Before I can take my next breath, I hear a whoosh and a scream as he whips her across her back. I charge at him and two guards, I didn't realize were nearby, grab me from behind. He raises his hand and this time the sharp sound of the whip is mixed with grunts from his men as I struggle against them. They kick my knees and I land with a solid crack against the floor.
He raises his hand again and comes down hard, her back already a bloody mess. She's crying and it will be a sound I hear for the rest of my life. This is all because of me, because I fell in love with her.
“Stop! I'll do anything,” I beg my father.
He raises his hand and stops, turning on his heels.
“Anything?” He runs his hand along his wide jaw, pretending to contemplate. He's known about us for a while, I can’t believe I didn’t realize it sooner, and now he wants something. He wants something I won't want to give him.
“Yes, anything. Please, just don't hurt her.” I know it makes me sound weak to him, but what else am I supposed to do? Making a deal with him is all I have left, he likes deals.
“It's time you go fetch your soon-to-be wife.”
“It's not time yet. We aren't supposed to wed until the summer after next.”
He punches me, more blood spewing from the gash across my face and my mouth. “It's time now ... and you aren't going to wed there. You'll bring her here and be blessed by our god, not their goddess.” He spits on the floor beside him at the mention of her. “You'll bring her here, it has to be done here. No other ruler has ever been wed anywhere else.”
Anara catches my attention, she's trying to push herself up. But her arms give out and she falls down again. I nod my head toward her, afraid to ask, “And what about her?”
“Bring the Princess here, intact and preferably in love with you, and I'll make sure your whore is safe when you return, she's yours to do with as you please. Keep her, kill her, fuck her. Have them both, but if you mess up or take too long ... well ...” He grabs, and adjusts himself through his pants, “Maybe I'll see why her pussy turned you weak.”
I nod my head and he gestures for the guards to let me go. I push myself up and start toward her, my own pain not even registering as I push past him, grabbing a sheet from the bed. I kneel, wrapping it around Anara as she curls in around my feet, shaking and crying. I’ll clean, and tend to her wounds and we will leave this place, I don’t care how far we have to run. We will leave tomorrow after I can get her bandaged up. She’ll need to sleep, and I’ll need time to gather supplies.
“Oh and Ereon” – he stands tall, his dark hair blending with the shadows – “you leave in the morning.”
Present
“They've lit a fire. This is as good as it's going to get,” Thylas' words register as I remember the plan. Staying lost in the past is a fool's game. I can't change what already happened, but I can change what's happening here.
I wrap my hands with a leather strap and grab the handles of my swords. If it starts to rain again, I want to ensure I have a good grasp on the swords. I nod toward him, as we simultaneously pull up our hoods, at the exact moment a gut-wrenching scream comes from the trees. Forgetting all our plans, we run into the darkness.
thirty-three
CARNAXA
The pounding in my head is the first thing I register as I bat my lashes lazily. My vision is hazy and I feel water sliding down my chin before it drips onto my chest. I pull my hands to wipe it away when I notice I can't feel my hands at all.
Everything floods back to me. The men. The clearing. The beating. I pull my arms, but they are numb, just like my fingers, from being above my head for so long. I notice the rag that gagged me is now gone and I lick my dry lips. I try to controlmy breathing as I do my best to stay silent. I see the three men sitting on stones in front of me, their fire is barely illuminating me. The sun has set and now, any hope I had of being found feels like a distant dream. Maybe if I stay here, silent, they'll think I'm dead and be on their way. They could leave now and go wherever they want, abandoning me for someone else to find. They could just go ... but as Lonny turns to look at me, a sadistic grin takes over his face.
“Looks like our princess is awake,” he laughs, pushing off his knees to stand. He claps Neol on the shoulder as he too, turns in my direction. Calen, who I’m assuming is the trio’s leader, doesn't move from the fire.
“If you touch me,” my voice is rough, but I push through the burn, “not only will the Kingdom of Antalis forever be looking for you, but the Kingdom of Shaston as well. Do you really think Prince Ereon would allow this to happen without consequence?”
Lonny pulls up his pants, the underside of his stomach still showing beneath the hem of his too-short shirt. “Oh from what I've heard, Shaston men don't care much for women. No matter how nice they look.” He spits at the ground before he reaches up above me and my arms drop to the dirt. Neol grabs them with his burly hands and I scream. I scream as loud as I can, ignoring the searing pain in my throat. I scream as if I can call out toMohashamyself. I kick my legs, I kick toward anything within reach. I twist, I turn. I do everything I know to do, and the pain in my arms starts to become more noticeable as feeling starts to return. I hear my once yellow skirt rip, and a sharp kick to my own ribs takes my breath away.
My hands are free from their grasp again, Neol must have let them go. I roll over to the side and pull my legs up to my chest trying to hide from the impact of another boot connecting with my back. I hide my head between my elbows, trying to protect what I can. One of the men grabs my ankles, pulling me to myback. I hear my skirt rip more and I feel rough hands sliding along my calves. "Look here, fellas. Our little princess thinks she can put up a fight.”
I throw my hands around hoping to hit anything, but they secure them back above my head. Neol grabs my ankles, pulling them slightly apart. And it's at this moment that I make a promise to the Goddess. If I should ever find my way out of this, I will never be this helpless again.
“If you like your hands, I would suggest you take them offmyprincess,” a voice, I'm not expecting, breaks through the thumping pulse in my ears. The men stop and turn as Ereon emerges, the flames’ flickering light casts shadows all around him. One of his curved blades in each of his wrapped hands. His face is hidden mostly behind a black mask and hood. He looks intimidating and my heart quickens at his presence.
“And who might you be?” Calen stands up, cocking his head to the side and smiling at Ereon. “We don't mind sharing.” He flicks his hand and Neol turns his back to the trees, releasing my ankles and inching towards Lonny still near my head.
Lonny leans down, keeping his eyes on Ereon, and grabs at the top of my breasts with a free hand, ripping the fabric as he does, but before he can tear it fully, blood splatters on my face. He releases my top and grabs his neck as he gargles.
Looking behind him, I notice emerald eyes, the ones that have always promised to be my safety. Thylas kicks Lonny to the ground and points the tip of his shining blade against Neol’s throat. Neol's eyes flick back and forth between Calen and Thylas, sending a silent plea to his comrade for support. And all is still. The whole world seems to fall into a hush.
Then everyone moves at the same moment. Thylas looks down at me for just a moment, a subtle nod to get up and move closer to him. But it's then that Neol sees his opportunity to attack. He knocks the sword aimed at his jugular to the side and lunges atThylas, taking him to the ground hard. I scramble to find my footing. And I run, for the first time in my life, not away from danger, but to it.
