I don’t say anything, I just nod.
“What do you need?” he asks.
“A long, hot bath.”
“Done.”
Rhys leads me into the bedroom where he stripsoff his ceremonial items, dropping them on the bed to be collected by a servant. Then he turns and removes mine, leaving me standing here, naked and dazed, as he moves into the bathroom and turns on the taps to fill the tub. When the water is hot enough, he dumps in some scented salts and comes back for me, taking me by the hand and leading me into the tub. He does not join me, but he does kneel beside the tub and wash me with a soapy cloth before placing a sweet kiss on my forehead before heading to shower.
My heart clenches at the loss of him. If anything, I feel like I need to be held after today, but I don’t know how to ask for it. When he returns, he’s dressed in dress pants, and a dress shirt opened at the collar. He crouches down and brushes my hair back from my face.
“I’m going to give you some time to rest,” he says gently. “When I come back in an hour, I need you to be clean from head to toe, your hair dried. No need to bother with makeup, and wear what I’ve left for you on the bed.”
“Rhys, I don’t think I have it in me to go to the concert tonight,” I tell him. “I need rest.”
“Aye,” he agrees. “And you’ll have it, but I need you to follow my instructions to the letter, do you understand?”
“No, I don’t understand anything at all.”
“I’m sad that Maeve isn’t here to prepare you for this, and I regret that there’s no one else acceptable to do the job, so I’m going to have to step in and I’m outof my element here,” he says. “But your duty today is not done. There is one more item to check off the list.”
“And what’s that?”
“Ensure the bloodline continues,” he says. “I’ll be back in one hour.”
1 Want to see the NSFW art from the anointing scene? Click here.
Chapter 17
Ensure the Bloodline
Rhys made sure my bath was anything but relaxing by dropping that bomb on me and then leaving. I lay motionless for a bit and wonder what else I could possibly still need to do to ensure the continuation of the bloody bloodline.
But not wanting to be caught unaware or unprepared, I scrub my body and wash my hair. The water is still warm when I climb out which is how I know I didn’t spend nearly enough time in there. I towel off and then scrub my face free of all makeup. I do make the executive decision to pat my toner and facial oil on my face although I do make a face at the oil container on my bathroom sink. It’s too soon, but I’ll get over the humiliation in about eighty years. I dry my hair, so it falls down my back in dark glossy waves and then walk into the bedroom to see what dress Rhyshas picked out for this next trial and stop dead in my tracks. On the bed is a cream-colored silk night gown, simple in its design with spaghetti straps and a long hem that will reach my ankles. Next to it is a matching robe with lace trim on the cuffs.
Nothing else.
No panties. No shoes.
My heart races as I drop my towel to the floor. The cool air in the room sends goosebumps all over my skin. My hands shake as I reach for the nightgown and as I pull it over my head the luxurious silk slides down over my skin.
One look in the long mirror has me more worried than before. This nightgown might seem modest and demure, but it hides absolutely nothing. Not the flare of my hips or the way my nipples pebble against the thin fabric. I quickly turn around and grab the robe, tying it tightly around my waist, and again, the rich fabric does nothing to conceal.
I turn back to the mirror and can’t help but laugh a little at the fact that I look more like a virginal bride on her wedding night tonight, of all nights, than I did on my actual wedding night when I was in a hospital ward somewhere else within these walls recovering from an attempt on my life.
I hear the door latch click and footsteps fall closer and closer and my heart beats like a hummingbird’s wings. I wonder if I’ll pass out because it’s beating so fast. Can I die from this nervousness? And when will Istop being so afraid of the unknown?
I watch as Rhys approaches, stopping just behind me in the large gilt mirror. His face is intentionally blank as he watches me. He’s trying to gauge me and my reaction as much as I’m trying to glean any information from him on what I might be walking into.
Whatever he sees in me must pass muster because he wraps his arms around me from behind and presses his face into the crook of my neck, placing a soft kiss there. I wish we could stay like this forever, but even I know that’s impossible.
When he straightens, I know that I’m not out of the woods yet, there are still more tests to endure. I have to believe that Rhys will do his best to make it worth it for me to continue to jump through these hoops to be with him. That is if we both survive it.
“I wish we didn’t have to go,” he says before turning me in his arms to face him. “You’re so beautiful like this that I want you all to myself.”
“I’d like that too,” I admit. “But I’m a little nervous that you’re not telling me what’s going on.”
“I’m going to need you to trust me,” he says.