He got out of bed trying not to disturb me. Making sure I was covered before he slid on his pants and a shirt, he crossed the room and answered the door. “It is early.”
Sarah was who I saw first, but she stepped back slightly after bowing her head, arm reaching out to motion toward both Indrell and Dorian behind her. Indrell bowed her head, and Dorian stood at attention.
The commanding officer spoke first, “Morning, my liege. I apologize for clearly waking you.”
Kane glanced back and me before responding, "What can I do for you?"
Indrell stepped forward. "Sarah brought food, and I need to check Auriena and see if she needs more ointment herbs or tea."
Dorian looked somber as he took his turn to speak. "There is a body removed from the courtyard at dawn this morning. You may want to come see it."
He grumbled, "Yes. I suppose I do. You all can wait, while Auriena and I dress."
When he turned around, I was sitting up, the torn sheet pulled up around me, my hair falling over my shoulders, still messy from the night before. "Good morning all." My voice was scratchy as I waved to the small cluster of people outside our door.
I yawned and laid back down. "Is everything alright? I didn’t see Wulfgar. Where is he?"
Kane looked less than amused as he shut the door, blocking them from seeing us for the moment. "Wulfgar would be in his room. I informed him that he would not be needed while I am with you. I will send for him since I need to go attend to something. Seems a dead body turned up last night. The ladies are wanting to busy you with food and treatments."
I nearly wiggled at the mention of food. "Can someone please change the sheets? Maybe something less... satin?" I batted my eyes at him with a giggle.
He complied, “Yes. Have Sarah send for new linens after you eat. Just inform her of your tastes in fabric. They may have to manufacture them.”
“Okay.” I smiled. My stomach rumbling loudly, I glanced at the door, still not wanting to get up and dressed.
“You’re hungry,” he observed.
“Very,” I agreed.
“Then you should get presentable.” He brought over clean clothes and his sword, setting them in a pile to so he could change before leaving.
I pouted. “Ugh. I really don’t want to wear all those layers. And besides, Indrell will just remove most to apply her herbs.”
He thought for a moment, clearly not wanting to give in to me. But I countered with literally sticking out my lower lip and batting my eyes again, he groaned. “Fine. The ladies will help you find something to wear that better suits you.” Going to the door and opening it, he barked out. “She needs food and tea. Please assist.”
Sarah and Indrell made their way in toward me. They busied themselves with setting food and water out and preparing the herbs.
Dorian, on the other hand, stood in the doorway. With his hands clasped in front of him as he nodded curtly. "Ma'am. Sorry to intrude so... early." There was an element of sarcasm at the mention of it being early. But the soldier’s eyes didn’t move away quickly. They lingered on me, causing me to pull the covers up over me more. Not that I felt that he was ogling me as much as I felt dissected.
Kane stopped, obviously not approving of the way the man looked and me and glared at Dorian. "None of that. You don't need to see my woman like this. I will be out shortly." He slammed the door, leaving the man out in the hallway alone.
My eyes widened as my head turned to Kane. "Seems that your tone has changed when it comes to others seeing me." I dropped the sheet and crawled to the foot of the bed, not caring that the women were standing near the fireplace. "What? Ashamed of me already?”
I didn’t know why, but I was feeling snarky if not playful in a taunting way. Maybe it was the reminder of how he’d behaved before we had left. Maybe it was the idea of being cooped up. Hell, maybe it was a part of me lashing out because I was unwilling to let myself deal with my emotional reaction to everything that was spiraling out of control in my life… my entire life. But still, I sat up on my knees, completely naked, looking up at him as if waiting for his reaction.
He growled and came to stand in front of me. "How dare you scold me after the sass you gave me not long ago. I cherish you and I am not ashamed of you. If you want to flash your body to the help, then you need to change your views. Let me know when I return." In full view of the women, Kane removed the pants and shirt he’d haphazardly thrown on to open the door, scooped up the clean ones and started storming off to the bathroom.
I sat back on my heels, my hand going to my mouth as he roared at me. I was about to say I was teasing, not thinking he would care if the ladies saw me like that or not, but when he stripped down in front of them? I lost it.
Jealousy and anger coursed through me as I grabbed a small, stone statue off the end table and threw it at him. He hadn’t expected my outburst since he hadn’t even moved to stop it. But when the blow landed, slicing open a decent gash on his shoulder, I panicked and ran past him to the bathroom, slamming the door behind me and locking it.
No. It hadn’t dawned on me that I’d just left him in the room, naked, with
