***
THE HEAT OF the water stung my skin the moment I lowered myself into its embrace. I lay there, allowing the heat to relax my muscles and wash away the day’s worry and dirt. Someone had filled the stone bath with a thick white foam that floated on the top of the water. I picked up a handful and sniffed at its buttery scent. I placed the handful of white bubbles on my head and wore it as a crown, feeling more childlike than I had in a long time.
I dipped under the water until it covered my head and washed the suds from my silver hair. Holding my breath for as long as I could, taking pleasure in the muffled silence beneath the water. I pushed back from the surface of the water and rubbed my eyes dry. A chill wrapped around my shoulders. I looked around. Someone was here.
“Hello?” I called, reaching for my claws that I’d placed beside the bath. Whoever it was didn’t respond. I squinted toward the sound of breathing through the haze of steam. A shadow hung at the back of the room.
“You creep!” I shouted, struggling to find my claws.
I didn’t know if it was an illusion caused by the steam or the adrenaline that filled my mind, but I was sure the shapes edges were rippling.
The breathing sounded harsh and soon built into a low growl.
My heart stilled. I looked around for my claws, but could only see my clothes. They were no longer on top of them. My magick stirred for the first time since Nasamel.
The shadow began to move through the room, straight toward me. Without thinking, I threw my hands up. Wind shot forwards, cutting a path in the steam. I pushed as much power as I could muster and reached the shadow. I waited for it to scream, but the moment my magick connected it burst apart. The shadow was gone.
I jumped from the bath, the room vacant of steam, thanks to my magic. Even the aqua water in the bath splashed up the stone sides and onto the floor.
Where I’d first seen the shadow, my claws were in a heap on the floor. Something had been there. I grabbed the towel and wrapped it around my middle. With my clothes in one hand, I walked to where my claws were, expecting the shadow to return.
But it never did.
***
“YOU LOOK LIKE you’ve seen a ghost.” Petrer said when I threw the door open to the room. I almost dropped my towel when I saw him.
Forgetting everything, I ran to Petrer and threw my arms around him. “You’re back!” My eyes scanned him, looking for any twitch of pain or bandages. Any sign of what he had been through. What I had put him through. But there was nothing, not a single blemish. “You look better…”
He didn’t hug me back.
“I’m so sorry! I had no idea you were even near us when I was shooting, and you know I’d never intentionally do that to you.”
“Do I?” he asked.
I pulled away from the awkward embrace and looked at his dark eyes. They seemed different.
“Are you angry with me?”
“It’s funny.” He shrugged. “Normally when someone is worried they make more of an effort to check up on someone or at least call for them. But you, nothing.”
“I’m sorry, really I am. It’s been so crazy around here and—”
“You think it’s been like this only for the past couple of days, Zac? You have treated me like shit for weeks. One minute we are all over each other and in the next you are trying to kill me. I don’t know what is going on in that little head of yours, but you are delusional to think that the way you’ve treated me has gone unnoticed.”
I couldn’t believe what was coming out of his mouth. I watched, mouth wide, as Petrer turned to face his bunk and gathered the pile of clothes that sat on his sheets. I stood, shivering in the doorway, dazed and confused. Anger burning in my throat.
“And why do you think I’ve been so distant, Petrer? Are you telling me you still haven’t worked it out?” I slammed the door shut and moved for my bed, waiting for his response.
“Because you are a selfish prick who only thinks about what he wants and when he wants it. Maybe it’s the Prince. Word is you both have been very close over the past few days. Has he been a distraction for you? Does he warm your bed like I warmed yours?”
His words were like daggers to my heart. I turned to him. “The question is, does the prince warm my bed like that boy did in ours?”
Petrer turned to me and smiled. “So, my secret is out?”
I went to reply but a slow tutting sound came from the doorway behind me.
“Now, now, now,” Hadrian growled through bared teeth.
THE TENSION BETWEEN them was so thick, not even my claws could’ve sliced through it.
I looked between Hadrian and Petrer, both men not speaking, just staring at one another. At first Petrer didn’t bow, but when he finally dipped his head I was sure his lip twitched into a snarl.
“Leave,” Hadrian commanded.
Petrer didn’t need to be told twice. He strode through the room, past Hadrian and me with a face set into a scowl. He slammed the door to the room, making me jump. With his departure, the tension began to melt.
“What a prick!” Hadrian whispered. The word didn’t sound right from his mouth.
Hadrian turned from the door and glanced my way. He must have only realized my lack of clothes because he looked me up and down and coughed. “Get changed, before you freeze to death. I’ll meet you in the hall.”
Hadrian didn’t make a move for the door.
“Are you going to go?” I said, prompting him to leave.
Hadrian rubbed the back of his neck and smiled. “Yes. Sorry. I’m slightly distracted.” When he got to the door he turned back around again, his cheeks red. “I will just be out here…”
“Thank you…” I replied.
Hadrian opened his mouth to say something else, but must have decided otherwise and left.
I changed in haste, my cheeks warm when I thought of Hadrian’s expression when he looked at me. I pulled on a spare set of clothes, a mismatch of training and formal wear. With the passing seconds, I expected the phantom to show itself again, and I didn’t want to be alone a moment longer.
***
THE WALK WAS silent, not a single word said between us. I caught Hadrian’s wondering glance every now and then, but still he didn’t say a word.
I recognized this part of the palace, the same corridors, candelabras and gilded mirrors I passed with the Commander on my first day. We were headed for Hadrian’s quarters. It wasn’t that I was expecting something different. But with each step in the direction of his room, my anticipation built.
It was evident that the palace was filling up. Everywhere we passed Niraen elves stood crowding the numerous hallways, each wearing the gold bands on their arms. When Hadrian passed they bowed and raised their golden wrists at him, a sign that they had joined for him.