“Yes,Ifind that the right reward can lead to a great deal of compliance,” he mused and stuck his tongue down my brother’s throat.
Somethinginside me tried to rip out, burst through my skin, destroy everything thatIwas and burn it into something new.ButAbraxasbrought his hand up my throat and then to my jaw, turning me to look at him.Hemoved in close, and barely whispered in my ear, “Soon, my love.”
Myblood cooled, andIstilled my breath.Yes, it wouldn’t do to ruin all of our plans and hard work.Ipictured that ocean, deep and serene, and let that raging inferno inside me sink away until nothing but mist remained.
Hadeonreleased my brother, andItried to put my own mask into place.Ithad been so long sinceIhad worn it,I’dalmost forgotten how.
“Pleaseexcuse my outburst,YourEminence.SometimesIstill forget myself,”Ileaned intoAbraxasthen, head bowed, the model of obedience, “Pleaseforgive me,MyKing.”
We’dtalked about this, the roleIwould have to play forHadeon.Thelittle pet thatIshould have been.Asubmissive girl couldn’t be a threat, could she?Icursed myself for forgetting before we had even begun.Fearstole into my heart.WhatifIhad ruined our chances already?
Abraxaslaced his hand around my throat, the pressure there very real, and my vision began to darken, “You’llreceive your punishment later.”Damnhim, the smirk in his eyes told me he knew that had me throbbing, even if this was all an act.
“Afine idea,Abraxas,Ihad hoped to see our princess at the party tonight.”Somethingdeep and wicked filledHadeon’seyes as he watchedAbraxasfor a reaction.ButAbraxasdidn’t waver.
“Solong as her brother isn’t also there.”Hadeonwaved his hand, as if that was obvious.Abraxasreleased my neck, andIstepped behind him, face down.ButIlet my eyes drift toJun, who now stood atPallas’ side.Herface was still stone, butIsaw her pinky finger rub againstJun’sfor a moment.Anaccident?Perhaps.
Abraxasdismissed me with a wave of his hand and told me to go prepare for the party.Iwas heading out of the hall whenLadyBogatagrabbed my arm, much more forcefully thanIwould have expected.Itseemed she had returned withHadeonfromKoron.Shedragged me away from the rest of the guests, “Beforeyou go,YourHighness,Ijust wanted to let you know, your brother’s singing is so beautiful, andIso enjoy it.ButIwas saddened on my previous visit, forIwasn’t able to hear it.Itseems he hasn’t had the energy for it much recently.”
Shebore into me with her eyes that so mirrored the golden wheat fields that she oversaw.ThistimeIunderstood her meaning, and my heart was clamped in a great vice.Wewere running out of time.
“Thankyou,MyLady.Ihope that on your next visit you will be able to enjoy the pleasures ofKoronin a whole new light.”
Iexited the great hall, and my stomach churned.Hadeon’sguards in their golden armor surrounded a group of men and women dressed in nothing but rags, who were unloading supplies fromHadeon’scaravan.Eachhad metal shackles on their ankles or neck.Slaves.Closerinspection showed me they were all human.
Iset my jaw, teeth clenched, asIapproached the guards. “Whatis the meaning of this, slaves are not allowed in this kingdom.”
Aguard looked me up and down from behind his helmet, “Idon’t answer to you, only to ourDivineEmperor.”Idecided how best to run this cretin through with his own blade, when a trembling hand grabbed my elbow.
“YourHighness, please let’s go.”ItwasCiara.Shewas shaking like a leaf, tears welling in her eyes.Iwrapped my arms around her, and led her away, but not before shooting the guard one last look.
Aswe left, my resolve set.Whatevertonight would bring,Iwould face it.
Chapter60
Tori
Ciarafussed around me.Shewas manic now.Iplaced a gentle hand on her arm, “It’salright,Ciara.Whydon’t you turn in for the night, get away from all this.”
Shepaused, andIsaw her picking at her nails the way she always did when she was agitated. “Someof those men withHadeon.WhenIlived inKoron, they…”Isqueezed her arm just as she had done to me some time ago.Shedidn’t have to tell me.
“Noneof them will ever hurt you again,Ciara.Ipromise you.”Shelooked at me with sadness in her eyes, but then it dropped, and she merely stood there, blank.
“Letme walk you to your room.”Iescorted her in eerie silence and made sure she was tucked away before returning to my own quarters.
Abraxaswas there waiting for me.Hewore a simple but finely made night robe, but he wore his crown atop his head which was such a ridiculous juxtapositionIalmost laughed.Butsomehow,Icouldn’t find the humor in it tonight.Heswept me into his arms, crushing me to his chest.
“Youdon’t have to do this,Tori.”
“No,Ido.Noneof this will work if he suspectsI’mnot under your control.”
“Hewill need to see you submit, fully.”Iunderstood what he meant, butIwasn’t afraid.
Hislips pulled tight, but he released me, and then handed me a packageIhadn’t seen.Insidewas a tiny garment that at first was very confusing.Itseemed to be composed of hundreds of small shimmering dark threads, each sparkled and shone as if they were infused with black diamonds.The‘dress’ clasped behind my neck and covered none of my back, the loose strings hung over my breasts and created a very short skirt.Theywould move asIwalked, revealing everything beneath.
“Howlong have you been waiting for me to wear this for you?”Ismiled atAbraxas, but he did not return it.Ilaced my hand through his silver hair, “Yousaid yourself, he needs to see this, he needs to believe.Wecan do this.”
“Thisis not us tonight,Tori.Thisis an act.Knowthat.”Hegrabbed my head the same wayIheld his, andIcouldn’t look away from his pained eyes. “Pleaseknow that if anything is too much, you know the word to say.I’llstop, no matter the cost.”
