Icleyn

I had never been so tired or sore in my entire life as I dragged myself up the stairs leading to the castle. I also had never been this happy in my whole life either. Even though it had been a grueling day and my body ached, and I had cuts, bruises, and blisters everywhere, they were a small price to pay for everything I had learned.

No one had ever taken the time to work with and train me to be anything other than a skirt and a piece of ass for the highest bidding noble. Now, I felt like I had a purpose, and even though I was still not thrilled to be in the Night Realm, I was determined to make the most of this opportunity, especially if Kohl was going to train me to control my powers.

I reached for the door handle to my room, but my hand was plucked midair. I was startled as Kohl stood before me, cradling my hand in his palm. He lightly brushes his thumb across my mutilated palm. Everything within me cried for me to pull my hand away, but he was so gentle and his touch so pleasing I didn't have the self control to tear away from his touch.

"You did well today. You should be proud of these warn little hands." His voice was like a low rumbling thunder and did unspeakable things to me.

I could easily hate the cocky, mean-spirited Kohl, but the soft spoken male in front of me, the one caressing my hand and giving me compliments, was uncharted territory. He stepped closer, never releasing my hand. I froze in anticipation as he leaned in close.

"There you are! I have been looking for you everywhere."

I pulled away from Kohl, ashamed I had nearly allowed him to kiss me, as Jen rounded the corner and stopped beside me. She looked suspiciously from me to Kohl but thankfully didn't say anything at all.

"Take Icelyn to the women's bathing chamber. She is in desperate need of soap." Kohl grinned wickedly at me and walked away before I had a chance to retort his smart remark. Jen grabbed onto my arm and pulled me in the opposite direction.

"Come on, I think I'll join you. I need a cold dip myself after witnessing that heated exchange." Jen smiled knowingly, and I pulled against her, stopping her.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Don't play dumb with me. I know what I saw. If I hadn't interrupted, I do apologize for that; by the way...Kohl would have eaten you alive, you lucky girl."

"You are mistaken. There is nothing between the king and me."

"Umm hmm, sure, your mouth says one thing, but your body says another." Jen grabbed my arm again, and I allowed her to lead me on.

"While we are discussing the Night Realm king, tell me why everyone calls him by his given name?"

"Oh, Kohl doesn't believe in a hierarchy; he treats everyone the same and expects us to do the same for him."

I found all of this odd. What kind of kingdom did he run where everyone was treated as equals? It was unheard of.

We reached the bathing house, and once we entered, the temperature increased several degrees, and the air became thick with steam and scented soap. Jen grabbed two lush towels, and we walked inside.

I stopped dead in my tracks as the room opened to an extravagant bathing pool the size of a small lake. My cheeks heated with embarrassment as a dozen naked female fae splashed in the pool or sat lazily on the side with their feet dipped in.

"I take it you are used to a private tub?" Jen snickered and quickly shed her clothing, and stepped into the pool.

Apparently, I am more spoiled than I thought. I find the thought of bathing in front of strangers in this harem downright appalling. The longer I stood on the edge with a distraught look on my face, the more eyes turned my way, and whispers rose.

"You're embarrassing me," Jen hissed as she swam closer to me.

I snapped out of my mood and carefully peeled my clothes away piece by piece. I quickly got in the water and waded shoulder-deep to hide my nakedness from prying eyes. The hot water initially stung my abused skin, but the longer I stayed, the more soothing the waters became.

I exhaled in relief as I ducked my head underwater, allowing it to wash away the day. When I came up for air, a shy-looking nymph stood close to me on the edge of the pool.

"You are the princess, right?" she asked with a sweet smile.

"I was." I smiled back at her, and she snickered at my half-hearted joke.

"Kohl asked me to bring these to you." She handed me a bar of soap and an exotic-looking liquid bottle.

"Oooh, look at these!" Jen snatched the items from my hand and sniffed them like they were made in Heaven.

I pulled the bottle from her hands, opened the cork, and breathed deeply. It's exquisite. It was a mixture of a deep floral and a subtle hint of something sweet, like honey.

