Free Twice Upon a Time by Olivia Cunning Page A

Reece jumped out of the bed, yanking the needle and thread out of her hand. It dangled from the wound, needle swaying in front of him. He covered his crotch with both hands. “I think you're asking a bit much of him. Of me !”
    “There must be some other way,” Lara said, biting her lip to keep from laughing.
    The horrified expression on Reece's face was priceless. Not that she blamed him. She could only imagine how traumatizing the idea would be to him or any man.
    Khadija spoke. “You know only clean shaven eunuchs are al owed to serve the harem women.”
    “But it will cause him pain,” Lara said.
    “Yes,” Reece agreed, his voice cracking with anxiety. “It will cause me pain.” The doctor pulled a sharp knife out of her bag. “Not the way I do it.” She approached Reece, brandishing her knife.
    For an injured man, Reece moved spryly. He retreated to the far side of the room, looking for an escape option. “I think we need some time to consider this.”
    “Talk some sense into him, Farima,” Khadija said. “I would feel better if he was there to protect you. My son trusts him, so I know you can trust him as well.”
    “Yes, Khadija,” Lara agreed. “I will try to make him see reason.” Though it was an entirely unreasonable request.
    Reece was shaking his head back and forth in denial, eyes fixated on the doctor's knife.
    “Come, Safiye, let's leave these two to talk and allow the healer to finish,” Khadija said. She held a hand out to Safiye, and the child rushed forward with a bright smile.
    She smiled up at the woman with unmistakable adulation. The matriarch was a bit abrasive, but her granddaughter obviously thought the world of her.
    “Put the knife down,” Reece said to the healer. “You're supposed to be fixing the holes already in me, not making new ones.”
    The woman put her knife back into her satchel. “Let me know if you change your mind,” she said to Nasir.
    “I know my fifth appendage does not have much of a purpose, but I am rather attached to it.”

    Khadija chuckled again and took Safiye's hand. “I'll send my personal servant with some breakfast for you, Farima. Make sure he tastes everything before you eat.”
    “Yes, I will.”
    Once Khadija had left with her young granddaughter, Lara busied herself with combing her hair, trying to ignore Reece's occasional grunt of pain as the doctor finished her work. Soon, a breakfast was set on the table in the room. Lara watched while the eunuch, who was one who’d led her through the palace the day before, tasted a sample of each dish before serving a plate to her. She sat down to eat, while Reece endured his treatment. Lara dined on flat bread and feta cheese. Olives and slices of cucumber. Some fish she didn’t recognize but enjoyed.
    “I suggest you have something to eat and drink plenty of fluids before you rest.
    Dimitri will watch over Farima while you nap. Do not shirk in your duties too much,” the healer said, “or you'll find yourself cleaning up after horses.”
    “Thank you, madam,” Reece said. He rose from the bed and collected a plate from the table before moving to a divan across the room to dine.
    Lara wished they were alone so they could eat together, but she understood why he was being precautious. Dimitri waited until they had finished eating before clearing the table.
    “I will be back shortly and Nasir can leave to take a break in his own quarters.”
    “I want him to stay here,” Lara said. “He's the only one I really trust.” Dimitri nodded and left the room.
    “You don't really think I should entertain having this guy giving up his wiener for this princess?” Reece said as soon as they were alone. “I mean helping control the pet population is completely understandable, but this is ridiculous. Don't you think he kind of needs it to go to the bathroom at the very least?”
    “It should be his decision, no ours. What do you think he wants to do?” She stood up from the table and went to