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I, on the other hand, was just a thing to be humiliated.
Reyna’s mouth curved into a forced grin. Like she’d sucked on something sour and was trying to smile through it. “You are quite the insolent little—”
Her eyes narrowed. She was looking at something over my shoulder. I didn’t want to turn to see what it was, but it sent nervous energy through my body.
What could it be? The bed? The blanket? My stomach did a flip and then twisted itself inside out. A book?
She moved closer and pushed me aside. I panicked, wishing Ladon would hurry up. Reyna bent down and pulled out one of the tomes I’d stolen. Thankfully, not the journal. The corner was just barely peeking out from beneath the blanket.
“And where did you get this? Surely you did not steal this while you were supposed to be working in the Scholars’ Cavern?”
Words failed me. I couldn’t form a single excuse or explanation for what I was doing with that book. My only saving grace was the fact that it was the children’s fairytale book, and not one of the more substantial texts.
“I took it,” Ladon said, suddenly reappearing in the room. I wasn’t sure how much he’d heard, but it was enough to realize I was in trouble. He shrugged his shoulders. “I wanted some light reading before bed.”
She narrowed her eyes and seconds later, Ladon crumpled to the floor, hands wrapped around his stomach in agony.
“What are you doing?” I shouted. “Stop!”
I knelt beside him and his body was humming with electric currents, zapping my fingertips when I tried to put my hands on him.
His face went from stark white to fiery red, and then a purplish tint began to blossom on his cheeks.
“Stop, you’ll kill him.” I screamed, reaching for Reyna. My hand closed around her wrist and her concentration was momentarily halted. Ladon took a deep breath, but Reyna's eyes still flashed with a dangerous current.
She swung her arm and backhanded me across my face. I felt with my finger a small trickle of blood where one of her rings must’ve dug into my skin. She raised her hand again, ready to make a second blow, but my defensive lessons with Ladon had vastly improved my reflexes.
I ducked to the side, and in two smooth steps, I was at her backside. I jammed my heel into the back of her knee and she stumbled forward. Ladon had regained some of his composure, and he tripped her with an extended leg.
Reyna crashed to the floor with an animalistic cry. Tangled in the long skirts of her black dress, she struggled to stand. I threw all my weight on top of her, flinging my fists at whatever piece of her I could reach.
I wrapped my wrists around her slender throat and squeezed with all my might. I’d never killed before, and as I stared at my fingers tightening around her neck, I wondered if I even had it in me.
And then Ladon was by my side. He was saying something, but I couldn’t hear him over the pounding in my ears. Reyna’s shoulders shook with silent sobs. She knew it was the end for her and that only fueled me further.
Ladon moved out of the corner of my eye, and then a shadow was towering over me. Suddenly, powerful hands were wrapped around my neck. I gasped and then realized just how little I could breathe. Ladon…it was Ladon cutting off my air flow.
What was he doing?
Reyna’s shoulders shook again. But she wasn’t crying…she was laughing. She choked out words through gritted teeth. “You…stupid…girl.”
I released her and clawed at Ladon’s hands instead. I couldn’t breathe. My chest ached and the edges of my vision began to shrink. The more I struggled, the harder he seemed to squeeze.
Reyna straightened up and dusted off her dress. “Have you forgotten who is in charge here? I could have him snap your neck if I wanted to. Get rid of you once and for all. No…I think I have a better idea for you, sweet Emilie.”
She snapped her fingers, and Ladon released me. I fell to the floor, coughing and massaging my neck.
“Emilie,” Ladon rasped. “Emilie, I’m so sorry. I didn’t…I couldn’t…”
“Silence,” Reyna roared. “I’ve had quite enough of both of you this evening. I was only going to require Ladon’s services tonight, but I think you’re both in need of another lesson or two. I will break you the same way I broke all of my pets.”
I never thought I’d miss the dainty golden chains Reyna had put me in that first encounter with her dinner guests. Until I was only given a leather collar with a sapphire stone dangling in the front. Nothing else to cover my bare body.
One of the guards led me from the bathing chamber to the drawing room where guests had gathered. I swallowed when my eyes met Ladon’s across the room, and I quickly diverted my gaze.
He was dressed in a similar fashion. A simple studded collar and nothing more to hide behind. Reyna was taking the ‘pet’ analogy quite literally this evening. He was standing between two armchairs, the one on his left occupied by a blonde woman in a green velvet gown, while the woman on his right wore a shimmering silver dress that matched her graying hair.
I couldn’t help but notice the way the blonde woman’s hand crept up his backside.
