I had to be a virgin to make the wishes.
Terym’s lips crooked into a wicked smirk. “Won’t I?”
He knew something I didn’t; there’s no way he would risk access to Shade’s wishes soIcould carry his heir. He could have any other woman.
My stomach roiled with the thought of being married to him. Of him touching me the way a man touched his wife. I doubled over as the next wave of nausea took me with visceral force.
I had submitted to him from the moment he asked—no, forced me to break the curse. But this … I wouldn’t give him this.
I managed to straighten, my vision blurring with unshed tears.
“No.”
My voice was quiet, but there was no mistaking the denial, the word hanging suspended in the air between us. All warmth in Terym’s blue eyes drained away, revealing something deep and dark, something he had kept hidden before this moment.
His true nature.
“No?” He seethed in a cool and deadly calm, slowly rising from the lounge.
I didn’t move; I couldn’t. Panic dug sharp claws into my soul, holding me frozen as malicious intent approached. Darkness filled the corners of my vision, my breathing nonexistent.
My head snapped to the side, and it took a moment to register the sharp sting blooming across my cheek. He moved so fast I hadn’t seen the hit coming, the shock of it dispelling the panic attack I’d been so close to succumbing to.
I stared at the king wide-eyed, my hand flying to my throbbing cheek. There was no remorse in the ice-blue eyes staring back at me.
A fist flew next, the force of it sending me to the soft white rug covering the ground. Spots danced in my vision at the impact, a result of pain, not panic. The king towered over me, a psychotic grin tugging at his lips as he looked down on me.
“I’m going to marry you.”
No.
Gripping my shirt, he wrenched me up until his face was level with mine, and spittle sprayed as he hissed vicious words. “I’m going to fuck your little virgin cunt.”
No.
“You’ll take my seed and give me an heir.” Another fist to my face sent me flying again. This time, a loud crack echoed when my skull hit the stone floor. The room spun, making it seem like several Teryms surrounded me.
He could hurt me, but I wouldn’t yield. Not to this. Not when the niggling in my chest, the one that always arose when faced with the chance to give myself to someone, sparked vigorously, screaming at me to refuse.
“No,” I croaked out, trying to blink the room back into focus. Four Teryms became one, and the snarling grin settling over his face sent icy fear flooding my veins.
“You will, or I will do worse to your sister.”
Then he struck me again.
Chapter 18
Everything was a blur of pounding fists and booted kicks. I didn’t have a chance to even attempt to flee before Terym’s weight settled over me. He straddled my waist, his weight suffocating as fists assaulted me.
My ribs. My stomach.My face.
I struggled underneath him, kicking my legs uselessly. The lamp in my pocket thudded against the floor. His body pressed down on me, restricting my movements.
Agony coursed through my body in never-ending waves. I raised my arms in an attempt to block the blows, but it did little against the strength of the man above me.
I didn’t make a sound, couldn’t breathe enough through the pain to release the screams stuck in my throat.
Still, the king pummeled me. Had it been minutes? Hours?
