Renwell had struck me plenty of times before in training. But to let him felt wrong. Just as it had with my father.
His gloved hands flexed, and his eyes glittered with something like a challenge. This wouldn’t be the first time he’d tested my resolve.
Drawing my chin up, I walked to the chair and sank down upon it as if it were a throne. “Try not to break anything.”
I focused on Mother’s sweet face, her gentle laugh, as Renwell reared back and slammed his fist into my jaw.
Grunting in pain, I clawed my nails into the arms of the chair to keep from fighting back.
He jabbed me a few times in the ribs, making me double over, gasping for air. He slammed my shoulders back against the chair. An animalistic snarl twisted his face as he gripped my shirt sleeve and tore it.
I gaped at him, but he wasn’t done. His gloved fingers dug under my collar and split the seams to my shoulder. He ripped the belt from my waist and lashed my uninjured cheek with it. My hand flew to my face and came away wet with blood.
Finally, he stepped back, breathing hard. He tossed the belt atop a pile of dirty clothes in the corner.
I sat there, desperately fighting against the sting of tears, while he looked over his work.
“Final touch,” he murmured, fetching a pair of chained manacles. He latched the cold, scratched metal around my wrists.
Panic nibbled at the back of my mind like a rat, but I deadened my mind to it.
This is who you are now. Believe it, and the prisoner will too.
Renwell whistled sharply, and the jailer barreled into the room. Renwell tossed him my chains. “Do you have a chain key?”
“Aye, sir.” I watched carefully as the jailer produced a small iron key before tucking it back in his left pants pocket.
“Take this one to the cell at the end,” Renwell commanded. Then he gave me a smirk that sent a shiver down my spine. “And no need to be gentle with her.”
The jailer grinned. “As you wish, sir. Come on, you wretch.” He yanked me forward. As I stumbled past him, he kicked me in the back.
I went sprawling to the dirt floor, barely catching myself with my manacled hands. Rage flooded my veins.Thisman I could fight back. I rolled over and kicked the leering jailer in the groin.
He bellowed curses and dropped to his knees. Snarling, I struggled to my feet. I paid little mind to Renwell watching me with a small smile. Instead, I swung my fists at the jailer’s head, but he jerked my chains downward at the last moment. I used my momentum to ram my shoulder into his gut. He grunted, his sour pork breath filling my nostrils.
I could snatch the key now, but it had to be where the prisoner could see me do it.
Renwell’s mocking voice filled the tunnel. “Is it really so difficult to deliver one chained, injured woman to her cell?”
The jailer seized my chains and flung me halfway down the tunnel. My battered body screamed in protest. Gods damn it, he was stronger than he looked. But I had to get close to him again.
He dragged me to the last cell and unlocked it. The door screeched on rusty hinges as he opened it and tried to throw me inside.
But I clung to him instead, my nails digging into his fleshy arm. “No! You can’t do this! I’ve done nothing wrong!”
“Get off me, bitch!” he roared.
While he tried to shake me loose, my fingers slipped into his pocket and fished out the little key. Gods, I hoped the prisoner was watching. My stomach twisted in anticipation.
The jailer grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked. Needles of fire stabbed my scalp, and I released him. Cursing profusely, he kicked me into the shadowy cell.
I rolled, using the opportunity to shove the key into my mouth.
Two large, rough hands gripped my arm and gently pulled me to the side. A hulking shadow stepped between me and the jailer.
The prisoner.
I froze, shock overpowering the pain pounding through my body.
