by Ivy Clyde
While she mixed henna with water in the bowl, I stripped out of the last shred of clothing and stepped into the bath. The water was cool and refreshing. I took several dips, enjoying the feeling of being in water once again. For some reason, water always energized me. It was the only reason I survived the first time Mekhi tried to kill me.
“Come over here,” said Daria, gesturing me towards the edge of the bath.
The bowl beside her was full of a dark greenish-brown muck. Yuck!
She held onto my shoulders and pressed down on them until half my chest was below the water’s surface. “Stay still!” Scooping some of the henna mixture, she began applying it on my head.
“It smells awful,” I complained as she quickly worked her way down the length of my hair.
“It’s all for your good,” she insisted. “Now, hold still. We have to let the hair dry with the mixture on it.”
“At least get in here,” I demanded.
She chuckled softly. “I will go and make sure everything’s fine in the main quarters and be back. The henna would be dry by then.”
I was left to stay in the bath with my hair up in a ridiculous bun on top of my head. It was already past noon and I wanted some more time alone with Daria before Adal came back from the library.
Daria came back after an hour. Carrying a bucket over to me, she began washing my hair, not letting the water in the bath turn a murky brown from the henna paste.
“Your hair is dark brown now,” she muttered excitedly, washing the long length of my tresses. “At least, no one will know it’s you at a glance. I wish I could to change the color of your eyes.”
“Is that even possible?”
“One of the assassins back in Linmoor could do it. She was an expert at changing her appearance. If she were with us, she could make you look like Mekhi too.”
“Ugh!”
“Still, it’s a handy skill to have.”
Once my hair was washed completely, Daria let the length of my tresses drape over my shoulder. It was then, I caught the new shade my hair became. It was murky brown now. Turning around sharply, I caught hold of her wrist and pulled her into the bath. She gasped, falling into the water with a loud splash.
Daria’s head bobbed out of the water, her hair covering her eyes and face. She sputtered and coughed, and out of nowhere, landed a punch to my jaw. To my luck, it wasn’t hard.
“Couldn’t you wait a few more minutes?” she shouted, swiping the wet hair away from her eyes to glare at me.
“Nope.” I moved towards her, extending my arms to pull her body against mine. “Adal and Cain will be back any time. I want to spend some more time with you alone.”
Her frown melted away at that.
Moving closer to me, she put her arms around my neck, drawing in closer for a kiss. I grasped her around the waist, pulling her body to me and crashing my mouth onto hers. My tongue pushed through her parted lips, sucking and tasting the sweet cavern of her mouth. No matter how many times I kissed her, it never satiated my thirst for her.
My hands moved down to her hips, pressing her stomach against the rising hardness of my manhood. She was still fully clothed, and suddenly I felt frustrated with the layers of fabrics between our bodies. I wanted to feel her warmth against me.
Nipping at her bottom lip, I tore at the sash at her waist, loosening the kimono-style dress she wore. She moaned out, arching her neck backward. My mouth sucked at the sensitive skin there while my hands frantically pulled away the clothes covering her body.
When she was completely bared to me and her clothes floating on the water’s surface, I drew her back to me. Daria’s cheeks were flushed red and her green eyes hazy with lust. I swiped her dark strands away and began kissing the water droplets on her shoulders. Her eyes closed as she pressed her body against me, whispering my name.
“As much as I’m loving this,” she moaned into my ear. “We have to stop. Adal and Cain will be back any minute. Also, if one of the maids sees us like this, she will cause an uproar. Palace maids aren’t supposed to engage in sexual activities with strange men.”
“I don’t want to stop,” I groaned, loving the feel of her soft body against mine.
“We must!” She pushed at my chest, propelling away from me. Collecting her clothes floating in the bath, she got out of the water, giving me an eyeful of her glorious naked body. My hardness refused to subside. My balls screamed for release.
