Page 83 of Of Bargains & Betrayal

Enora

“Would you like me to run a hot bath for you, princess?” Those were the exact words I needed to hear after my day, even if Eilir was spouting them as they flew behind me into my room, completely uninvited. Even though they’d shown me plenty of times how to properly use the contraption that was the bath, I still had a hard time getting much more than a lukewarm experience on my own.

I turned back a bit stiffly against the protest of my spine and gave the sprite a nod. “I’d like that.”

Eilir flashed their sharp teeth at me in a grin and zipped by so fast, my loose hairs fluttered in the breeze caused by their wings. As soon as the last glimmer of irradiance vanished into the bathroom, followed by the sound of running water, I sat on the end of my bed and huffed out a laugh.

It was still hard to believe I wasn’t locked in the depths of a wild fever dream.

A sprite.

In Grimmoria.

Drawing me a bath.

That I’d ever get used to that would be a feat, but it was a welcome distraction from the dangerous line my spiraling thoughts toed as I walked most of the way back from garrison alone. They’d get their chance to come charging back at the pyre, but I wouldn’t give them an ounce of acknowledgement until then.

So while Eilir hummed something that sounded a little off-tune in the bathroom, I fought my way out of my boots and the bracers I’d need to return. I also gave Eilir the decency of pulling on a robe after I peeled off the rest of my damp layers before trailing into the bathroom.

I hadn’t expected bubbles.

But much to my rather pleasant surprise, a thick layer of suds covered the surface of the gently steaming water, nearly full to the brim, while Eilir fussed over the faucets at one end of the spacious tub. I closed my eyes and inhaled slowly, having little control over the smile that tugged at my mouth.

“It smells like⁠—”

“Perfection, right?” Eilir squeaked. “Exactly like you would want it to?”

When I opened my eyes, they had their tiny hands clasped in front of their body, still bearing a wide grin.

It was true, though. The room smelled exactly how I’d want it to after a day of nothing but sweat, heat, and dirt.

In all the potions lining the bath, I hadn’t found a single thing that smelled so refreshing and frosty earlier, and I would not question how the sprite went about their ways.

“Are you going to join me finally?” I chuckled. “That tub is plenty big for the both of—wait. Do sprites bathe? Is that a thing?”

Eilir scoffed, and tsked, and made a whole host of other disgruntled noises as they turned around, slapping one hand over their eyes while they waved a hand back toward me. “Of course we bathe!” they squeaked. “Now get in, princess. We’ve got much to discuss, and I don’t feel like being here forever.”

“Oh, we do, do we?” I shook my head as I slipped out of my robe and climbed into the bath.

At first, I hadn’t noticed the sprite had left a rolled towel at one end, but as I slid into the sudsy warmth, stifling a mewl, my neck came to rest on it with unnerving precision. Utter fucking bliss that was only interrupted when Eilir fluttered over and perched themselves on the wide ledge of the tub, sending a scatter of bubbly foam in all directions.

“Of course we do!” They dipped their tiny feet into the suds, sweeping them back and forth.

An awfully indignant noise clawed out of me before I shut my eyes and tried to focus on the subversive warmth warring with the budding tension in my muscles.

“Go on then, oh great sprite. What do we have to discuss?”

Another tsk. A swish of their feet in the water. “Your day with Jasper, of course.”

“Oh, you mean my incredibly exceptional assessment with Jasper?” I cracked an eye open. “I’d be glad to regale you with tales of my prowess.”

I barely managed to cover my face as the sprite flung a glob of bubbles at me, sending them splattering into my hair and the tile behind me.

“What?” I chuckled.

“It’s bad enough I have to deal with the size of Max and Jasper’s egos!” Eilir’s head leaves stood on end with their exasperated exclamation. “Not yours too!”

“My sweet keeper, it’s too late for that. Maybe you should’ve thought twice before you decided you wanted me to stay. I come by my own ego honestly, and it’s a rather fickle beast.” With how the warmth had liquefied my body, I sighed and sank deeper into the sudsy water, closing my eyes again.