Page 54 of Fae Tithe (The Cursed Courts #1)

“ I would like to bathe,” Helena signed to Lance once they had finished their meal.

They were sat quite close to her sleeping daughter, and she did not want to wake Eleanor. Helena desperately wanted to wash. She was painfully aware she reeked of dried blood and smoke. The scent of iron and ash filled her nostrils, staining her tongue.

Lance gave her an exaggerated wrinkle of his nose and a quick sniff. “Understandable,” he signed back, with a cheeky wink.

Helena gave a mock gasp. “Rude!” she gestured, giving him a nudge in the ribs with her elbow.

“Let me get it organised for you,” Lance signed, standing before she could do anything about it.

He tapped her thigh, and Helena shifted off the cloaks, so he could bundle them into his arms. She watched as he flitted around their camp. He quickly tied their cloaks from tree to tree.

What is your Siren doing? Atlas asked curiously.

I think he is setting up a makeshift washroom for me, Helena replied.

Lance tied their two cloaks to trees, making a rough triangle, to protect her from two sides.

He strode back over to her and helped Helena to stand.

Her feet felt tender even on the soft grass.

It occurred to her that Lance may have removed her boots to heal her wounds, repairing her skin, even in her sleep.

Helena stepped into the cloth triangle. Lance stood protectively at the open end.

She studied him. Huge dark circles bagged his eyes, and his face looked pinched with exhaustion.

His short beard had sprinkles of grey through it.

She also noticed that there was a singular streak of silver peeking through his long black hair.

The grey is new, Helena mused.

What does that mean? Atlas asked, of course hearing her.

We still need to have that privacy discussion. Not all my thoughts are meant for you, she chided. But it means this experience has aged him. He must have been – maybe still is – very stressed. Still so handsome, though.

“You don’t need to heal me tonight,” Helena said softly, her gaze meeting her Merman’s. “I feel comfortable enough. I just need you to hold me.”

Lance gave a long sigh. A muscle feathered along his jaw line, as though he was about to argue. “Alright,” he agreed.

Helena watched as the Merman focused on the river. Just like from the well at the villa back home, Lance shifted water from it in a spiral. His eyes followed the water as it formed a huge floating orb above her head. Helena peered down at her ruined clothes.

“Of course, it had to be the one nice set of clothes I had,” she huffed as she peeled the tatters of the Habetrot’s clothes from body.

Lance cocked an eyebrow at her. “What do you mean?” he asked.

“Everything I own is sensible.” Helena shrugged as she lifted the remnants of the black tunic from her torso.

“I know the clothes we brought from the Habetrot were practical, but they were also beautiful. I’m not normally that bothered, but it was nice to own something pretty.

” She tossed the fabric outside of the makeshift washroom.

“I think I understand,” he responded, watching as she began to untie her stained strophium.

“Can you get the back?” Helena asked.

She turned around so Lance could untuck the fabric where she could not quite reach without reopening her healing skin.

His calloused fingertips brushed against her as he gently untucked it.

Lance took a step forward, so he was nearly pressed against her, and Helena felt goose bumps track her arms and legs.

He shifted his arm so he could unwind the rest of her fabric from Helena’s breasts, letting them free.

She felt Lance brush the back of his hand against the curve of her neck and shoulder.

Heat coiled in her belly at his gentle touch.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Helena bent and peeled the already-ripped leggings from her bottom half. She could have sworn she heard the Merman gulp. She glanced over to where Eleanor slept, checking she was still asleep.

“Okay,” she said softly, looking up at the shifting water orb above her and taking the soap from Lance’s offering hand. “Did you take this from the room?”

“Yes,” he replied, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “I also stole the comb.”

Helena stifled her giggles as the water began to rain down on her. Lance had warmed it. It was very soothing as it hit her healing, tender skin. She caught a hesitant look pass over his face. He opened and closed his mouth twice, before he kept it shut.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, lathering soap bubbles up between her hands. “I can always tell when something is wrong.”

“Are you feeling well enough for us to talk about what happened? The night you went after Rian?” Lance whispered, clenching and unclenching his fists.

