Beautiful Torture *Book Two of the Beautiful series*

32) More than rest

*Sexual content. Readers be advised.*

"Should we not be moving on?" Hunter asked in a fowl mood as the three of them sat down to the same food Greynar had been picking at. Still sour about the man servant comment made earlier about him. "With him knowing we were at the Kethedrel, will he not be searching nearby villages?"

He had a point, her father would be looking for her more than ever now.

"We are not going to make it very far on an empty stomach and no real sleep," Alexander answered, his exhaustion showing in his words. "We can spend the rest of the day resting, then as soon as night falls, we will make way."

Lucy liked the sound of that much better than hitting the road now, she had not gotten more than an hour's rest thanks to Endon's visit. Not to mention, there had been a promise of a bath, with real soap. The thought of not smelling like filth and decaying Earth was almost worth getting caught.

Her familiar did not have a smart-ass remark, just snatched up a chunk of bread. Ripping a piece of it off with his teeth, he chewed in silence, glowering out the window.

Pushing a grape between her lips, Lucy chewed it before pointing out, "I ate already. Can I just pick the rest option?"

"Of course," Alexander immediately rose to his feet, extending a hand to assist her up. "Let us get you to bed."

She could not stop herself from smiling, despite the scowl her familiar wore. Shaking her head softly as she struggled to stand up, still adjusting to the shift in her body mass. "I can show myself to the room, you still need to eat," but even as she spoke the words, she knew it was pointless.

It was clear by the look in his eyes that it was not only rest that he was after. "I will take care of myself once I know you both are well cared for."

Knowing she was not going to get him to change his mind, she allowed him to lead her way. But not before she gave Hunter one last look over her shoulder, "Try to relax for now." All she got in response was a huff and heavy sag of the shoulders.

Lucy felt a little bad, knowing deep down that his caring for her went beyond that of a loyal companion; just like Alexander continued to tell her. That did not stop her from leaving him behind so she could do the same thing that was making him upset in the first place.

He lead her to a large guest room, with an extremely comfortable looking bed on one side. On the other was a massive fireplace with a large basin waiting in front of it, with clean crystal clear water already in it. Similar to the same one her and red had used to clean up back at Thorish Manor. A memory that weighed heavy on her, the last time Victoria had truly been herself.

Before she had faced the real world for the first time, in one of the hardest ways one could. After that, it was clear she did not trust Lucy to protect her, and it settled on their friendship heavily. Perhaps in a way that showed her maybe they had not been true friends, despite what she had thought growing up.

"My queen?" Alexander's concerned tone cut into her thoughts before they could turn too dark. "What is it?"

She knew it would be pointless to lie to him, and she did not want him to think she was keeping something more important from him. "I miss Red and hope she is safe with your brother."

Alexander thought about something for a second, "The queen has no interest in harming the uninvolved human girl, not when she makes her boy happy." His words were meant to give her some relief but instead it only added to her anxiety.

Because she was involved, not only had she too been a pawn in the false princess act, but she was the only other person in the world that Lucy cared about. Other than Alexander and his growing heir inside of her. What if the queen were to use her as leverage to lure Lucy back?