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AMIRA
Radax studied my face as we exited the room, leaving the beast alone.
“Is Madame hurting you more than I know?” he asked grimly. “Is that why you want to leave?”
I buried my chin in the folds of my scarf, hiding the cut from Madame’s belt. He didn’t need the visual reminder of her lashing out. I adjusted the scarf, using my right hand as Yenric was tucked under my left arm.
“What’s this?” Radax’s frown deepened. He spotted the bruise blooming over my knuckles and grabbed my wrist. “Did she do this, too?”
It’d been over a week since Madame had hit me with the brush. My hand didn’t hurt nearly as bad anymore, but the bruise looked more colorful than ever, with yellow shades added to the blue.
“I’m fine.” I tried to take my hand away from him.
We came to the room with the animal enclosures, and Radax let go of my hand long enough for me to place Yenric back in his little space with a comfy pile of felt to snuggle in.
Radax’s expression remained stormy as we exited the room.
I touched his arm. “It’s okay. Honestly—”
“Radax.” Madame sauntered down the hallway between the canvas walls. “You’re coming with me tonight.”
Bracksviewed the night spent with Madame as the highest reward possible. Any one of them would jump with joy at her invitation. But Radax’s frown didn’t ease. It grew deeper as she approached.
I drew my head into my shoulders and searched for the best way to disappear, but Radax grabbed my wrist again.
He faced Madame. “You hurt her.”
Dread rushed through me, making my head spin. A brack could never stand up to Madame. Yet this was exactly what Radax was doing. The resentment in his voice was unmistakable.
Madame tilted her head, resting her hands on her voluptuous hips. “What was that, my pet?”
He held her stare. “You can do anything you wish to me. But stop hurting Amira.”
“Radax…” I whispered, hoping he’d come to his senses before she destroyed us both.
“Huh!” She stared at him in genuine disbelief. “You dare tell me what to do, slave?”
Her eyes narrowed. Cold, cruel sparks flashed in them, sending a chill down my spine.
“I took her in as an act of charity.” She curled her lips, as if the word disgusted her. “And I can do whatever I want with her. Her life belongs to me, just like yours does.”
She grabbed the back of my neck, long fingernails digging into my skin through the fabric of my scarf.
I whimpered in horror.
“No!” Radax moved on her, murder in his eyes.
She raised her hand, and the tattoo around his neck and the right arm burst to life. Red sparks ran along the black lines. She’d done this before. The tattoo was burning his skin and squeezing his neck under her command.
“Please… Please don’t hurt him,” I sobbed, but she paid no attention to me.
Madame glared at Radax.
“You are my slave,” she seethed, pronouncing every word slowly, as if laying a curse on him.
He raised his chin.
“I am, but Amiraisn’t.” The words sounded strangled leaving his throat, compressed by the magical tattoo tightening like a noose around his neck.
Other bracks started gathering around us, never ones to miss free entertainment. They had no compassion, not even for one of their own. No one really cared about the others in this cursed place.
“Both of you!” Madame bellowed, tightening her grip on my neck. “Both of you belong to me!” She flicked her wrist, and Radax lurched closer, manipulated by his tattoo like a marionette on a string. “One day, this entire world will be mine, too,” she hissed in his face. “All humans will be my servants, Radax. And no one can stop me.”
He could no longer reply. The tattoo around his neck choked him. Veins bulged in his forehead as he gasped for air. My heart tore to pieces at the sight of him, yet I couldn't look away.
“I’ll have to teach you a lesson. You both need one.” Madame shoved me toward the bracks. “I want them both whipped,” she ordered.
Bracksgrabbed my arms. I didn’t struggle against their hold. I knew better. Any of them could snap my neck between their fingers. I couldn’t fight them.
I could only plead.
“Please…” I begged. “Let Radax go. He did nothing. It was me…”
Madame scoffed. “He found you and brought you here, didn’t he? That was a big mistake on his part.”
“I’ll leave!” I screamed as tears ran down my face. “I’ll go away. You’ll never see me again. Just please don’t punish him.”
“Oh no, you’re not going anywhere, you little runt. Your life is mine. Tie them both.” She gestured at the nearest support pole inside the tent.
Directing with her hand, she forced Radax next to the pole. The bracks dragged me to the other side of it.
“Take those dreadful clothes off her,” Madame smirked. “I want her to feel every lash.”
They stripped me naked. They ripped off my scarf, my hoodie, the long baggy t-shirt I had underneath. Layer by layer, they peeled away the little dignity I had left, baring me for the scourging.
I screamed. I cried. And now, I fought them, even though I knew it was useless. I clawed at their hands as they ripped off my bra and underwear. I drew blood, which earned me a punch in the face.
They yanked my hands above my head and tied them to the pole, positioning me to face Radax with the pole between us. I felt the heat of his body. He was so tall, the top of my head barely reached his chest.
The whip hissed through the air. Radax jerked, taking the first lash. The pole shook. I sobbed.
“I’m so sorry.” The film of tears obscured the view of him in front of me. “I’m so sorry…”
I didn’t want to exist. I wished to vanish into the shadows, dissolve into the night… Disappear. Then none of this would be happening. And Radax wouldn’t suffer because of me.
With a hiss, the whip landed on my bare back. I screamed in searing pain.
