Alis, I learned wasn't half bad. She was snarky and I liked that. She said her and another servant named Sereh were going to switch off between Feyre and I, helping us with clothes and things I generally just wasn't used to.
Alis said Feyre and I's rooms were just across from each other, which was going to benefit me greatly.
Feyre's room was just a few doors down from mine which was at the end of the hall. Also, to my benefit. They really should have done more research on the two girls they just randomly brought to Prythian.
Once Alis lead me to my room she said she was going to take care of Feyre first and Sereh and a few other servants were going to come to me in a few minutes. Giving me time to check the room. Perfect.
I walked into the room, and it was lavish. It was beautiful. My only problem was that it was just eerie, and the walls were floral. Floral for Cauldron's sake! They really need a new interior designer. I might ask the servants about changing it. But as of now I need to search the room in the next 3 minutes.
I first went to the small desk in the corner of the room. Finding simple things. Nothing sharp though, I just needed something to defend myself until I could steal my daggers back from wherever they were being kept.
I checked the dresser next and found a sewing kit. There was a pair of scissors there. Those would do for now. At least they were sharp.
Now I had to figure out where to hide them. Preferably quickly. I couldn't hide them under the mattress. Not when the bed is likely made most of the time.
There was a dresser next to the bed. That would do. I decided to hollow out one of the legs tonight and hide the scissors in there. I'll need to separate the two blades also. It should give me makeshift daggers until I find my own. I suppose it'll have to do.
I quickly stood and sat down on the bed as I waited for the servants Alis talked about. And like clockwork, only seconds later a group of three servants came into the room.
The one in front had long blonde hair that was braided on and swooped across her shoulder. her skin was tanned, and she had a kind of leading energy compared to the other two. I assumed she was the Sereh Alis spoke of. The one to the left of Sereh had curly dark hair and dark skin. She had kind blue eyes and seemed a bit shy compared to the blonde one. The one on the right of the blonde seemed to radiate a shyer energy as well. She had Brown hair and honey Brown eyes. And once again they all had bird masks. It was an odd fashion statement to say the least.
"Ah," The one I assumed to be Sereh spoke, "Alis warned me you looked dreadful, but this will take longer than expected." She had a small accent that reminded me of those on the continent.
I frowned at her, "You try going on a two-day journey through the woods and maintain perfectly styled hair the whole time."
The woman snorted, "I suppose you're right. Though I wasn't lying about this taking longer than expected. We best start now."
I huffed a laugh and the woman spoke again, "I'm Sereh, and this is Ayda," She motioned toward the dark hair and blue eyed girl, "and Viessa." she nodded towards the brown haired girl. Ayda and Viessa dipped their head in greeting and I returned the gesture.
Sereh stepped forward, "Alright, off to the bath then." Ayda and Viessa were already on their way to the bathroom to start the tub. "Come." Sereh spoke as she followed the two. I walked into the bathroom and Sereh motioned to sit on a stool in front of the vanity and I complied reluctantly.
As soon as I looked into the mirror I saw what Sereh was talking about, "You weren't lying." I spoke.
Sereh chuckled, "Nothing to worry about. We'll have you in tip-top shape before dinner."
From the corner of the mirror I could see Ayda and Viessa adding salts to the bath. I could smell them from here, they smelled delightful. I could vaguely smell rose and pine, maybe?
Ayda turned towards me, "Do you have a preference on what we use?" She asked quietly but firm.
"No," I replied, "Thank you though." Ayda nodded, seeming a bit less nervous.
Once the bath was ready, I had no qualms about getting in. I've never been one for modesty anyway.
When the bath was over Sereh handed me a navy-blue robe and pulled me over towards the mirror again. The robe was soft as silk, and it very well could have been. Sereh began to brush and trim my hair.
"You don't seem afraid of us," Sereh noted, "I've only met one or two mortals in my lifetime, but they all ran the other way."
I hummed, "You're not the first fae I've met. I know not all of you are bad, and I know how to tell the difference between the two." that was all the information I was willing to give. These faeries may seem nice, but I just met them today and I didn't plan to spill all my deranged past at their feet.
