I was shown to a room that adjoined his and was decorated in gentle hues of blue. The bed was huge, but then again, I’d come to expect that where the Fae were concerned. The canopy had sky-blue silk drapes hanging from it. It looked like something from a time long ago.
Four women stood at the far side of the bed with their eyes lowered to the floor. They were dressed in thin sundresses, and cotton shoes covered their feet. I didn’t say anything as Ryder stood beside me, silently allowing me to take in the room.
“Hello,” I said, breaking the silence and tension in the room.
“Synthia, this is Darynda,” Ryder said as an auburn haired beauty bowed her head even lower. “She will be in charge of your care. Her father is noble, but not of the royal family, it is our equivalent of the old peer system that was used in your world. To serve the royal family is considered an honor, and I think she would do well with you.”
I turned my head in his direction and hiked up an eyebrow. Yup, these guys lived in the dark ages. “And they do this willingly?” I asked. Call me old fashioned, or even new fashioned, because slavery was just that, and I wasn’t keen on it in any form.
“Ask them,” Ryder replied, instead of answering.
Darynda lifted brilliant blue and grey eyes and gave a friendly smile. I took an instant liking to her. She was a little shorter than I was, but her eyes showed a spark that wasn’t obvious in her demeanor. I knew that spark, because I had it in spades.
“Do you serve willingly?” I asked, since she hadn’t answered the question.
“We all do. This is an honor and a mark of respect that we show our families by being chosen, and serving,” Darynda said and dropped into a curtsey. She then introduced the other women who stood behind her.
Keeley had to be a Brownie; I could tell by the way her giant hazel eyes darted around the room looking for anything out of place; not to mention, she looked no bigger than a twelve year old, much like the Brownie at Ryder’s mansion had. Her hair was short chestnut brown with light blonde highlights that were scattered throughout it. Faelyn was a Pixie, and she stood with an awkwardness developed from being able to fly instead of walk. The Pixie had bright blue eyes in a shape of a saucer, and blonde hair with pink tips that looked like she’d dipped them in dye recently, judging from the brightness of the color. Her wings twitched nervously.
Meriel looked to be Fae, but I couldn’t judge from her appearance which Caste she belonged to. Her black hair had green and blue highlights to it, and she had a sensuality about her that seemed to surpass many of the Fae women I had met to date. Her green and gray eyes seemed to be tracking Ryder, and I wasn’t quite sure of what to make of that.
They seemed willing to be here, and happy about it even. I was still reeling from the news that I was pregnant, and probably wouldn’t be the best company at the moment. I actually felt sorry for them having to serve me.
“I’ll leave you to get settled in, Pet. If you need anything, they will get it for you. You’re not to leave this room without an escort, do you understand?”
“Whatever,” I said, lowering my eyes.
“I’ll be back tonight. Sinjinn will be close by; if you need me, just tell him. Otherwise, the only part of the castle you are allowed in is the pavilion for now.”
I watched him sift from the room before turning my eyes back to the four women who all stood silently, staring at me. We stood awkwardly taking each other in, before the one that had been called Darynda started up a conversation with me.
“So, you are what all the noise is about?” she asked in a smooth voice.
“I guess,” I said, not wanting to get into why I was here. I was still in shock and reeling over what had just been dropped in my lap.
“Okay, all we know is that you seem to have the castle in an uproar, and we were wondering why?” she asked as she tilted her head and smiled.
“Because I’m the Blood Princess would be my guess,” I replied. At the expulsion of breaths, I figured they knew what that meant to the Horde and Faery. They broke into excited chatter until the door of the room was opened, and Claire popped her head in.
She’d been friendly on our last meeting, and even under the circumstances, I’d played nice with her. Of course last time, she probably thought I’d just been someone else to feed Ryder.
She walked in, looking spectacular, her long frame decked out in a seafoam green silk dress that was far more lavish than anything I had ever seen her dressed in before. Her eyes threw angry sparks as she looked me over, which caught me off guard. “I was sent up to explain your position here.” The look on her face said she wasn’t happy about it at all.