Daria disappeared from the bathing chamber. With nothing else to do, I relieved myself by fisting my thick length. I thought of her tight core and the way she’d moaned when I was inside her. My release was powerful. With a roar, I felt my body shudder hard as ribbons of my creamy, white essence came gushing out.
I leaned back against the edge of the bath, panting breathlessly.
Taking a deep breath, I plunged into the water, reaching the bottom of the bath to pull out the stopper. The water gushed out, leaving me standing in the empty hollow.
Climbing out, I saw a stack of fresh clothes laid out for me. They were in the traditional Baledonian-style attire with a long, loose tunic and baggy trousers, all tied together at the waist. Donning them, I stepped out of the bathing chamber. My hair, now a dark brown, hung loose.
I searched the quarters for Daria, finally coming across her in one of the closed rooms. She was dressed in fresh clothes too and sitting in front of an ornate mirror, brushing the long lengths of her ebony hair. She used a jeweled comb, and for a moment, I felt struck at the sight.
Daria reminded me of my mother. When I was still a child, I loved watching her comb the long lengths of her midnight blue hair. My favorite pastime was to brush it for her. It was one of those candid moments I got to spend with her, away from my imposing father and the rest of the maids. My throat felt choked at the memory. It’d been years since I let myself think of her. She died along with my father after getting poisoned by Ivan.
Walking forward, I gently took the comb from Daria’s hand. She watched me curiously as I slowly began to brush her hair. A smile rose on her lips and she turned towards the mirror, letting me do it for her. Standing behind her, I gently removed the knots and tangles, leaving her hair smooth and shiny once more.
Daria picked up the small tubs of ointments and perfumed oils and began dabbing some on her cheeks and neck as I continued to comb her hair.
“Thank you, Norvin,” she said after a while. “It felt really good and soothing.” Getting to her feet, she moved forward to stand before me. Rising on her toes, she threw her arms around my neck. All I could do was stare into the depths of her emerald-green eyes as she moved to kiss me. I held her as we shared a long, deep kiss, our bodies melding against one another.
17
Norvin stayed with me until my hair was fashioned into a traditional Baledonian hairstyle with strings of braids around my face and loose flowing hair at the back. Tiny pearls and ribbons decorated the braids. I was surprised how gentle Norvin could be. It was the first time he’d shown me such a tender side to him.
“Do you feel hungry?” I asked, turning to face him. “I’d expected Cain and Adal to be back already. Maybe I should go looking for them and tell them the news. They’ve been worried for you.”
“While I was sleeping, did you know I could hear everything?” he asked, giving me an intense stare.
“No. If you could hear us, you should’ve just woken up. You should’ve known how worried we were.”
“If anything like this ever happens, don’t use your inner energy to heal me, Daria,” he said in a grim tone. “It’s a very dangerous craft. People with dragonblood will heal fast anyway.”
“If it’s for one of you, I don’t mind.”
“No, Daria. I forbid it!”
I stared at him, torn between laughing and getting angry. I wanted to tell him he didn’t control me, but part of me knew he was saying it to protect me. Exhaling a long breath, I said, “I will be careful, but if it’s needed I will do it. Nothing’s more important
to me than you three.” Even if I wasn’t in love with the three princes, it was the task Lady Elga handed me. Failing at it was death too.
Getting to my feet, I gestured towards the door. “Let’s wait in the parlor. It will be good to see the looks of surprise on their faces.” Taking his hand in mine, I pulled him behind me.
My heart soared within me. I would be together with the three princes after a long time. The occasion was worth celebrating. However, it would soon be time to leave Baledonia. The task of assassinating Ivan loomed ever closer.
We entered the parlor and at the same time, the door opened. Cain and Adal’s glance went to Norvin beside me and after a moment of confusion, they roared! They strode inside, hugging Norvin together. I stepped aside, giving the princes some space.
It was fun to watch the way they started hitting him after the moment of hugs had passed.
“What took you so long to wake up?” asked Cain, slapping the back of Norvin’s head.
