I shrugged. "That's fine. Dain and I aren't going to start shagging against the walls, if that's what everyone's waiting for. I was just making a point." I tried not to think about how near of a thing it was that we were not, in fact, going to be having sex in every dark corner of the palace. Dain had kept us both sane and in possession of all our faculties, and I'd almost cost us both because I loved seeing that look of astonishment on his face and because I longed for the taste of his mouth.

"I believe your point was made," Kamharida said. "Have you decided to choose him, then?"

I turned away, looking at the adjoining door. "No," I said softly. "I don't know what's wrong with me that I can't. I feel like I just need one more thing, and then I'll know."

"Sometimes things take a leap of faith, and sometimes you really do need to see one more thing before you can decide." She put her hands on her hips and looked at me. "You won't figure it out lying there in your revel clothing, though. Would you like to get ready for bed, instead?"

"Yeah, I guess so," I said, and got off the bed.

Kamharida came up to me and started undoing clasps and laces for the dress. I stood through it, used to the routine by now, moving my arms when required and shimmying out of everything once she got it undone. I'd gotten used to being naked in front of her, too, and didn't balk when she took off my bra and underwear.

"Will you want a bath?" she asked.

I glanced over at the adjoining door. It was either steal Dain's bathroom, bathe with a bunch of fae giving me wide-eyed looks for my behavior tonight, or make Kamharida and others haul water for me. The first didn't feel like an option after the way we'd parted, I really didn't want to do the second, and the third felt mean.

"No, I don't think so," I said. "It's too early to make you haul water, and I don't want to pester Dain."

"You're his soulmate, you know," Kamharida said, with some amusement. "Even though you haven't chosen him, you're still entitled to everything he possesses, including his bathroom and his time."

"Not if I'm his soulmated nemesis," I said, clasping my hands together in front of me with a sappy expression.

She snorted at me. "And how likely do you think that is, your highness?" she asked, in almost a lecturing tone.