I ignore him as she wraps an arm around me and starts to lead me out.
His hand closes around my wrist, burning my flesh, and I jerk away, a sob breaking free. “Don’t touch me!”
His fingers leave me instantly. I want so badly to believe that means he cares, that he won’t hurt me again. I want to forgive him just to stop the pain. To go back to being happy.
But he didn’t stop.
He went way past red.
I called our safe word twice.
And hedidn’t stop.
“Arienna, please.”
He darts around us, blocking the doorway.
“Get out of the way, asshole.”
“Just stay, okay? I’ll sleep on the sofa. I’ll –”
“Great. Bye.” Releasing me, Fabia slams her shoulder into his chest, shoving him out. Then she steps back, drags both of the doors shut and locks them.
I fall against her, my tears cascading down my cheeks. She holds me tight, rubbing my back as I sob.
At some point, I end up in bed with the covers tucked around me, but the pain’s making everything feel numb and blurry.
Begging for sleep, I close my eyes.
But sleep is even worse than living.
In my dreams, I watch thisEvangelineget married to him.Have his kids, get called his queen.
She turns into a giant bird, carries me up into the sky, and drops me. As I’m lying there, a broken, shattered mess, she drops a giant shit on me.
What a fucking bitch.
Forty-Two
A queen does what is necessary to save her kingdom.
I’d make the same choice again.
- King Richard
Everything about the sofa is fucking uncomfortable.
The cushions are too soft to be supportive. The length is a fair sum too small. The fabric is an irritating brush against my skin. Andsheisn’t here.
She’s supposed to be in my arms.
But instead, I spent the whole fucking night on it instead of in bed with my queen.
Whoever built this damn thing is going to get beheaded. As is the idiot who picked it for this room. And the fuckers who delivered it to the castle.
Turning on my side, I bang a fist into the cushion under my head. It does nothing to improve my comfort.
Gritting my teeth, I twist around. My eyes land on the clock that’s mocked me all night. Four-thirty – six minutes since I last checked.
