Don’t Teach an Eagle to Fly – 13. chapter

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The fog crept through the valley like a gray serpent, smothering the last scraps of morning light and swallowing the outlines of the mountains. Kaelan stood on the overlook above his castle courtyard, wrapped in a cloak the wind kept tugging from his shoulders. Every morning looked the same, yet today everything felt different.

The message he had sent had reached Tharan faster than he had expected. The enemy army moving on Deren was already there and had surrounded the city, but they had not attacked yet. Tharan was clearly interested in an agreement, though he wanted proof first that Nirella was alive and held within Kaelan’s walls. The messenger arrived before the visit itself. The envoys were expected to arrive in several hours.

Kaelan remained by the stone ledge, though his thoughts had long since left the courtyard and settled on Nirella. He knew he should hand her over. His mind repeated it without mercy, again and again. This was his only chance to save not only Deren but the entire realm. Only this could bring peace.

And yet.

Something in him resisted. He faltered. The thought of her being taken away stirred a restlessness he could not quiet. Why? He was not in love. It was only sex. So why did he want to keep her?

He could not answer himself. He clenched his jaw and let his gaze sweep the foggy hills once more. He had to give her up. Of course he did. And yet perhaps there was still a way to turn this around.

When he entered her chamber, she was sitting on the floor. He had brought her several old chronicles some time ago so time would pass more easily for her. Even now he could not fully explain or justify that decision.

“It seems your father holds you dear,” he began and sat on the bed.

Her gray eyes lifted to him.

“Apparently, he values your life more than my country,” he added.

“Maybe because I’m not a trophy to him,” she snapped back.

If she meant to wound him, she succeeded. He refused to react and continued.

“He’s willing to agree to an end of the war, but first he wants proof that you’re truly here and alive.”

This time she was silent.

“Visitors will arrive tonight. I can have a bath prepared for you until then.”

She did not protest, so he took it as agreement and turned to leave.

“Um…” she began, but no words came, even when he turned back to her. At last she managed, “I assume the hall will be full of guards, yes?”

“Of course.”

She raised her bound hands before her face. “Could something be done about this?”

He lifted a brow and shook his head as he opened his mouth.

“Just for the short visit,” she cut in before he could refuse. “Please.”

He understood her. She was their ruler. It had to feel deeply humiliating to be seen bound. And he could not recall her ever asking him for anything before.

“I’ll think about it,” he said, postponing his decision.

She nodded. He thought he caught a flicker of gratitude on her face.

The room fell quiet. A heavy copper tub stood in the corner, dragged in only moments ago by two men with great effort. Kaelan oversaw everything while they carried water in sturdy buckets and poured it into the bath. When the door closed behind them, Nirella sat upright on the bed. He approached her slowly and without a word unfastened the restraints. He noticed she did not resist, though she watched him with tension. Her wrists were chafed and red, yet she did not pull away. He drew her closer to the tub and bent to test the water’s heat. Then he carefully lifted her naked body into his arms and lowered her into the hot water without a word. Nirella did not breathe as he set her down, steam hiding them both for a brief moment. Kaelan avoided her gaze. He knew what would follow if he allowed himself to look too long. He did not want to begin something he could not stop.

He took a sponge from the small table and handed it to her in silence. Then he stepped back and turned sideways, staring at the stone wall as if it interested him more than anything else in the room. Nirella accepted the sponge without a word and slid her hand beneath the surface. She took her time. She sat so her knees remained above the water and her upper body rose slightly. She gently ran the sponge over herself in slow movements, as if only to get clean. But from the corner of her eye she watched his face, waiting for him to turn.

“How many of them will come?” she asked softly. Her voice was calm, casual, as if for idle conversation. He turned slightly toward her. Her hair slipped over her shoulders, her bare shoulders gleamed beneath the thin veil of steam, and the water she poured slowly over her chest accentuated the gentle curves of her breasts. He could not ignore it. Her voice, the way she sat. Everything pulled his gaze back to her. It was not a good idea. His dick was beginning to harden, and this was not the moment. And soon there would never be a moment again. He did not want to carve her deeper into his memory when he already knew she would leave.

“Likely one carriage, so four perhaps. But I can’t be sure.”

“Do you think they’ll even recognize me without armor?” she continued lightly, drawing the sponge along her collarbone and lower. Kaelan said nothing. He watched her slow movements and had a feeling she was doing this on purpose.

“Nirella, I’ll allow you to be without restraints tonight. You don’t need to do this,” he said, his voice tight.

She lifted her gaze to him. Her gray eyes had a strange cast. And the sponge slipped between her breasts.

He looked away.

“Are you done?”

“Just a little longer, if I may.”

He did not last much longer. His eyes kept returning to her. He stepped to the tub and lifted her naked body from the water.

He laid her on the bed, covered her with a sheet, and called for the maids with the clothes. They already knew they were to dress a bound woman and chose garments accordingly. Kaelan loosened Nirella’s ankles at least and stepped back. Two women laid out the garments and first chose a strapless corset. Neither looked Nirella in the eyes. Both knew who stood before them. Nirella rose, and when the sheet fell away, Kaelan looked out the window instead. He was no longer sure his trousers hid his erection.

“Does this happen often here?” Nirella asked. Her voice was calm, almost bored.

“What?” He turned back.

The sight stole his breath for a moment. She stood facing him. Naked. Legs slightly apart, arms bound above her head, displayed as if on a platter. The servants were fitting the corset against her back.

“That you dress a bound woman,” Nirella replied in an innocent tone, yet she met his gaze with open challenge. In that moment it finally struck him that she was doing this deliberately.

“Get out,” he hissed. His voice was calm, but it allowed no refusal. Nirella barely hid a smile. The women exchanged a brief look, then withdrew without a word and closed the door softly behind them.