Sereh seemed to understand and nodded, going back to my hair, "You have unique hair, I've only seen others like it from Winter court."
I just shrugged in response; I didn't know how to reply to that.
I spoke after a minute of silence, "Thank you."
"There's no need for thanks, but you're welcome none the less." She smiled and I grinned in return, Sereh finished my hair soon after that, "We are going to go get you a change of clothing, any requests?"
"Are dresses optional? I'd much prefer trousers." I spoke with a sheepish smile. I wasn't familiar with spring court customs.
Sereh hummed, "I'll see what I can do." She spoke before exiting the room.
I came to the conclusion that not all fae here were bad. Only Lucien and Growly.
I looked into the mirror in front of me. I looked clean. I hadn't look like that in years. I felt clean too. And my hair was shiny. It felt good. If I weren't in Prythian I might be able to get used to this.
My eyes roamed the room again. I noticed there weren't many windows. But there was a balcony, that was going to be greatly appreciated.
I could hear the wind howling outside, it sounded like a storm was coming. Though, I doubted that. I didn't know if it stormed in spring court or not.
I'd have to ask about a library at some point. I need to catch up on my history, and just general knowledge I guess.
A few minutes later Sereh returned interrupting my thoughts with new clothes and what looked like rags.
She held up the old rags and it took me a second to realize they were my old clothes, "Bad news, they went in the washer and fell apart, your sisters, too." She cringed. My mouth parted slightly. Sereh set down my old clothes and picked up the new ones, "Good news, we had extras." She gave me a sheepish smile. I nodded and stood.
When I had finally finished changing which took longer than it should have, I was pleasantly surprised by the clothes. They gave me a lot of mobility and reminded me of my suit back home. Of course, there was no place to hide weapons in them, but the dinner table should be enough.
Sereh insisted she style my hair, and put it in a half up, half down look before she finally led me down to dinner where Lucien and Growly were waiting.
They looked as pissed as the last time I saw them and were already sitting down and chatting when I arrived, but quickly quieted down when I strolled in, Feyre not far behind me. The two faeries didn't have plates before them but there was still food on the table.
Feyre and I stared at the wealth and food that was littered across the table in awe, Growly interrupted our staring before we could speak, "Before you ask again: the food is safe for you to eat." He pointed to the two chairs across from each other at the other end of the table. Neither of us moved, "What do you want then?" He growled.
"To not have to be in the company of you," I replied sweetly.
Lucien rolled his eyes, "I told you so, Tamlin." Finally, another name, it sounded familiar. I most likely read of him if he was high in rank. "Your skills with females have become rusty in the recent decades."
Tamlin glowered at Lucien from his seat. Feyre stiffened beside me. I couldn't tell if it was because of his name or the decades part.
"Well," Lucien said as his gaze flicked between the two of us, "You both don't look half as bad now. A relief, I suppose, since your to live with us. Though the tunics aren't as pretty as dresses."
"Your way with words is truly astounding, you must be a winner with the ladies," I replied my voice dripping with sarcasm. Lucien scowled at me. I scowled right back.
"I'd prefer not to wear that dress," Feyre replied.
"And why not?" Lucien crooned towards my sister.
Tamlin answered for her, "Because killing us is easier in pants."
I let out a bitter laugh, "So you have a brain after all." Tamlin growled and I rolled my eyes. Does he do anything else?
Feyre spoke calmly from beside me "Now that we're here, what... what do you plan to do with us?"
Lucien snorted, but Tamlin spoke next, "Just sit down."
"We're not going to bite," Lucien spoke with a grin that was absolutely feline.
"Bold of you to assume we won't." I spoke as I cocked my head to the side and went to sit down. I could hear Feyre's footsteps as well.
Tamlin rose from his seat and stalked towards Feyre. I sat very still ready to stand if there was any funny business. Tamlin picked up a dish and brought it over to Feyre before he began to pile foods on it. I puckered my lips as I held in a laugh.