Before Norvin could recover from the whack, Adal punched him in the shoulder. “We were so worried!”
“And what happened to your hair?” asked Cain, tugging at the strands. “It looks horrid.”
“Thanks,” grumbled Norvin. “It’s nice to see you too.”
“Oww! Stop it!” Norvin cried out, ducking a blow from Cain. “I’m sorry,” he said in a softer voice. “But, thank you for not giving up on me.”
“You know we would never do that,” said Cain in a serious voice. “We’re together in this, no matter what happens.”
“But Cain…” Norvin stepped before Cain. “You lost your throne because of me.”
Cain shook his head. “The throne wasn’t worth anything. It was more of a burden. My people were already suffering and I couldn’t do a single thing to help them. Perhaps, with me gone, Ivan would treat them better.”
A humorless chuckle escaped Norvin. “You really think so?”
“No, but I keep telling myself that.” When Norvin continued to look anxious, Cain drew him into a hug. “I am glad we were able to escape with you. That’s the only outcome I wanted.”
“I can leave for Drakhaven immediately,” I added. “The sooner I finish Ivan off, the sooner you can gain back your kingdoms. And don’t mind me while I take out Mekhi and Helena too.”
Adal and Cain exchanged a glance between them.
“About that, Daria,” began Adal, glancing at Cain.
“We have to tell you something,” said Cain. He looked towards Norvin. “Have you eaten?”
“Daria fed me earlier but I could do with some more food.”
I was on my feet at once. “Why don’t you settle down and I’ll go order for some food to be brought in?”
“Thank you, Daria. That would be great.”
I was about to walk to the doorway when I caught Adal looking at Cain again. It looked like they wanted to tell me something. What were they so nervous about?
I headed to the palace kitchen to tell them about the food. With three grown men, we were going to need a lot of dishes.
The palace kitchen was busy as usual with a number of men and women preparing vegetables and meat. Giant pots and pans bubbled over huge hearths. The place was vast and spacious but felt hot and claustrophobic because of the chaotic hustle and bustle. Fumes and vapors rose in the air, adding to the heat and humidity.
Winding my way through the toiling men and women, I reached the one in charge. He was an aging man with a shrewd gaze. The moment he saw me approaching him, he strode forward. “If it isn’t the new handmaiden to Prince Adal.”
I tilted my head.
“The prince would like a large feast taken to his quarters,” I said.
He scoffed. “The prince is eating thrice as much as he usually did before. You must be some kind of vixen to make him want so much food. And just look at you! The prince is hungry and you appear quite fresh and rosy.”
“It is none of your business,” I said coldly. “Please make sure you send the food to his quarters as soon as possible.”
He stepped in front of me before I could turn away. “How much would you take to service me, young lady?” he asked, leaning into me.
I chuckled at the man’s enthusiasm. He looked older than seventy already. “I don’t think you can afford me or…keep up with me.” When men approached me with such lewd intentions, I usually injured them badly but this man was already too feeble. One blow and he might die. With a sigh, I walked away, eager to get away from the uncomfortable atmosphere of the kitchen.
Back in Adal’s quarters, everyone was seated in his study.
“We will go back to the parlor once the food arrives and the maids leave,” explained Adal. “Until then, we would like to speak to you about something.”
I went to sit on a low stool in the corner. The princes were seated at the edge of the cot there. They were all looking at me with a mix of excitement and apprehension.
“What is it?” I asked slowly.
“We found out about Cain’s transformation,” said Adal. “The scroll you brought me gives us the exact facts about the conditions which allows a dragonborn to shift into his true form.”
“What does it say?” I asked, looking between him and Cain.
“The sacred chambers of the dragon temples have strong magic concentrated within them. When a dragonborn mates with a blessed woman from the Fire Clan, he will be able to shift into his true form.” Adal’s gaze was intense as he said, “You are a woman of the Fire Clan, Daria. There is no other explanation about what happened when you got intimate with Cain in the dragon temple.”