“I am always well enough to talk to you, love. You know that,” she answered, beginning to spread the bubbles over her sore skin.

His throat bobbed as he blinked several times. “We agreed we would go together, but you left me behind.”

Helena’s face flushed with shame at her snap decision. “I did. I… thought it was… best,” she fumbled over her words.

“Why?” Lance asked.

“Because… if it all went wrong, then you were the only person in Seelieland who could keep El safe. You were the only person whose power matched Rian’s. He’s dead now, we are okay. What does it matter?” She swallowed, guilt making her limbs tremble as she whispered her response.

“It does matter . This was a decision that we should have made together, not you just running off and leaving me behind. If I was with you, maybe all that happened to you would not have happened,” he replied.

His voice quietly calm, but she saw his jaw tick.

“I am hurt that you did not think to get me, or even talk to me when you had a different idea. It would have taken moments for you to come up the stairs.”

“I didn’t know whether I had moments. I am still hurt by your actions too, Lance, when you lied to me for all those years about being High Prince of the fucking sea ,” Helena whispered harshly.

She turned her back to the Merman and continued to wash the grime and blood from her body with the soap and falling water.

Helena seethed, not only with anger, but with shame.

He was right. Her actions were ultimately foolish and had led to where she was now.

She was painfully wounded with a Dragon in her head.

Cursed. She fought back tears.

Yes, but I am keeping that at bay. Please do not argue with your Siren. It is unpleasant, and your thoughts are running wild. Shame, fear, anger... it is not good for you, Len. Atlas sent her an image of the end of his tail curled around her legs, his version of a hug.

Be quiet! she growled back, heart rate spiking, as rage twitched through her fingers. I know you can’t help but hear the things I say and think, but Lance and I need a moment, Atlas, please.

Quiet hurt flashed across her mind, but the Dragon stayed silent. Helena would apologise to Atlas later. She knew she had to sort things out with Lance first. She was painfully aware that she was not good at dealing with these kinds of conflicts and found difficulty speaking about her feelings.

You killed a King, Helena . Be brave.

A hint of approval brushed across her mind from Atlas, but he said nothing.

Helena turned back to Lance from under the water.

It ran down her body in comforting warmth.

Her Merman’s gentle magic gave her the strength she reached for.

Helena took a deep breath before casting her mismatched gaze up to Lance’s face.

Shadows of hurt haunted his features and tears silvered in the corners of his eyes.

“I’m sorry. You’re right. I should’ve spoken to you and not made that decision by myself, as it involved all of us.” She gave him a weak smile. “You hurt me. I hurt you. I suppose that makes us even.”

Lance’s face softened as he reached through the water to her, soaking the sleeves of his shirt, plastering it to his skin. He gently cupped her peeling cheeks and ran a thumb under her chin. Her face crumpled at his tenderness, tears falling freely.

“Sweetheart, it is not about being even. It is about understanding why each of us is upset and trying not to do it again,” he whispered.

“We are allowed to be disappointed, even angry, with each other. It’s important to know why we feel that way, though, so we can try not to do it to each other again in the future.

” Helena nodded her face in his comforting hands.

“Conflict isn’t necessarily bad. What is bad is never talking about it, or letting anger and resentment build about a situation. ”

“So, what do we do now?” she asked quietly, relief beginning to uncoil the tight knot in her chest.

“We can agree to forgive each other?” Lance offered with a murmur.

“If we need further clarification on what happened, then it is okay if we need to talk more. We can also make a promise to try our best not to do this to each other again. Neither of us will lie to each other, and we won’t make big decisions that affect us both without talking to one another first? ”

“Yes,” Helena answered, nodding into his hands. “I agree.”

Lance beamed down at her and stepped into the falling water, soaking his clothes, plastering the fabric to his chest. Helena ogled her Merman’s toned body beneath the material, the planes of his chest cut firm in the dim light.

She cast a glance over to Eleanor. Her daughter was still sleeping peacefully by the fire, tucked into the massive Seelie Stallion’s side.

“Just one kiss, alright?” she asked. “In case El wakes up.”

“Of course,” Lance replied.