Page 11 of Hearts on Fire
She reached for the cloth on my head, but I stopped her, not trusting even her to see my new hair.
“I’ll keep this on.” I pressed my hand to my head.
She stepped back, not insisting I remove it.
“You have nothing to be shy or embarrassed about, Amber. Every man in this castle will want you. And if they knew you were a human, they’d fight each other for you.”
She clearly meant to make me feel better, but her words had the opposite effect. Worry zapped through me.
“Why would they want me?”
I far preferred to remain in obscurity, out of the men’s sight and away from their attention.
She shrugged. “You’re a human. The only one in Dakath. Rare, exotic, and different.”
Everythingdifferentattracted interest in Dakath. Only not the kind of interest I wished for. Being different could kill one as I’d learned.
“More reasons for me to stay away from the king’s men,” I muttered under my breath, walking to the water.
Zenada followed me to the pool. “Not necessarily. Having a lord for a lover has its advantages.”
I failed to see any. Zenada had the king for a lover, and he kept her in the Sanctuary. Even now, with all of us in the castle, he hadn’t brought her to his chambers to stay or given her a room of her own. She still slept and ate with us, stealing plums for a treat.
But she’d been so full of smiles and giddy with happiness ever since we’d arrived in the castle, I had no heart to argue with her.
Warm water caressed my feet when I stepped into the pond, and everything else shifted into the background.
“Mmmm,” I moaned, walking deeper.
The water sloshed around my legs. The needles of frost that seemed to have permanently lodged in my body ever since I came to Dakath finally melted as I walked into the pool up to my shoulders.
“Oh, this is heaven.” I lay on my back, letting the water hold me.
The stalactites in this cave were short and chunky. Their glow reflected in the ripples of the water below, bouncing back to the ceiling. The result was mesmerizing as the shimmer filled the entire cave, making it look as if it had a glowing pink disco ball suspended in the middle.
“This is now my favorite place in the castle,” I declared. “In whole of Dakath, actually. The rest is mostly cold, harsh, and unwelcoming, anyway.”
Zenada laughed softly, floating next to me.
“Dakath is very beautiful once you get to know it better. The valley and the foothills will become green soon. The spring is gorgeous in the mountains too. When the snow poppies bloom, it’s the most beautiful sight you’ll ever see.”
“How long is it until spring?” I asked.
“Not long now. We’ve already had a few sunny days. That’s how it starts. First, the light banishes the clouds. Then the air gets warmer. The snow melts and the poppies bloom.”
I tried to imagine the lovely picture she described.
“Warm is nice. It’s always too cold here. Even in the castle.”
“You need a dragon with fire in his blood,” she giggled. “He’d take you flying and warm you up.”
Zenada didn’t know it, but I’d been there. I’d flown with a dragon. It was magical. But it hurt when it ended. I closed my eyes, waiting for the ache of the memories to pass.
“I saw one of the king’s men staring at you at dinner last night,” Zenada lowered her voice.
“Did you?” I guessed whom she was talking about. Elex’s glances had been so short and uninterested, however, I was surprised anyone noticed them at all beside me.
“The new lord at the court seemed to notice you. I caught him staring. And if so, it may be good. The king appears to favor him. You’ll be smart to accept his advances. Some say he’s of royal blood.”