Elinor winked. "Nothing. Why?"
She sashayed across the room, standing next to him at the wardrobe. Tapping her finger on her chin, Elinor surveyed the hanging gowns. "What should I wear?" She ran a hand across the rainbow of fabrics.
"Nothing," Bastian said. "Absolutely nothing." He wanted to pick her up and drag her back to their bed, but Elinor was right. Farah would want to know where he was. They'd just been reunited. He didn't want his daughter to feel neglected.
"You'll meet me in the throne room later?" Bastian asked.
Elinor nodded and sat down, still naked. She began brushing her long blond hair. Each stroke made his blood boil.
"I need to go," Bastian said.
Elinor looked up from under her long lashes, her smile curving into a pink bow. "I understand. I'll find something to wear and be down soon."
Bastian nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. He closed the door behind him and leaned against the stone wall, grateful for the cool dampness. He adjusted his pants, thought of the smell of kilrothgi, and let his lust disintegrate. Taking a couple of deep breaths, Bastian made his way through the castle to the throne room.
Though the castle had plenty of room for all of the children, Bastian, Elinor, and Hazel had decided to keep them all inside until they were sure the children were safe in Ashoom. The rumors had already started, spreading throughout the castle and into the town.
Demons from the Red.
Spawn of the Dragons.
Spies of Short Stature.
There was no end to the ridiculous things people whispered in each other's ears. Bastian wouldn't allow his daughter anywhere near their crazy ideas. When men feared what they did not understand, only chaos ensued. Bastian had seen it in his own village. He would not allow his daughter to be affected by any of it.
He strode into the throne room. The children were running and laughing, just as they'd been the days before. He was relieved and grateful they'd all seemed to come through unscathed. All but one screamed with joy when he entered the room. The boy who'd sat in Elinor's lap days ago still sat alone in the corner, his nose buried in a book. No matter. There was always at least one child who preferred reading and the solitary life. Often Connor had been that boy when they were little. It was only when Tressa and Bastian goaded him into playing that Connor would come out of his shell.
Farah ran to him, and Bastian scooped her up in his arms.
"Dada, I missed you." She pecked Bastian on his stubbly cheek.
"I missed you too. Did you sleep well in the dormitory?"
Farah bobbed her head up and down. "I wish I could stay with you." She pouted, her lower lip sticking out much too far.
"It's better for you to stay with the other children and the nurses," Bastian said, feeling guilty. It was true they had decided the children should stay together for now, under the care of Hazel and a couple of the female healers from Elinor's guild. But Bastian had agreed to it partially so he could save his nights for Elinor. He hadn't ever wanted anyone as much as he wanted her. In the past, most of his conquests would bore him after one or two dalliances. Not Elinor.
"When can we go home?" Farah asked him.
Bastian set her down. "I don't know." He wasn't even sure he wanted to go back to Hutton's Bridge. "Don't you like it here?"
Farah shrugged. "It's okay. I miss my bed and my doll."
Before Bastian could answer, Farah ran off into the fray, laughing. Children. Everything was so simple to them.
Hazel came over, her youngest in her arms. "She's a sweet little girl. Reminds me of you," she said, watching Farah grab a ball away from a bigger boy and hand it to a little toddler.
Bastian laughed. "I was more like the bully who took the ball away from the children."
"Give yourself some credit, Bastian," Hazel said. "You are a good man. Look at everything you've done here."
"I've done what needed to be done. I didn't ask for any of this. Connor would have been better suited to leading us through this." He looked at Hazel, the pain in her eyes apparent. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay." She switched the baby from one hip to the other. "Well, it's not, but I'm being patient. I keep hoping he'll remember, but that doesn't seem likely. If he hasn't yet, he's not likely to."
"He loves you," Bastian said.
"Loved." Hazel let out a long breath. "The problem is that I still love him."
"Don't give up on Connor. I still believe his memories are there. Maybe locked away, but there still."
"Maybe." Hazel shrugged. "I can't count on it. I'll try to win him back, though. Despite our marriage being one of convenience, I have never loved another man. He felt the same about me. I'll just have to make him see it again." She smiled, but it wasn't as bright as Bastian remembered. Some of the confidence was gone, replaced by regret.