"Koh is playing favorites, I see. Not every new girl gets her own moon flower soap and perfume." Jen batted her eyes at me in a corny romantic gesture, and I splashed water at her to silence her antics.

I took a cloth and started to lather the rich soap, the smell becoming more prominent the more it suds. Just as I began to lather my hair, a group of three fae started heading our way from the opposite end of the pool.

"Uh oh, I'm out," Jen announced as she headed for the steps to leave.

"What's wrong? Who are they?" I observed them, hackles rising from the way Jen was acting.

"Umm. You remember what I said earlier about girls not liking other pretty girls because they are jealous?"

"Yes..."

"Well, here comes the queen of jealousy. She believes she owns Kohl, and the fact that he gave you your own room and now these gifts has put a big target on your back."

I looked at the middle female again in a new light, so she is Kohl's favorite, or so she believes. She was beautiful with her long, flowing blond hair and golden eyes. Her skin had strange marks, almost like a diamond pattern.

"Well, what are you running from?" I asked Jen as she wrapped a towel around her frame.

"Kaah is as mean as a snake, quite literally. She is a serpentine. One bite from her or one scratch from her nails or barbs, and it's bye-bye, poor little human Jen." Jen's eyes rounded in horror, and I turned to see Kaah only a few steps from me.

"You musst be Icelyn. I'm Kaah." She extended her hand, and I saw the women gather around to see my next move.

I refused to be bullied. I've had enough of that in the Winter Realm. I grabbed her extended hand and gave it a tight squeeze. Her eyes rounded in shock as if she wasn't expecting me to touch her. One tally mark in my favor. Now let's see what she's got.

She pulled her palm away, purposely rubbing the edge of her nails against my palm. Everyone gasps, including Jen. I never wavered my eye contact. She didn't break the skin, so there was no need to be alarmed.

"Your new around here, so I guesss I better lay out the ground ruless of the Night Realm."

"Here we go." I heard Jen moan behind me.

"What wass that mortal?" Kaah edged towards Jen, but I blocked her path.

"Leave her alone. It is childish to prey on a human. Why don't you pick on someone your own size?" I smiled sweetly at her, and she sputtered, or maybe that was a hiss.

"Whatever you say, I was trying to be nice." I braced myself, expecting her to slash out with her deadly nails.

I felt something wrap around my leg and squeeze. I opened my mouth to scream but was pulled under the water before the sound even left my throat. My lungs quickly filled with water as I tried to fight my way back to the surface. I freaked out even more when I realized that Kaah's long serpent tail was holding me under. That I didn't expect.

I felt the muscle in her tail spasm as she lifted me above the water. I coughed violently as my lungs filled with air. A sharp sting on my side burned as she tossed me to the other end of the pool.

I reemerged immediately, watching her and her gang as they advanced on me again. Anger in the form of power pulsed through my veins, and my blood turned to ice. I placed both of my palms on the water's surface. Power surged through me as it skirted across the top of the water, freezing the entire pool in seconds.

I blinked, barely believing that I just did that. Everyone who remained in the pool was hopelessly frozen from the waist down. All except me, there was a section of water where I stood that remained exactly as it was. I pulled myself from my hole and walked across the ice to the ledge.

The females in the pool were screaming like someone was murdering them. The room suddenly began to shake, and an ear-busting rumble echoed throughout the room, causing everyone to scream louder and duck for cover.

Kohl instantly appeared in a haze of inky black mist. His eyes were wild as he looked around the room.

"Icelyn!" He yelled until his eyes finally found their target.

I was frozen stiff, waiting for the punishment he would deal me for freezing his harem in a pool of ice. The storm in his eyes began to settle once he found me and was replaced by something else...desire.

I squeaked like a little mouse when I realized I was still butt naked, and he was getting an eye full. I snatched the closest towel I could get my hands on, which happened to be on another female, and wrapped it protectively around my body.

She complained but made no move to cover herself. I watched Kohl, but his eyes never waivered from me. At my humiliation limit, I took off towards the door and brushed past Kohl on my way out. I ran until I reached the safety of my room, with embarrassment nipping at my heels the entire way.