Rhydian’s eyes flash. “Watch your tone.”
I step closer. “He is your little brother, and he needs you. Stop being a coward and help him!”
The world tilts and spins. Holy crap, I’m over his lap. He is a fast bastard. Pain burns through me, sudden and sharp. Did he just smack my ass? What the hell is happening?
Another blast of pain ricochets through me. Ow! What the fuck. I can’t get away, his grip on me is like steel. I’m helpless and trapped.
He hits me again. The sound of it echoes around the room. My ass feels like it is on fire. The pain is incredible. I don’t think he is holding back, but what the heck do I know? Nobody has ever hit me before.
Another whack. Now my eyes are watering. Each hitis worse than the last. Agony is already blooming and throbbing, and each strike builds on the last. The thin silk of my robes is no protection at all.
He hits me again and my vision whites out. I think I’m screaming. What if he never stops? What if this pain just gets worse and worse until I eventually die? What if he breaks every bone in my body? While he laughs and laughs? He is strong enough to do it and there is not a thing I can do to stop him. I’m entirely at his mercy and I’m not sure he has any.
More pain explodes. It is too much. I can’t cope with this. I have never, ever been so scared in my life. Violence is terrifying. It is overwhelming and all-consuming. I’m breathing it in and it is devouring all my senses. There is nothing but fear and pain and the bitter, acrid taste of his anger. It will never, ever end.
“Jamie!” Someone is shaking me.
I open my eyes, but everything is all blurry through my tears. My face is sticky, hot, and swollen. My nose is full of snot and my throat is sore. My ass is on fire. But I’m lying on my back on the bed. Rhydian’s hands are on my shoulders. He is frowning, but there is concern in his eyes.
When did he stop beating me? When did he move me? I don’t recall a thing.
“Jamie?” he says again.
He never calls me that. I draw in a huge shuddery breath that turns into a hiccup.
“It’s over. Calm down.”
I nod my understanding and burst into more tears. His grip on my shoulders relaxes.
“Has no one ever spanked you before?”
I shake my head and roll away from him to curl into a tight ball. My shoulders are heaving with my sobs. He moves and I flinch. I sense him freeze above me. What is he going to do now?
“There is no need to get hysterical about it,” he says gruffly.
But he makes no move to start hurting me again. Maybe he is telling the truth. Maybe it really is over.
“Would you like some water? Food? Ointment?”
I shake my head and curl up tighter. I just want him to go away. I want to feel safe again and like the world makes sense.
“What would make you feel better?” he says softly. So softly that I only just hear him.
I sniff and try to hold in my sobs long enough so I can speak. “I want my mum.”
Soft footsteps. The door closes. I am alone. At least I got one of my wishes. The other one is so franklyridiculous I can’t believe I voiced it out loud. No wonder Rhydian walked away.
It is dark and quiet now. Nothing to see apart from the soft glow of London’s street lights seeping around the heavy curtains. My heart is still racing and my ugly sobs are the only sound.
The door opens, spilling light into the room. I cower and close my eyes. Soft footsteps approach the bed and then retreat. The door shuts again. Cautiously, I open one eye.
There is an unlocked phone on the pillow next to me. Its screen is glowing brightly in the dark.
Rhydian is letting me phone my mum.
Chapter eleven
Iwake up slowly. Sunlight is escaping around the shut curtains. That’s strange. Every day I have been here, I’ve been woken up by servants flinging them open and blinding me.
