making her startle. “Water. Just water.” Then, I narrow my eyes, darting my gaze between the both of them. “You’ll sample the water after you’ve brought it up.”
She nods, though her irritation is apparent. “Of course, your highness.”
The next short while, I watch them as they bring bucket after bucket of water to fill the tub. Once it’s nice and full, I don’t let them leave.
“Taste it,” I bark out.
The women exchange looks but then kneel to scoop up the water. After sipping some down, they look at me in confusion. Since they’re not keeling over, I give them a small nod. I dip my fingers into the water to make sure it’s not too hot and jerk my hand back.
“What is this?” I roar, my chest heaving with fury.
The shorter one frowns at me. “Water, sir.”
“I should cut your tongue from your throat for that,” I snap. “Don’t sass me, woman. I want to know if you take your own baths in icy cold water.”
“It’s how it’s always been ordered for us to do, sir.”
The other woman chimes in, “Fire isn’t allowed, your highness. We draw the water from the underground wells for the queen.”
“Get out of my sight before I turn you both to ash,” I snarl.
They scurry out of the room. I’m beyond angry. I’m seconds from calling every servant in this horrible castle and beheading them all. Elzira is a good queen trapped in a cage full of monsters. They won’t get away with this.
Exhaling my fury, I stalk into the room where she sleeps. I draw back the furs and then scoop her slight frame into my arms. Her eyes flutter open in confusion, but then a small smile tugs at her lips. So beautiful.
“Time for your bath,” I remind her as I walk into the other room. I set her to her feet. She takes one look at the bath and winces. I would too if I took icy cold baths. I’m furious all over again on her behalf.
I bend over and dip my hand into the water. Summoning my fires, I swirl my hand around, heating the water to the point it steams. When I pull my hand out and look at Elzira, she’s staring in awe.
“You’ll never have to take cold baths again,” I promise, swallowing down my anger.
Her blue eyes latch on mine. “You act as though you’re going to keep me.”
A moment passes with neither of us speaking, just letting her statement hang thickly in the air.
“How are you feeling?” I demand finally, ignoring her words.
“Good enough to do this,” she replies, pointing something cold and sharp under my chin, hard enough to be threatening but not so that it breaks the skin. A devilish grin dances across her face, making her blue eyes shine bright.
I grip the sharp blade in my palm, relishing in the sting. Our eyes are locked as I melt her blade and it falls to the ground. Before I can heal my wound, she grabs my wrist, pulling it toward her. Her fingertip shocks the flesh—cold and painful—as she drags it along my cut. It glows blue as she seals it shut.
“Thanks for the hot bath.” Her face shines with happiness. Joy. Hope. Life. How dare those who ever tried to keep this powerful queen weak and on her knees. She was meant to stand above all men, including myself.
I tug at the bindings on either side of her ribs. It loosens her dress enough that I can pull it away from her body some. With my eyes on hers, I hook my finger into the top of the material and summon my fires. As I drag my finger down, I tear through the fabric, burning it. Her dress falls away, revealing a naked queen before me. My palms find her bare ribs and I bite back a growl. Her ribs protrude in a sick way.
So close to death, my queen.
You simply needed a dark king to bring you back to life.
Tearing my stare from hers, I go back to admiring her body. Her breasts are more than a nice handful. Hard, peaked pink nipples beg to be bitten and sucked on. I especially salivate over her pale, white skin. I want to suck on every inch of her until she’s pink and red and purple all over—a testament that blood still flows through this ravishing woman. Between her slender thighs is a thatch of blond hair, so light, it’s nearly opaque.
My cock strains in