“If you don’t behave—” Cyrus continued with a harsh frown and a shake of his head. “You’ll force my hand. I don’t want to do that, Asteria. I want you with me. But I will not accept your insubordination. Do you understand?”
I could barely find my words, my rage was so intense. I forced a nod of consent. He yanked my hair back hard, and I let out a rough gasp as the pain tingled my scalp.
“Use your words.” He growled.
“I.Understand.” I spat the words at him. Cyrus wasn’t used to not getting exactly what he wanted, and I drove him insane because I wouldn’t bend to his wishes. Clearly, his fragile ego would never recover from such a terrible slight.
Which led me to the conclusion that if I wouldn’t fuck him, the greater punishment would be to make me fuck whoever I was told to, consent or no. I refused to let thateverbe my fate. Cyrus was exactly the monster he tried to pretend he wasn’t, todaywas proof of that—and I was resolved to find my way out of his domain immediately.
“Good.” Cyrus purred. “I hate when we argue so, my dear. Now, be a good girl for me while we’re here.” I was seething, and Cyrus could certainly tell. He’d been drawn to me for that anger after all. He just smiled, satisfied, like he’d won.
“This is her?” Saskia’s voice snapped me out of my tunnel vision, and I noticed she was looking down at Despoina with a raised brow and pursed lips. “She doesn’t look like much.”
“She was the king’s favorite. Today has been a hard day for her.” Cyrus chuckled. He dared to mock her, after all he put her through? “Let’s get her into shape, shall we?” He turned to his guards and then Saskia in turn, commanding each. “Bring her up to my room. Send Yasmine and Finnia up with her.”
“You’re the boss.” Saskia said, nodding her confirmation, then walked off to follow his instruction.
“Now, I hope you don’t get jealous, my dear.” Cyrus murmured, leaning down to speak in my ear as his arms came around me, holding me by the waist. “After all, a man has needs, and you’re proving quite the stubborn one.” Cyrus chuckled darkly. “But I do hope you like to watch.”
Fuck. He really was going to make me watch him break Despoina in. I struggled to swallow the bile rising in my throat.
This whole environment was too much. I was clearly much more naïve than I’d thought, but I was having a hard time processing everything that had happened tonight already. My eyes blew wide with shock as I watched all the debauchery taking place.
Cyrus grabbed my hand to pull me along. Up the staircase and down several halls, each filled with screams and moans. There were several open doors that left my mouth hanging open after one glimpse inside, before we made our way up another set of stairs to a door at the top landing.
Cyrus opened it and inside was a large suite. A fairly simple bedroom with a living area and a bathing room to the left. A balcony came off the living area and oversaw the city.
“Sit, Asteria.” Cyrus commanded as he pointed to a chair facing the bed.
I hesitated, and Cyrus glared pointedly. I dropped into the chair across the room begrudgingly.
“Good.” Cyrus smiled, instantly appeased.
A knock sounded at the door, and then two women were sweeping inside. One was blonde with shoulder length hair and a small, thin frame, and the other was a redhead with long, curly hair and voluptuous curves.
“My Prince,” the blonde purred as she sauntered over, “It’s been too long.”
She went up to Cyrus, but just before her hands made contact with his chest, he grabbed her hands and held them away from his body.
“I’m afraid we’re not here for me today, Yasmine.” The blonde’s eyebrows rose at the same time mine did. He’d insinuated I’d be watching him fuck tonight, so what game was he playing now?
“Did you really think I’d make you watch?” Cyrus asked, looking at me as he smiled. My mouth parted in surprise because—yes, yes I did. Cyrus shook his head. “I want Asteria here to see what happens when one disobeys. Despoina is your new pupil, she’ll be brought up momentarily. Asteria is to watch this first training session.”
“Of course, my Prince.” Yasmine sighed, seemingly disappointed.
The redhead, Finnia I assumed, slinked up, cooing. “Are you sure we can’t tempt you, my Prince?”
“All you ladies do is tempt.” Cyrus laughed, a silky thing that made Finnia shiver. Both of them giggled in delight while Iscrunched my nose as covertly as I could, unable to reign in my disgust and disbelief. “But I’m afraid not.” The apology in his tone was genuine, and I worked to stop myself from gagging.
Cyrus prowled towards the chair I sat in, picking me up from it, and then sat in it himself before placing me on his lap. I immediately tried to move away from him, but his hands locked me down, unable to move.
“Oh, no you don’t.” He murmured in my ear. “You’re going to sit right here and watch.”
I went preternaturally still, not wanting to raise his ire nor squirm on his lap.
He’d definitely like the squirming too much.
The door opened once more and Despoina walked in. My heart hurt for her. She didn’t deserve this. She’d done nothing wrong, and even if she had,no onedeserved this. To my surprise, she was holding herself more confidently than she was when I last laid eyes on her. I thought back to what Cyrus and the king had said and realized with shock that they’d both mentioned she’d done this sort of work before. I’d been too caught up in what was happening to truly process their words.
