The Hidden Crystal

Chapter 49

Iris stepped out of the tub and reached for a towel. The fairy had left the room, unsatisfied by the offerings it found in Micah's bureau, but Iris was too antsy to sit in the tub a moment longer. She needed to get moving, to do something.

Not that she could go anywhere without clothes.

She would have had no qualms about wearing something belonging to Char. Even when she'd been in bed with him, wearing little more than his shirt, she hadn't felt uncomfortable. She hadn't even noticed until they were getting out of bed and she'd felt the air hit her bare legs. The fairies had changed her while she slept, and since Char's hands didn't wander, she hadn't realized.

Because with Char, she felt safe.

She wished he were here. She wished Micah had never forced her to choose between herself and a church full of orphans. She wished he hadn't taken what she'd wanted to give to Char.

The thought hit her like a blow.

Micah had violated and stolen from her, but he'd stolen from Char, too.

What would she tell Char? He would be furious. Livid. Not with her, but—

The door flew open, hitting the wall with a bang. Iris ducked behind the dressing screen, hugging the towel around herself as she peeked out, heart pounding. The fairy wouldn't open the door like that, and it was too early for the maid Micah said he would send.

Micah wasn't back, was he?

But the man rushing toward her had green eyes, not blue. His hair was black, not blonde.

"Char?"

His name escaped her in a startled gasp, and then she was in his arms, in the strong, warm embrace she'd longed to feel. She closed her eyes and buried her face in his chest, tears filling her eyes yet again.

"I'm sorry, Iris." He nuzzled into her neck, holding her tight against him. "I'm sorry. It's okay now. I've got you."

Her shoulders shook. She wanted to tell him it wasn't his fault, that neither of them had a choice, but the lump in her throat blocked all words.

"I'm sorry. I got here as fast as I could. I should have—"

"No." She shook her head against his shirt. "No. Y-you didn't... you c-couldn't..."

He squeezed her tighter. "I'm so sorry, Iris."

His voice sounded as broken as she felt.

She cried until the tears ran out, and then he just held her. He rubbed her back and kissed her cheek, and she leaned into him, feeling the solidity of his chest, the strength of his muscles around her. Feeling safe. Wearing nothing but a towel in a psychotic mage's bedroom within a castle full of armed guards who would see them as the enemy, she felt safe.

A burst of warmth touched her elbow. The fairy was back.

"I-I should get dressed."

Char kissed her cheek again and let her go. He turned away, running his hand through his hair and breathing out a sigh, and then he vanished around the dressing screen.

The fairy held a black-and-white maid uniform up in front of Iris.

Her stomach turned. She remembered the dream about her mother, and she had to take a deep breath to calm herself. The fairy didn't know about the dream. The uniform was just something to wear. That was all. And really, what more could she expect the fairy to find in a castle? Disguising herself as a servant was a wise idea, anyway.

"I'm going to kill him," she heard Char mutter, and then she realized her torn dress and the blood-stained sheets were still on full display, and her stomach plummeted to her feet.