I only make it five steps before a second kidnapper catches up with me. Wrapping a sturdy hand around my waist, he hoists me in the air and whips us around.
“You godsdamn whore, causing trouble already.” He spits the words.
I dig my nails in his forearm. He doesn’t even flinch. I kick my feet, trying to hit his leg, but he’s twice my size so I can’t reach it.
His grip on me is iron-clad.
Even screaming doesn’t help. We’re far enough from Jaakii, in the middle of the farming fields. Nobody can hear me.
Once we approach the carriage, he puts me down. Sensing an opportunity, I whirl on my heel. All of my hopes of fighting back die the moment he whips the back of his hand over my cheek hard enough to rattle my brain.
Copper taste fills my mouth just as I hit the side of the carriage and tumble down on the hard, damp ground rather ungracefully. My head spins. I try to blink the dizziness away.
“You gotta show them who’s the boss,” the Giant says to his bleeding comrade. “She’s not to be treated like a lady, do you hear me? Unless you want her breaking your damn balls the next time, too.”
“Understood,” the younger Caligos says with a nod. He’s much younger than the Big Guy here, clearly inexperienced. “She needs to do her…lady business.”
“Forget about it. If this bitch wants it so bad, she can piss her pants.”
Trying to get at least a little bit of control over my situation, I attempt to get back on my feet. The Giant grabs my arm, pulls me up, and immediately slams me face forward against the side of the carriage.
He fists my braids at the back of my head and pulls hard enough to make my eyes burn with tears.
These men are absolutely despicable.
“You better behave, little whore.” He whispers the words into my ear and thrusts his groin against me. There is no mistakingthe hardness that presses into my ass. I swallow. “Or there won’t be much left of you by the time we make it to the destination.”
The unspoken threat makes my insides burn with rage. I’m not surprised violence turns him on. That’s the only language these men understand, after all.
Holding me by my braids, he shoves me back into the carriage. I fall onto all fours, scraping both my knees. The pristine, beautiful ivory suit I picked out for Phoenix’s inauguration ceremony is tarnished.
Not only that, I’m missing the official celebration of our win. One thing I’ve been fighting nail and teeth for.
The carriage door shuts behind me. An overwhelming wave of tiredness takes over me, making each of my limbs too heavy to lift. I curl into a ball on the dirty floor, resigned.
I have no more fight left. Not after all this time.
I only realizeI fell asleep when I’m suddenly jerked awake as the carriage comes to a halt. The horse whinnies, and I hear voices outside.
Slowly, I push myself up and blink the last dregs of sleep away from my eyes. Through the tiny window, no sunrays come through. Behind the glass is pitch-black darkness. How long have we been traveling?
With a sigh, I sit down on the cushioned bench and press my face close to the window. I can see nothing.
The carriage doesn’t move, and the voices are gone. I sit alone, with my heart pounding heavily in my chest. My throat is itchy. A fresh glass of water would be delightful right about now.
Carefully, I glance at the door. What are the chances of them leaving it unlocked? Better question—do I dare to check?
The spirits of the gods make the decision for me.
The door swings open, and the younger Caligos appears, a copper bowl in hand. Giving me a sneer, he tosses it onto the floor. The stale piece of rye bread and the hard cheese with molded corners end up on the floor where I just slept.
I look up from the food at him. Not an ounce of kindness can be found in his vast-as-sky eyes. He tosses me a small flask and then slams the door shut. A moment later, the carriage is on the move.
With trembling fingers, I unscrew the metal flask.Water.I hesitate to bring it to my lips, even if I’m desperate to quench my thirst. What if it’s poisoned?
No, it can’t be.If they wanted me dead, I’d be dead already.
I drink the water so quick my stomach hurts afterward. It’s barely enough to satisfy me, but it’s better than nothing.
