bloodlust

3

Feyre gasped as the stinging began to travel up her arm and to her shoulder. Whorls of black ink wove their paths up her arm, marking her with the brand of her deal. She hadn't realized the marking would be quite so large, but it spanned her entire arm, leaving only small amounts of the color of her skin to peek through.

She pulled her hand back from Rhysand's to examine the new tattoo, flipping it to reveal an eye inked across her palm. She could have sworn it winked at her, as though mocking her for the foolish choice she'd just made.

Rhysand, with a nonchalant wave of his hand, sent the bars to her cage creaking open. True to his word, he stepped out of the way to allow her to exit her cell. She did so hesitantly, feet padding against the freezing stone floors.

"Come with me, Feyre darling," Rhysand drawled, turning on his heel to lead her out of the dungeons. He took a different path than the one she used on the way in. The wraiths hissed and slithered about as she walked past, cursing her for her freedom. She kept her eyes glued to Rhysand's back, not brave enough to face the creatures.

Once they exited the dungeons, Rhys lead her down several twisting hallways until he came to a door. Glancing back over his shoulder at her, he opened the door. The room was enchantingly beautiful. A huge bed occupied the majority of the space, a canopy lofted above the bed with emerald green silk.

A vaulted archway revealed a bathing room, complete with a huge tub of carved obsidian. The floors were beautiful stained marble and an ornate golden mirror hung above a sink with space enough to host a vanity. She looked at Rhysand wide-eyed.

"Welcome home, little human."

She walked into the space, turning around to observe the whole room. Her jaw dropped as she took in the luxuriousness of it all. She'd never seen anything so nice in her entire life. Back at home, she had always shared a bedroom and a bed with her sisters. She imagined what they might make of a place like this.

An ache registered in her chest at the thought of them. She missed them terribly, despite the way they tended to quarrel. She longed for one more mundane day with them, just to soak in their faces and voices before she was ripped away from her life.

"You are to bathe. Clothing can be found in the dresser or inside of the closet. I've taken the liberty of stocking both myself. Hopefully, you will find something that suits your tastes."

 Rhysand awkwardly shoved his hands in his pockets, his face a cool mask of indifference.

"Why are you doing this?" She whispered, like speaking aloud made all of this too real. She looked at him, seeing the hesitation flicker in his violet eyes.

"I told you, darling. My motives are entirely selfish."

"Yes, but what does that mean? Why give me such a decadent room?" Feyre didn't understand. She couldn't fathom what would make someone so heartless so openly giving with his opulence. She wasn't sure what about this arrangement could possibly be selfish on his end.

"Patience, love. All will be revealed to you in time." He gave her a smile that didn't meet his eyes. "I'll be back in one hour to retrieve you." With that, he was gone, pulling the door closed behind him.