I felt a spark of triumph, but once Castor and I were alone in his quarters, the feeling quickly withered in my stomach. Suddenly, all my flirtation felt foolish. Dangerous even.
Though Castor’s chamber was enormous, the clutter made it feel stifling. Weapons, dirty clothes, broken sandals, and empty wine jugs lay strewn around the space.The prince seemed unfazed by his own filth as he picked his way across the littered floor to lean against the foot of the bed, his arms braced along the frame.
He stared at me with hungry eyes. It reminded me of the way Icarius had stared at me that night, so many moons ago. Though I was less oblivious to the root of Castor’s hunger now, I still did not fully understand what lurked beyond it. I had never dared venture that far.
I forced myself to hold Castor’s gaze. He was handsome, admittedly. Golden curls, bronzed skin, a strong, masculine jaw. But his beauty reminded me of the myth of Narcissus, the kind that reeked of self-adoration.
“Take off your tunic,” he commanded.
Fear curled in my stomach. But then I thought of the women’s sleeping quarters, of that lonely patch of floor where I lay awake each night and the endless, echoing grief that awaited me there.
I knew, in that moment, I would do anything to avoid it.
Swallowing, I grabbed the hem of my tunic and pulled it over my head. My hands were shaking—with adrenaline or fear, I was not sure. I prayed Castor did not notice.
The cool night air kissed my bare skin, and I watched the prince’s eyes trace down my body, slow and starved. Nervous anticipation hummed inside me, and I welcomed the feeling. It had been so long since I had felt anything other than anger or grief.
Castor ran his tongue over his teeth.
“Has my brother had you yet?”
I didn’t know what to say to that, but Castor seemed to take my silence as answer enough.
“They say Polydeuces fucks like he boxes. All power, no skill.”
He pulled off his own tunic then, throwing it in a tangled heap alongside the rest of his discarded clothes. Like most Spartans, the princes exercised naked, so I was hardly unfamiliar with Castor’s body. Yet something felt different about seeing him like this, in private, with my own clothes forgotten at my feet.
“Come here,” he instructed.
I swallowed the dry lump in my throat and stepped forward. Castor grabbed my shoulders, pulling me closer. His hands roamed freely across my body, and my muscles tensed in the wake of his touch.
He moved behind me then, and I felt his fingers skimming my scars in silent question.
“I knew you were a rebellious one,” he chuckled. “I could see it in your eyes.”
Then his hand flattened against my back, pushing me down onto the bed. A memory seized me, one that always lurked at the edges of my mind, pacing just beyond my thoughts. My breathing grew shallow as I felt the rough table beneath me, the guards slamming my head down, holding my wrists, the crack of the whip slicing open my flesh, Penelope watching me with wide eyes…
No, no, no.
I forced the memories away, biting my lip hard enough to ground myself back in the moment. I focused on my surroundings—the soft fur against my skin, the feel of Castor’s large hands on my bare hips, the smell of stale wine in the hazy air.
I could not see what Castor was doing behind me, but I heard the rough whisper of skin against skin and then the sound of him spitting. I had the sudden realization that I did not want to be there. I did not want to be there at all.
I wanted to get away.
I wanted my mother.
Without warning, Castor kicked my legs apart, spreading me out before him. I winced, biting down harder on my lip.
Be brave, my mother whispered to me as I felt Castor’s warm thighs press against my own. A moment later, a sharp pain jolted deep in my core, carving through me. I stifled a yelp, tears stinging my eyes. The fur pelts brushed against my face like a soothing caress as Castor thrust into me, once…twice…
On the third drive, a strangled whimper erupted from his throat.
It was the most pathetic sound I had ever heard.
“Fuck,” he gasped.
I felt him slide out of me, and I remained motionless on the bed, unsure what was happening.