“Wasn’t the Fire Clan eradicated completely?” I asked, remembering the tale Adal told me while we were still in Linmoor.
“Yes, but miraculously you survived,” said Cain. “Perhaps, your parents were able to save you before Ivan’s men could get to you. Maybe that’s how you ended up in Linmoor.”
It was odd to finally find out a piece of my missing past. Even though I didn’t know who my parents were, at least, now I knew where I came from.
“You’re the only woman who can help us,” said Adal. “It must be fate you chose to be with all three of us, Daria. Otherwise, things would be very, very awkward.”
Norvin chuckled. “Like they aren’t awkward already.”
“It’s not awkward to be with Daria,” said Adal. “No. It feels natural.” His blue eyes came to rest on me. “Do you feel any different?”
I shook my head. My body craved the touch of all three princes.
Norvin clutched at his hair and looked up at both Cain and Adal. “Don’t get ideas, you two,” he said in a grim voice. “Just because I am with Daria, doesn’t mean you’ll get to see my twigs and berries. Never happening,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Neither one of us have ever expressed a desire to peek at your twigs and berries, Norvin,” said Cain with a shake of his head.
I giggled.
“Come with me to the dragon temple tomorrow,” said Adal.
I stared at him, understanding what he meant. If we could be intimate in the sacred halls, there was a chance he could shift into his true form as well. While I really wanted to help him achieve it, the thought of him turning into a mammoth creature with terrifying teeth and claws scared me. I didn’t fear much in this world but a dragon really tested that.
“I won’t hurt you, Daria,” said Adal in an anguished voice. “If Cain could keep his humanity after shifting, I am sure I can too.”
“I know you won’t hurt me, Adal,” I said. From the way he looked at me, I knew he feared the whole process too. I gulped, trying to get the fear out of my mind. It was a matter of protecting Adal. If he could achieve his true form, he wouldn’t have to fear Zane or Ivan. That thought calmed me considerably. I gave a small nod. “We’ll go tomorrow.”
“I can’t believe we’ll actually be able to shift into our true form,” said Norvin with awe-struck expression. “I didn’t even dare to dream of it.”
/> “Don’t get your hopes up yet,” I said. “Just because it happened with Cain, I don’t know if it will happen with you too. We’ve been intimate, but did you ever feel anything different?” I looked between him and Adal.
“This would be different, though,” said Adal. “The sacred chambers are built over specific points where the energies from heaven and earth meet. It’s no ordinary place. They have the power to grant as well as subdue any kind of magic.”
“We just hope you’ll take the chance to see if it works,” added Cain.
“I am ready,” I said, my voice wavering. “At the very least, I would be prepared for it, unlike last time.” Despite my nerves, I felt good about one thing. All three princes wanted to be with me. At this moment, they were loyal to each other and willing to be my mates. There was no jealousy dividing them. We were all together in this.
18
I stayed in my allocated room that night. Cain went back to the servants’ quarters while Adal thought it was best to keep Norvin hidden in his private study. With Prince Zane still residing in the palace, he thought it best to use the safer option.
It seemed like I’d just gone to bed one moment and the next, the first rays of the sun were coming through the gauzy curtains. My mind was apprehending the moment of Adal’s transformation. I couldn’t stop thinking of the sword-like teeth Cain’s dragon had. While I knew he would never hurt me, it was still terrifying to look a dragon in the eye.
As the birds started a chorus outside, I climbed out of bed.
Sleep would not come to me.
Choosing a pale pink dress with lotus blossoms embroidered on it, I started getting dressed. It was important to give Adal the impression I was happy to help him. Honestly, I was…just not the way the transformation occurred. It wasn’t just seeing a new dragon appear but also to witness the sheer agony before it happened. Steeling my heart, I spent the next few hours doing a complicated hairstyle that I would ordinarily not even try out.