For a long moment, it was as if time stood still. Until the queen turned to me, looked me in the eye… and snapped again.
The guards came for me this time, like wolves going in for the kill. Though I was bound and gagged, I squirmed from my chair and wriggled desperately across the floor. I tried to keep my throat and neck shielded, for they seemed fond of slitting throats and I would not allow them to have easy access to mine.
I screamed against my rope gag and kicked them hard. I felt my feet connect with a stomach, a jaw, perhaps even a groin, and they fell back.
For a moment, I was left alone on the floor, while they regrouped.
“Of course, she’d be a fighter,” said the queen, exasperated and impatient. She downed her wine and rose from the table. “Find me when it’s finished, but do it right this time. If anyone finds her body, I will make sure they find yours next.”
With that, she turned, leaving me alone with the guards. I screamed with all my might, but it came out as little more than a mumble through the gag, and I was met with a punch that sent my ears to ringing and silenced my cries.
The guard that had hit me placed his foot on my chest and glared down at me, placing a finger to his lips, shushing me.
I stared up at him with my chest heaving, trying desperately to catch my breath, confused about why he wasn’t finishing the job. Though I could not grasp the full scale of what was going on with the queen and her plans for me, it was clear that the guard wanted to give the impression, at least, that he had done away with me as the queen had asked, and the realization dawned slowly: he was an ally.
Had Bors sent him, somehow, to rescue me? Or was he loyal to King Rowan and ready to save my life? The punch he’d delivered had been hard, but then it would have to be if he was trying to make out that I was dead.
“It’s over,” he said over his shoulder. “Must have caught her just right.”
There was a moment of hesitation. “We’ll take the body to the south entrance, dump her in the sea.”
“I’ll do it. You get back to the watch. Last thing we need is anyone starting to ask where we are. Besides, her body is still warm...”
My stomach clenched, wondering if his intent was really to use my body before he did away with me.
“But, the queen said—”
“Do you really think I’m going to make a mistake with this? Queen Beatrice would have my head. No, leave it with me. Trust me, nobody will find the body when I’m done. I’ve never had a princess before but you need to go. I won’t have you here to watch.” He growled at the smaller, more tentative guard and I held my breath.
I tried to keep still as the moments passed, then heard the door shut, and the guard helped me to my feet, guiding me to the very chair where the queen had been sitting.
“Thank you,” I said as he unfastened my gag, my hands trembling as I searched his face for any sign of who he might be. I was barely able to trust that he wasn’t trying to poison me as he poured me a glass of water, then a goblet of wine, removed my bindings and motioned for me to drink.
“You must be thirsty,” he said, and I was sure I detected a kindness in his words.
But as I drank, he caressed my hair, then my cheek, and my collarbone, in such a way that I knew exactly what he wanted. There could be no mistake.
I’ve never had a princess before.
What the hell was it with the soldiers and guards that gave them license to take a woman against her will? I’ve had enough of this shit.
“I’ve always wondered what’s so special about royal women,” he said. There was something unnerving about the way he spoke, the hush of his voice, the feel of his touch on my skin. “I’ve always had a theory that royal pussy is especially tight.” He twirled my hair around his finger as I turned my face away. “I suppose you wouldn’t know. So I’ll have to investigate for myself. I’ve always wanted to fuck a royal…”
“Please,” I begged, searching for anything nearby that I could use to defend myself. I used the begging as a distraction.
“Cooperate with me, behave like a good little bitch, and I’ll kill you quick when it’s over.” Now he slid his dirty hand down my chest, toward the hollow between my breasts. “But fight me, and I promise that you’ll die in agony.”