The Bastard Princess

50.

-HER-

The first thing that I was aware of was something heavy draped over my waist. It constricted my movement. The second thing that I slowly became aware of was a wall behind me.

My eyelids seemed to be too heavy to be lifted. When I tried to move, a wave of pain travelled throughout my body, forcing a whimper out of my lips. I instantly felt the wall move behind me before the thing over my waist grew heavier.

"Arsinoe," A deep, manly voice rumbled over me. It took me some moments to recognize the owner of that voice. I wanted to open my eyes and look at him but it seemed like a tedious job for me.

"Are you awake?" The same voice whispered before the wall behind me shifted even more. I was only capable of whimpering in pain. My feet were on fire. The pain made them numb.

"Arsinoe," His voice was gentle enough to be mistaken as the chime of the wind, "Are you in pain?" he asked further.

"My feet hurt," I somehow managed to tell him through my whimper. The heavy thing from my waist was lifted before the wall behind me disappeared. I felt some commotion around me before he touched my feet. Those strange sensations instantly emanated from the contact and travelled throughout my body.

I didn't have the energy to move otherwise I'd have retrieved my feet away from him. Then he surprised me by massaging my feet. Some of the pain instantly eased and I relaxed. Those strange sensations were still there as he messaged my feet.

A frown climbed on my face when he stopped for a moment. I opened my eyes slightly to look at him. He already had his silver eyes set on me.

"Was that helping?" He asked gently. I stared at him long before nodding slightly. Sleep played on my eyelids while my body seemed heavier due to the tiredness. Although as my consciousness slowly started to claim me back, I became more and more aware of everything around me.

What had happened to me? For how many days was I out? What was I doing in his bed and why was he messaging my feet?

I wanted so many answers but the deficiency of energy kept me from asking them to him. Although I couldn't help but find it strange. Why was he helping me? Chefren never helped me then why was he? I couldn't help but doubt his intentions.

I managed to fold my legs away from him despite the pain and tried to sit up.

"What are you doing?" He frowned at me instantly, trying to reach for me. I was careful not to let him touch me again when I answered him, "I want to go upstairs,"

"Why? What's wrong here?" His frown deepened. My body instantly gave out but he was already by my side to gently place me back on the bed.

"I want to be in my own bed," I told him as I tried to move again. He looked deeply annoyed when he spoke back, "You must stay here until you get well,"

"I am well," I managed to sit but he pushed me back. I instantly slapped his hand away from me, "Don't touch me," I gritted at him warningly while the memories of Chefren forcing himself on me flashed in front of my eyes. He was very close to doing those vile things to me.

"You're not well, Arsinoe," He told me again. Determination and possessiveness both simmered in his eyes.

"You don't have to care for me. I am worthless," If anything, my words drove him closer to annoyance.

"Arsinoe, please. You can go upstairs after you recover. Are you hungry? Would you like something to eat? You haven't had anything for almost a day,"

"I don't want anything from you," I tried my best to match the determination in his eyes. He gave me a prolonged look before his eyes softened and he spoke, "I'll bring you something to eat. You can be alone for some time. Please don't leave the bed then. You'll hurt yourself," He said very politely while running his hand over my head.

If that didn't surprise me enough then his small kiss on my forehead did. I had to turn away when he looked down at me fervently but I still felt his eyes on me.

"I'll be back soon, Arsinoe," With that promise, he left. I was again aware of the pain in my whole body. I doubted that I would be able to sleep with that. Morning light peaked inside the house through the window and I tried to concentrate on it instead while I thought about Ares.

He was confusing. Very unpredictable and very different than Chefren or any other man that I had encountered in my life. His actions always took me by surprise. So far, I wasn't able to find a reasonable explanation behind his behaviour. The only thing that I seemed possible to me was that he wanted something in return. It scared me.

I wasn't capable of giving anything.

I took my time and sat up after several grunts and painful tries. While I collected the energy and motivation to leave the bed and go upstairs, I heard him outside. He was back sooner than I had anticipated.

A frown climbed on his face when he saw me sitting up.

"You should be laying down and resting," He commented. I chose to glare at him in response.

"I brought you something to eat," He spoke instead, taking out a small container from a small bag.

"I don't want to eat," I mumbled but my stomach let out a growl in protest.

He smirked before sitting on the bed near me and holding the container against my mouth. I decided to snatch it instead but my trembling hands proved to be untrustworthy for the moment.

Before the container could fall and everything could spill all over the place, he caught the thing. Some of the content spilt out a bit but he didn't seem to bother.

"That's okay, here," He again held it against my lips. I glared at him before my hunger had me accepting the food. But as soon as the stale taste of the food invaded my taste buds, I felt sick and ended up throwing up on the floor.

"What happened?" He asked with concern. I instantly noticed how his arm was wrapped around my waist to keep me from falling. I tried to tear it off my body but he didn't budge.

"What was that?" I asked him angrily. Was he just playing with me or was he genuinely concerned about my wellbeing? I couldn't understand his intentions.

"Why? Chicken soup," He answered with a frown, looking at the container.

"That was chicken shit," I spat at the floor to get rid of the taste. He looked sick too when he sipped from the container.

"This is gross," He grumbled more to himself, "that man scammed me," He didn't look very pleased with that.

"What do you generally eat? This?" I asked him with a wretched look. He shook his head at me, "No, I generally hunt,"

"And? Where do you cook?" I inquired. I hadn't thought about his diet until now. The kitchen in the house was untouched. I doubted if even spared a look in its direction.

"Why would I need to cook? I am a wolf. I hunt and eat," He shrugged while I was left staring at him with disgust.

"What?" He asked.

"You're disgusting," I couldn't help but comment.

"Don't judge me like that," He grumbled before asking, "And what do you feed on?"

"I get fruits from the temple," I answered him. It brought his eyebrows together.

"And?"

"That's it,"

"You haven't had cooked food ever since?" He inquired. I shook my head at him and he nodded, "Me too,"

"Do you feel like putting that place to use?" I asked him nodding towards the abandoned kitchen.

"I'll mend it for you," He told me.

After that, he ended up bringing me fruits to eat. I ate them silently and watched him clean and mend the small kitchen area. I'd look away when he'd look at me.

"I'll buy the pots and everything else tomorrow," He informed me.

"I'll go with you," I told him with my mouth full of apple.

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