glowing bright in my palms. With a few drops still in the glass, I duplicated it until the vial was once again full. Corking it, I placed it in the drawer in my bedside table.

As I settled into my bed, lying on my stomach, I decided that if I stayed in here until we left for our journey to the other kingdoms, I wouldn’t have a chance to run into Bowen again and risk him questioning me further. In a perfect world, I might be able to, but I’d come to find long ago that my life was anything but perfect. I’d be forced to leave my room eventually.

However long his meetings were taking place here, I could avoid him.

Besides, staying hidden was my specialty.