Chapter 94

Briar’s POV

The scream died in my throat as I took in my surroundings. I wasn’t in some mystical siren realm or underwater palace. I was in what looked like a luxurious bathroom, all marble and gold fixtures, with steam rising from a massive clawfoot tub. The woman beside me—the one who looked so hauntingly familiar—was holding a soft washcloth and wearing the kind of patient expression reserved for dealing with frightened children.

"Oh, sweetheart," she said gently, her voice carrying a slight accent I couldn’t place. "I’m sorry if I startled you. I’m Meredith, the head of household staff. When the kings brought you in unconscious, they asked me to help get you cleaned up."

I looked down at myself and felt heat flood my cheeks. I was naked, sitting in warm, soapy water that smelled like lavender and something else I couldn’t identify. My hair was damp, and I could see soap suds clinging to my arms.

"I—what happened? Where am I