"I can serve myself," Feyre spoke quietly yet firm. Now it was really a battle to hold in my laugh.
Tamlin paused, he looked taken aback as though she had slapped him straight across the face, "It's an honor for a human to be served by High Fae." he said roughly. Feyre visibly swallowed as he continued piling food onto her plate. The sheer audacity of that was laughable, too. When Tamlin finally stopped after piling foods onto Feyre's plate, he topped Feyre's glass with sparkling wine. When he was done, he prowled back to his seat.
The two fae males were watching us, too closely to be casual. But all I did was sit and swirl around my wine glass. Tamlin straightened before he said to Feyre, "You look... better than before."
I had to place a hand over my mouth to keep from bursting out laughing. Not going unnoticed by Lucien who scowled at me. Oh, Tamlin definitely has a crush. Who would have thought, a High Fae male having a crush on a human girl.
"And your hair is.... clean." Oh, this poor male really needs to get better skills with the females.
I Interrupted before he could traumatize me anymore with his terrible flirtation skills, "You're both High Fae, correct?"
Lucien coughed and looked to Tamlin, "You can take that one." These males are also terrible at hiding things.
"Yes." Tamlin spoke, "We are." There was definitely more to it than that, but i'll leave it for now.
"What do you plan to do with us now that we are here?" Feyre questioned leaning forward in her seat.
Tamlin stared at Feyre for a long moment, "Nothing. Do whatever you want." He replied.
"So, we're not to be your slaves?" Feyre clarified. I gave no reaction to her words, though I was curious.
Lucien chocked on his wine, but Tamlin didn't smile, "I don't keep slaves."
"But what are we to do with our lives here?" Feyre pushed on, "Do you-do you wish us to earn our keep? To work?"
"What you do with your lives isn't my problem." Tamlin spoke sounding disinterested in the topic.
Lucien cleared his throat, and Tamlin sent him a glare. Lucien was definitely Tamlins wingman. They shared a look that I didn't care to decipher before Tamlin sighed and spoke again, "Don't either of you have any... Interests?"
"No." Feyre replied while I just shrugged and sipped my wine.
Lucien muttered, "So typically human." Such an asshole.
Tamlins mouth quirked to the side, "Do whatever you want with your time. Just stay out of trouble."
"Define trouble." I drawled out.
The two faeries shot me knowing glares. "So, you truly mean for us to stay here forever?" Feyre asked.
"I didn't make the rules."Â Tamlin replied.
"Our family is starving," I sneered, "We are their sole source of income. They will die on their own."
"Please let us go. There must be some other loophole out of the treaty's rules- some other way to atone."
"Atone?" Lucien scoffed, "Have you even apologized yet?"
Feyre looked Lucien straight in the eye as she said, "I'm sorry."
Lucien leaned back in his chair, seemingly unaffected for someone who murdered his friend to have just feigned an apology. Something was off here.
"How did you kill him?" Lucien asked, "Was it a bloody fight? Or just cold-blooded murder?"
Feyre stiffened, "I shot him with an ash arrow. And then an ordinary arrow through the eye. He didn't put up a fight. After the first shot, he just stared at me."
"You killed him anyway- though he made no move to attack you. Then you skinned him."
"Enough, Lucien." Tamlin chimed in. About damn time. He turned to face Feyre.
"Our family won't last a month without us," Feyre begged. Lucien chuckled and I very nerly stabbed him in his good eye with my steak knife.
"Do you know what it is like to be hungry?" I demanded to both of them, "Do you know what it's like to not know when your next meal will be? Can you honestly say you've ever had that feeling in your lives?"
Tamlins jaw tightened, "Your family is alive and well-cared for. You think so low of faeries that you believe I'd take their only source of income and nourishment and not replace it?"
"You swear it?" Feyre asked. At least she learned from earlier.
Tamlin let out a low laugh, "On everything that I am and possess."
"Thank you," I spoke quietly before drinking from my wine.
"Why not tell us that when we left the cottage?" Feyre pushed on.
