Page 89 of A Lie so Pretty and Poisonous

The only god that would have the ability to answer was Themis. I suspected he wouldn’t be in a forgiving mood to answer the prayers of daemonite seraphs who were trying to destroy the source of his power and a human who was actively against the way he imparted his power.

I woke to the sound of my name. My eyes fluttered open, and my vision blurred at my surroundings, taking me a moment to realize where I was in the state of my delirium. My energy had dwindled to nothing. Two more days passed, and I had only been able to drink my water and eat a little bread. My pants and tunic sagged a little around my body.

“Rory.” Lapis-blue eyes shifted into focus, staring at me between iron bars. A look of mocking pity locked onto his face as he stood with his arms crossed in front of him.

I jumped up and didn’t stop moving backward until my body hit the stone wall. “Gabriel.”

“Oh, my darling. You look a fright. I am not here to hurt you. I just wanted to check on your well-being,” he said with his sickly-sweet noble tone.

I scoffed. “My well-being? Do I look well?”

His eyes twinkled as he raked them up and down my dirty and frail body. “The weight loss suits you.”

“Asshole,” I growled out.

A dark chuckle rumbled from him, and he shook his head. “That mouth of yours. I can’t wait to put it to better use.”

I would have vomited if I had anything in my stomach to bring up. The thought of him touching me made me wince.

Gabriel smirked. “I wonder, are you ready to be more of a lady and stop living in hunger and squalor? A bath, food, and a comfortable bed await you in our rooms. Just tell me you’re ready to behave.”

“OUR rooms?” I asked indignantly.

“Yes. You are mine, so you will be in my bed,” he shrugged. “I’ll even wash your hair for you during a nice, long, warm bath together. I am a gentleman and nothing if not doting when I get what I want. Tell me, are you ready to let me show you how good you could have it?”

I blinked. I honestly thought I would be left here to rot, but I still couldn’t bring myself to give in to him. Once men let their pretty words fade and chivalrous acts drop, women were often left with little choice but to drink the poison they had been presented. It was the only way to quench their thirst in the pursuit of survival, being denied access to the tools to build their own wells. But I would not concede to him and drown in what he was offering me.

“See, the hesitation makes me think you aren’t quite ready. Not hungry enough. Not filthy enough. Not tired enough. Your stubbornness is stronger than I anticipated, though it's to your own detriment. It would be easier for both of us if I didn’t have to compel you.”

My fists clenched, and the fire within me that I thought had extinguished sparked. “Yes, I would hate to make your life difficult with how easy you have made mine.” My nostrils flared. “Go fuck yourself, Gabriel…because you certainly won’t be fucking me.”

Gabriel’s face dropped, and he turned and walked away. “I’ll be back in a few days, Aurora. You need some more time to think,” he called over his shoulder.

The guards turned and saluted him as he strode by, but he stopped before exiting and turned to the guards at attention.

“Punish her. Use hands only. Don’t touch her face,” Gabriel directed firmly.

I silently gasped. I feared my body might not be able to handle a beating, given how weak I was.

One of the guards spoke. “Commander, the Captain said not to touch her.”

“Did he?” Gabriel sneered. “Well, I outrank the Captain, and you will heed my command!”

“Yes, Commander,” they said in unison.

The metal door slammed with a clang that echoed off the damp walls. Both guards stalked toward my cell. I frantically looked around for something, anything, I could use to defend myself, but in my weakened state, I doubted even a dagger would help me. There was nothing but hay, a molded blanket, and a bucket to relieve myself in.

The jingle of keys and the click of the lock to my cell made my breathing heavy and my heart race. The first guard stepped through the door and grabbed me by my wrists, pulling me off the wall, spinning me around, and putting my back to his chest.

I pleaded, “Please. Please don’t do this!”

I barely got the last word out when the second guard punched me in the ribs. The air rushed out of my lungs, and I cried out in pain, going as limp as I could in the guard’s hold. A searing pain spread through my side, and I knew immediately my ribs had broken. I tried to thrash, but between the pain and my weakened state, it was a pathetic attempt.

“Hold still, you human bitch!”

“Oof!” I gasped out as the next blow hit directly into my abdomen. My empty stomach lurched, feeling the need to heave, but with the emptiness of it, nothing came up.

Before the next hit could land, a clank of chains slammed against the metal bars of a cell, diverting their attention. “Hey! Leave her be! Real tough men beating up a woman with no way to defend herself. I thought the castle guards had more honor than the angheals. I see you’re all lapdogs to the crown and traitorous pieces of shit!” Greyshing yelled.