iting into my skin, leaving behind soft bruises

she began to scrub my body, he

ouldn't. She hadn't spoken a word si

o. I already knew

scented oil was waiting on a chipped si

ight. For the man who

out emotion. That as the wife of a traitor,

he could profit from? That wa

ued her task, the silence between us gro

l, I said

nderstood. This was no

about ow

y body would no lo

him not when I had seen the sharp f

s hurting too. Perhaps even more dee

e. Marrying a man I barely knew, on

wife, maybe I wouldn't be here now, stripped of dignit

ce. Not even my poor parents... th

fate. I walked to the mirror a

and it held no warmth either, just distance

re soft-spoken. Do not speak unless spoken to. Smile only when necessary. And whatever happens, do

ruly my li

y eyes, then slipped down my c

and nodded softl

ettling to show such deference to the maids, the same women who

n of fate. My stomach t

there was of it. A sheer piece of fabric that shimmered fai

ter a moment, quieter than before. "Not

he chill in my bones deepen. The fabric clung t

hers, but she ignored me, placing a necklace a

g chose the dress." She mumbled

you in the guest room. He is in the second room waiting, just give a

hall the same hall I had graced only days

e, not as royalty, but as a woman pr

d at me with quiet sympathy, others with a gaze that made my skin crawl,

beneath their stares, v

, and he walked away immediately after I was

ight knock on it, I didn't bother to

mpered; I didn't want to add

p orange. A table sat in the center,

ered, wearing a dark red robe. He turned shar

gined." He drawled, "Come h

slower than the last. My heart thudded violently agai

softly, my hands tr

read your legs." He smirked. "I...I..." my speech began

Rhydian would let men lay with me. There had

. I could take any other

he grabbed me by my hair and threw me right

ce was low but laced with fury, his eyes d

ther side of me, caging me in. "I haven't had my money

oice trembling as tears spilled d

h him and I promise you'll have your money back." But the man

Now be a good girl and comply... or you won't even recognize your face by morning."

whispered, my hands shaking as I pushe

ing deeper into my bones. He grabbed both my wrists and pinned th

d I thought it would give out. Then, with his free hand, he

chill of the room against my bare skin, and

e raw and filled with terror. My whole body shook violently,

he blink of an eye, the man on top of me was ripped awa

I could barely hear anything else. I heard the sickening

Gasping for breath, I dragged myself away from the

what had already been exposed. Silent tears streamed dow

ke a shield I hadn't asked for. His golden eye

I trembled even more... Rhydian's presence had always been terrifying, but now

erent in his eyes somethi

ough the air, "Why did I feel your pain in my head... and he

sking. It sounded m

My entire body was trembling, too sha

ing from me? "Tell me!" He

ething inside me tear apart as if I had

ds instinctively fol

ok on his face... It almost frightened me