"Would you have believed me? Do you even believe me now?" I could see Tamlins claws imbedded into the arms of the chair. He definitely has anger issues If he can't handle two girls questioning him about their family.
"Why should we trust a word you say? You're all masters of spinning your truths to your own advantage." Feyre spat. I sighed, it's like watching Nesta and Feyre over the dinner table all over again. Soon Nesta would sneer something horrid at Feyre and walk out of the room. Then we'd wake up like it never happened.
"Some would say its unwise to insult a Fae in his own home," Tamlin ground out, I chuckled at that. "Some would say you should both be grateful for me finding you before another of my kind came to claim the debt, for sparing your life and then offering you the chance to live in comfort."
Feyre and I both shot to our feet at that, "Grateful," I spat, "You want us to be grateful you broke into our home, threatened to kill us, took us away from our family, and brought us to a place which practically means death for mortals? You want us to be grateful for that?"
It looked like Feyre was about to kick her chair back but suddenly looked like she was struggling, I tried to move but it was like my ankles were bound to my chair. Magic.
"Do not do whatever is that you were contemplating." Tamlin warned.
I laughed, "You talk a lot about being grateful, but you have us magically bound to chairs." I laughed again, before sitting down. The tang of magic seared my nose, "I swear, if you use magic on me one more time." I ground out.
"I'm going to warn you once," Tamlin spoke softly, softly enough I knew this was a threat, "Only once, then it's on you, humans. I don't care if you go live somewhere else in Prythian. But if you cross the wall, if you flee, your family will no longer be cared for."
Oh, how I'd enjoy killing this bastard.
Feyre opened her mouth, but he growled again, "Is that not a fair bargain? And if you flee, then you might not be so lucky with whoever comes to retrieve you next." his claws slipped back into his knuckles, "The food is not enchanted, or drugged, and it will be your own damn fault if you faint. So, you're going to sit at this table and eat. Lucien will do his best to be polite." Lucien only shrugged in response.
The invisible bonds that bound my hands loosened, but the bonds on my legs were still in full force. I carefully picked up the silver fork, I thought about jamming into Tamlins neck but that didn't seem very polite.
I grabbed my wine and downed the glass; I was going to need to be drunk to get through the rest of this dinner.
I took a bite of the chicken. It was delicious, not that I'd let them know that. I ate at a good pace. Feyre seemed to have a different idea, not that I minded.
After a while of eating, all the food just disappeared. Literally.
"Thank you for the meal." Feyre spoke and I nodded my agreement.
"Won't you two stay for wine?" Lucien asked his voice dripping with venom.
I stood, "Oh, I'm terribly tired. I think I'll retire to my room for the night." I said too innocently. I hadn't decided yet if I was going to sleep tonight and search for my daggers tomorrow.
"It's been few decades since I last saw one of you," Lucien drawled, "but you humans never change, so I don't think I'm wrong in asking why you find our company to be so unpleasant when surely the men back home aren't much to look at."
It was Feyre who replied, "You're High Fae," She spoke tightly, "I'd ask why you'd even bother inviting us here at all or dining with us."
"True. But indulge me: you're human women, and yet you'd rather eat hot coals than sit here any longer than necessary. Ignoring this," Lucien said waving a hand at the metal eye and scar of his face, "Surely we're not miserable to look at."
I snorted, "At least the men from our village have tolerable personalities. And aren't so terribly vain they understand when a woman just doesn't like them." I sneered before walking out of the dining room and making my way back to my own. It was a lie about the men in my village. They're just as vain as faeries, but I'd never let them know that.
I heard the two males ask Feyre a few more questions about her love life from down the hall which made me snicker.
But I wasn't lying about being tired.
I did, however steal a knife from the dinner table while Feyre and Tamlin were arguing. So now, once I break apart the scissors, I'll have a total of three weapons to use. None of them could do any real damage, but they could buy me time if need be.
When I finally reached the end of the hall, I entered my room and changed quickly before slipping into the soft bed. And despite myself. I slept soundly.
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OoooOooo, I never realized how much Tamlin really, really sucked until I re-read this book