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She dunked her head, completely submerging. Ella approached and slathered her tresses in a foamy tincture smelling of jasmine. The handmaiden took a sea sponge and washed Heather’s skin. She found it strange at first, but when Ella scrubbed her back beyond her reach, she fathomed the benefit of it.

Ella assisted Heather out of the bathing pool and then covered her with a long purple robe, directing her to sit over at the vanity table.

Where she combed Heather’s chestnut locks with a brush made of pine needles.

Heather fought her drowsiness and the urge to close her eyes in bliss.

There was a flash of Ella’s white magick, rendering her hair completely dry.

Ella plaited it so that Heather’s hair was half up with her pink wish ribbon entwined, letting the ends hang loosely down her back.

Heather adored it. She couldn’t often wear it down as a servant of the court.

Human women were supposed to bind their locks in some form.

Only children wore unbound hair. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and decided that she preferred it.

The last person to help with her hair was Jessa.

Heather’s stomach clenched. What had Jessa thought when Heather was discovered missing?

The fruit she delighted in eating not long before twisted and knotted in her midsection.

Would the king retaliate? She hoped Tarragon could contact Jessa and return to the faerie tree unharmed.

Heather perused the items on the dresser. There was a glass bottle of what appeared to be sage green pixie dust. She removed the topper and inhaled. Bergamot. Heather smiled to herself. Her new favorite aroma.

“Let’s apply that, milady.” Ella accepted the vial from her, dipped some on a dandelion fluff and proceeded to powder the iridescent dust on Heather’s arms, legs, neck, hands and feet until she was thoroughly doused in Skye’s scent.

She relished it in a long, deep breath. The substance left a trace of effervescent shimmer on her skin.

Ella then assisted her in donning white silk stockings and pink ribbon garters.

Feeling overheated from the bath, Heather decided to make use of the rose petal chaise in the room and laid down upon it.

“I’ll ready your cream and sage gown. If it pleases ye?” Ella asked.

Laying back her head on the lounge, Heather sighed in contentment, “Sounds delightful, thank you.”

She hadn’t realized how much she ached from the perpetual tension stored deep in her muscles.

Before she was pixie sized, her entire day, down to the tick, was scheduled around unceasing physical labor.

Harvesting the garden and washing dishes for chimes upon chimes.

The ache from her back had eased in the warm bath and the pressure from being taste tester washed away.

She felt born anew. After half a chime's rest, she rose, and Ella helped her dress.

Heather made her way downstairs finding Skye in the solar. He stood at the window and turned to the doorway upon her entrance. As he crossed the room, she swore she saw him misstep. He stalked her with his gaze as she glided to him, as if he had a physical reaction to what he was seeing.

Her.

An actual fire cracked and hissed in the hearth. After weeks without the amenity, the glow of the flames was a welcome sight. Two additional oversized chairs joined the settees in the middle of the space.

“How was the soak?” he asked with a slow grin.

Heather cursed her traitorous body for blushing yet again.

His questions sprouted fresh images of him in the tub.

Of the bath being large enough for two. The hearth was suddenly too hot.

She thought she saw Skye subtly scent the air.

She recalled his superior fae ears and those sharp, elongated canine teeth… wait, could he detect her arousal?

Surely not, she mused.

“It was relaxing, thank you,” she replied simply, relieved he couldn’t read her thoughts.

There was a knock at the open solar door. “My apologies for interrupting, sir, but the males are here with your things,” said Ella.

“My thanks, please direct them to place my personal effects in the bedchamber neighboring Heather’s. The rest can go into the study.”

The words sunk in. He would sleep in the room next to hers? He was moving in? How would she cope with temptation being a mere door away? Ella left to guide the visitors. Heather met his gaze questionably.

“I believe it wise for me to remain in close quarters.”

Her eyebrows rose in question. “Do you suppose I’m in danger here in faerie?”

“In my opinion, the safest place for ye is by my side. Would ye like to see the library?”

Was he avoiding answering her inquiry? She took his arm, and he led the way to her favorite chamber of the castle.

Such a library as a dollhouse was beautiful. In faerie, it was magical. The hearth was lit as well. But the vastest difference was the tomes.

“You’ll find that I replaced the faux volumes with genuine ones. Aster is quite studious, she assisted me in selecting more than a few of these.”

Heather didn’t know where to turn first.

“This castle is now a home. The only thing it may be missing is a garden.” She murmured as her eyes wandered the room.

Stained glass filled the large gothic window frames.

They were tinted a faint blue, perhaps to shield the books inside from the harsh light of the sun.

They added ambiance to the ceiling mural and brought the night sky to life.

It was easy to picture herself curled up by the fire, enamored with a good book.

“I can’t wait to explore these titles, but I must confess, after being cooped up in this castle for weeks I’d love to see faerie.”

She peered up at him hopefully, fearing that he would take her excitement for discovering faerie as disinterest in the books he took great measures to procure.

“That can be arranged easily enough. Allow me to send word to Aster. She’ll most likely want to join us at the square.”

Skye strode out into the hall, leaving her to wander the library. From the fireside, she could hear him requesting Ella to inform his sister of their plans.