* * *
Sin left Max in the early morning, her steps feeling lighter. She owned every inch of him last night, feeling his surrender, his vulnerability, and his strength. It filled her with a sense of power, one that lingered as she walked through the castle halls. Smiling at the thought of what she could do next, she nearly tripped when she wondered if he would enjoy being penetrated. Perhaps by another while she watched.
Clearing her throat, she smoothed her apron before continuing towards the grand entryway. The heavy thud of her heartbeat echoed in her ears as she peered around the corner. Two males stood with the king, their eyes sliding over her with a predatory gleam. Their low voices mixed with the hum of the hall, and every chuckle sent a shiver down her spine. Panic set in, her palms growing clammy, desperately needing to know if they were talking about her.
Rushing back to the servants’ quarters, a large hand grips her arm, pulling her into an alcove.
Maurice’s eyes are wide with worry. “You need to get out of here. Now.” Desperation clear in his voice.
Sin peered around the corner, checking for listening ears as he continued.
“There are slavers here, girl. And rumors are spreading they’re here for you.”
Fear struck her veins, making it nearly impossible to breathe. She needed Max now.
As if he heard her, or sensed her fear in their bond, he appeared beside them in an instant, cupping her cheek. “What’s wrong?”
Maurice spoke what Sin couldn’t.
Pulling Sin into his chest. “No one-is taking you away from me.” he nearly shouted in the hall, and magic thrummed around them as they appeared in his chambers.
Grabbing a jar that looked ancient, sealed with black candle wax, Max threw it into the fire place. The glass shattered, and all sounds outside of his room were muted. “No sound can travel in or out of this room, neither can anyone else aside from me. You understand?”
Sin nodded, unable to form any words.
“I’m going to take care of this, and I’ll be right back. Don’t you dare leave this room.”
Her eyes, now blurring with tears, met his. “Don’t leave.”
His furious eyes softened, and he grabbed her face with both hands, pulling her close to him. “I have to do this to protect you. I’m certain that even if they wanted to buy you, my father wouldn’t allow it, knowing it benefits him none.”
Sin nodded, her bottom lip trembling as he kissed her.
I love you.
It wasn’t until after he disappeared that she realized his words were not spoken aloud.
* * *
Sin stayed in the room when he left, rocking back and forth on his bed with her knees pulled in close, her mind spiraling to all the possibilities of what could happen, what could be happening.
She wondered what he was doing, and if he would be okay, if he would make it back to her.
She didn’t realize how powerful the sound barrier was, because she couldn’t hear a single thing outside of the room, only her breathing and the roaring fire.
Abruptly, the fire went out, and she became paralyzed with fear.
As silently as she should, she slid off the bed, crawling under it.
Two sets of footsteps make their way inside the room, neither one belonged to Max.
There wasn’t a sound in the room as they shut the door behind them, trapping her.
Max
The people of the castle gave Prince Maximus a wide berth as he stormed through the halls. His heavy boots echoed off the stone floors, each step reverberating like a distant thunderclap, making others jump out of his path.
The prince had been told everything, yet somehow he wasn’t aware that slavers had been welcomed into the castle. Not that the King had ever bothered to make slavery illegal, but their presence had never been welcomed within the castle walls. Their aura was nothing but negative, trash as they were called.
