More time passed.
When Kolis finally returned, smelling of some sort of sweet smoke and staleness, my shoulders had gone numb. He said nothing as he took me by the waist and released the shackles.
I couldn’t keep quiet when he freed my arms. I cried out, my sore muscles screaming.
“I’m sorry, so’lis.” Kolis gathered me in his arms. A fiery, pins-and-needles sensation erupted, leaving me panting with discomfort and pain, unable to protest his embrace. “I’m so sorry.”
He repeated those three words as he held me, rocking slightly. The Chosen brought in hot water, and new scents wafted through the cage: chamomile and peppermint.
Kolis rose then, carrying me behind the privacy screen and setting me on my feet. A veiled Chosen remained at the steaming tub, silent with her gloved hands clasped.
“She will assist you with your bath,” Kolis said, speaking to the top of my head. I really couldn’t lift it. “You will rest, and then…everything will be better, I promise.”
I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from laughing. If I started, I didn’t think I’d be able to stop. Ever.
He released me, and the Chosen drifted quietly toward me, reaching for the clasps on my gown that I couldn’t even begin to lift my arms to unhook. My legs shook. The bodice slipped, pooling at my waist, and with my skin feeling as if an army of fire ants swarmed it, I could not care less if Kolis saw even an ounce of my nudity.
But he didn’t.
He’d halted at the privacy screen, his back to us. The gown hit the floor at my feet as the Chosen’s gloved hands gently cupped my elbow, helping me step into the tub.
Kolis cleared his throat. “I just want you to know that I ceased Veses’ punishment when I returned to the Hall.”
A laugh spilled out of me as I sank into the hot, minty water.
And the laughter didn’t stop.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
I slept without dreaming of my lake or Ash. When I woke, things were better. Mostly. I was still sore, but the worst of the pain was gone.
And I was no longer laughing. That alone was a vast improvement.
What wasn’t good was that I wasn’t alone. Callum once more sprawled on the sofa. He’d been there since breakfast, but he was far less talkative as I forced myself to walk the length of the cage. I had to get the soreness out. Sitting wouldn’t help, but I wasn’t sure moving helped with the other pain.
The ache that had taken up residency in my temples.
That was a bad, bad sign.
I quickly shoved what it signified to the back of my mind when Kolis entered the chamber. I stopped, immediately emptying myself of everything that made me who I was.
Because I knew what I had to do.
It was something I’d thought about while forcing myself to eat and as I walked.
After everything, it was harder than before, but I had to. I needed to convince him to free Ash, which meant I had to behave as if nothing had happened the day before. That he hadn’t manipulated me into killing Evander. Or forced Veses to do who knew what before finally putting an end to it—an act I’d bet he believed erased everything that came before it. Like all abusers and users.
But that was okay.
Because I would be smarter than before.
As the false King approached the cage, Kolis’s smile told me I’d won the wager I’d made with myself. “How are you feeling, so’lis?”
I clasped my hands like the Chosen often did, ignoring the tightness in my arms. “Rested.”
“I’m relieved to hear that.” His gaze swept over the golden gown I wore as he unlocked the cage. “You look lovely.”
“Thank you,” I said, my tongue withering as I recalled the Mistresses’ lessons. Become what they desire. With Kolis, it was more than being meek and submissive. I knew that now. It was all about making him feel justified in his actions. Most of all, it meant becoming what Callum had: a loyal lapdog whose sole purpose was to shower their owner with affection and gratitude. “There is something I wanted to say.”
He halted at the open cage door. “Yes?”
“I…I wanted to apologize for yesterday.”
Kolis stared.
So did Callum.
“Everything has been quite overwhelming for me,” I began, seeing Kolis’s expression smooth out while Callum’s eyes narrowed. “A lot has happened—has been happening. All of this is so unfamiliar to me. I’m not sure what I should or shouldn’t be doing, but none of that is a good enough excuse for how I behaved yesterday.”
“Your behavior is understandable, so’lis.” His eyes shone as Callum slammed his hands onto his hips. “You have been through a lot.”
“But you have given me such leeway.” I dutifully lowered my gaze. “And I have been disrespectful. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” His close voice was the only warning I got before I felt his palm on my cheek. He lifted my gaze to his. “Your apology is accepted.”
Behind him, Callum appeared as if he were a second away from running headfirst into a wall.
I fought a real smile. “Truly?”
“Yes. Truly.” Approval had settled into his features, causing his smile to become lopsided and more genuine. “Come. Let’s walk.”
Considering how yesterday had gone, walking anywhere with him was the last thing I wanted to do.
But it was what he wanted.
And I would become that.
So, I joined him without protest. When he looped his arm through mine, I said nothing. As we left the chamber, Callum and Elias falling into step behind us, I nodded and smiled, my actions and reactions as hollow as his.
Kolis didn’t notice, though.
He was practically vibrating with joy when we crossed the breezeway and accessed the path that led to the colonnade. We entered the sanctuary, eventually passing alcoves full of breathy, heated sounds.
Kolis led us down the maze of halls, none looking familiar to me. We ended up passing through a pillared entryway and into a large sitting chamber of sorts with many ivory tapestries hanging on the walls.
“Sit.” Kolis extended an arm toward one of the gold satin divans.
Like a very good dog, I did as he instructed and took a seat, crossing my feet at the ankles.
Callum followed, staying near the entrance. He still looked like he wanted to run headfirst into something.
“There is something I want to show you,” Kolis announced as he entered. “I’d planned on doing it yesterday, but…well, yesterday no longer matters.”
As if he could simply decree such a thing.
“Iason. Dyses?” Kolis called out.
I twisted toward what I had thought was a tapestry but was, in reality, ivory curtains shielding an archway. The dark-haired draken I’d spotted in the Council Hall came forward with the Revenant. Between them was a Chosen.
Wait. What had he said yesterday? That he’d planned to show me he was capable of more than just death?
My stomach dropped. I suddenly understood what he was about to do.
“You don’t have to prove anything.” Breaking with my dutiful hound act in a heartbeat, my overused muscles screamed in protest as I shot to my feet. “I believe you.”
With a quick twist of his neck, Kolis cast an even, empty smile at me from over his shoulder. “You lie.”