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Maybe there was excitement in the beginning as the kingdom got caught up in Cinder and Prince Charming’s fictional love story, but it’s long gone now. Charming now spends his days traveling as he works through the kingdom’s needs, while my step-sister enjoys moving her pawns on a chessboard.
I refuse to be the Godsdamned pawn.
“Fiddlesticks!” Cinder rawrs. She refuses to curse, but still manages to show you exactly how she feels. “Anastasia had her fun, enjoyed the dances and the men falling over themselves. She’s happily married now. Why must you be so difficult?”
“Her husband isn't a geriatric!” I exclaim. “I don’t want to have a state mandated wedding, I love this kingdom, Cinder.”
Her lips compress at my slip into more familiar terms. I suck at being part of the royal circles when I’m pissed off. Typically I can keep my eyes averted, and address whoever I’m speaking to properly.
Cinder gets under my damn skin.
“Just think,” I continue. “Imagine if you met Prince Charming and he lived in a far flung kingdom. Wouldn’t you hesitate for just a bit?”
The Queen stares at me dispassionately for a moment before striding toward me, pulling my head back by my hair. Gasping, I wait for her to strike me. She’s always enjoyed hitting me across the face with her rings. Cinder isn’t the poor, meek servant the kingdom created in the media.
This woman is a bully in private. You’d never know it, based on how agreeable she was when we were growing up. Cinder agreed to everything my mother said, and has even cleaned the fireplaces more times than I could ever count. However, Cinder has also pushed me down the stairs, pinched me under the table, and has tormented me for being claustrophobic.
Pulling my hair is child’s play.
“Listen to me, Drizella,” she growls. “I promised the old man that you would marry him. He needs a warm place to bury his tiny penis before he dies, and I know you’re still a virgin. Prince Hubert enjoys deflowering young women, because you’re the only ones who can feel it.”
I gag at that information. “Never,” I hiss. “Don’t promise my virgin pussy to someone when that’s not your decision to make. I hope you choke on your lie, because I will never agree to that. I would rather die than be made to be someone’s whore.”
Cinder releases a heavy sigh. “Your language needs some work, Drizella. Not everyone sounds as if they live by the train tracks.”
My nose wrinkles at this slight. While it’s true that our cities tend to have more affordable housing on the left side of the tracks, the fact that she said this to me is ridiculous.
Still holding my hair, she tightens her fist, and I wince at the biting pain. “This is your last chance, darling girl. Change your mind and bend to my will, or spend the rest of your pathetic life wishing you had.”
“No,” I growl, steeling myself for the inevitable pain.
Gasping,I wake up before she slaps me for my impertinence, the tears still streaming down my cheeks. A touch along my back and thighs in the dark room makes me begin to inhale to scream, still trying to shake off the nightmare of a memory.
“Shh, it’s just me, Pet,” Sidney murmurs, picking me up into his arms. The scent of plants and dirt flows over me, and I relax into his arms. Was he outside today? “I’m sorry we took forever tonight. What did you dream about?”
“Cinder,” I rasp, snuggling my head against his broad chest. He grunts at my answer, kissing my forehead.
“What happened?” Andrya asks softly at the door.
“A nightmare. I want to sleep with her tonight, but you’re welcome to join. Grab your stuff and come to my room.”
“Ugh, a sleepover without me is just rude,” Ayden mutters. His lips ghost over my forehead as Sidney passes by. “Sleep well, Kitten.”
Sighing, my eyes shut for a bit as Sidney walks to his room.
“I need a shower, Pet. Andrya is going to cuddle until I come back. Talk to her, okay?” he asks as he lays me in his bed.
Andrya drops her things in a chair, crawling into bed with me as Sidney disappears into the bathroom.
“He had to visit the greenhouse before bed,” she chuckles, pulling off her top and pants.
“Without me?” I pout jokingly as my arms open for her to rest her head on my chest. I’m becoming more and more comfortable around her.
As she settles next to me, I can see her smiling at my antics. “FRC is extending what we grow in the greenhouse, so we’ll need more people working there in shifts to help,” she explains.
I wonder why, and then shrug. If I need to know, they’ll tell me. It’s smart to grow more food stores if we can, especially since Cinder is so capricious with her generosity.
“Want to help? We’re in the middle of pulling files of everyone that has gardening or farm experience. However, it’s an excuse to see the sun, and you’re a quick study,” Andrya adds.
