Fourteen

EVE

Ow.

My throat hurt. My head hurt.

Blearily, I cracked my eyes open, raucous noise assaulting my ears. Aches and bruises from yesterday's abuse riddled my body.

From yesterday.

It all came back in a rush.

I was still at the pleasure house. Melek had strangled me unconscious, then had his way with me. I was only waking up now, and then they'd—

Wait.

That wasn't right. Someone had stopped him. We'd gotten into a carriage, and then? I remembered nothing.

Shyllon.

I bolted upright, regretting the actions immediately as my head pounded. Someone had wrapped me in a nest of silk sheets, in some kind of large, round lounge chair. I glanced around the room, seeing many couples in various stages of undress and … business.

My jaw dropped even as I blushed furiously.

"How are you feeling?"

I turned as Shyllon kneeled down beside me, nothing but concern in those dark eyes. My lips parted, but nothing came out. How could I even express my gratitude for what he had saved me from? I glanced down and winced at the ugly bruise on my throat.

"Is … is this your manor?" I asked dumbly.

I'd thought he was a guard when we first met. Yet he'd forked over all of his money to buy me for the evening.

Prince, someone had even said.

I went red again just thinking about it.

Correctly interpreting where my mind was going, he drew back from me, fingers barely grazing my shoulder. I clutched the sheets closer to my body.

"I'm sorry about all of that. Usually, the pleasure houses are much more civilized. You're a special case," he offered apologetically.

I opened my mouth to respond, but at that moment, a man draped himself across Shyllon's lap, hooking his arms around my savior's neck and giving him a peck on the cheek. A human man!

Shyllon relaxed, but kept his gaze on me. The man turned and gave me a wave with his fingers. "Woof. She looks rough."

My fingers twisted further in the sheets.

"Calten, be nice. She is a guest here."

The man (Calten) had short, dirty blonde hair and green eyes that rolled at me. His build was much slighter than Shyllon.

"You bought another charity case. And you wonder why the females hang onto you. Honestly, it's like feeding wild animals." He grinned nastily at me. "He doesn't even like women."

Charity case. I flinched back. Out of all the insults I'd endured so far here that one hurt the most. It suddenly didn't matter that I was bruised and half-clothed, the ripped remnants of my shift barely clinging to my body. I grasped the sheets to my chest and ran.

"Princess. Don't—"

Shyllon pushed the man off his lap and rose, but I didn't give a shit. I ran across the room as heads turned in my direction. I kept my eyes on the long hall, and my feet moving forward. If he came after me, I'd just keep running.

I wasn't a charity case. I was thankful to Shyllon for getting me out of there, but not if it was because of pity. I'd rather have stayed and taken my licks if that were the case.

Even though doors passed me on either side of the hallway, I was afraid of what I'd find behind them—couples perhaps, doing what I was supposed to be doing, and what Shyllon had bought me for.

Except he hadn't, had he?

The end of the hallway ended in a balcony and I sprinted toward it, pushing dramatically through the double doors and collapsing dramatically before the railing. A beautiful garden glowed in front of me under the night sky, a fountain in the shape of a fae woman shooting water from her open palms down into the pool below.

It was so eerily similar to the night I first met Ellis that it stole my breath.

Gathering the sheets around me, I huddled into a small ball and cried. Months later and the feeling of desperation and hopelessness was just the same. The stakes, however, were so much higher.

Yes, a marriage to Lord Cadgan had seemed like the end of the world then, but was it? Surely, it would be preferable to this—sold to the highest bidder, and expected to pleasure any fae who came my way, be they male or female.

I tried to find something to fight for. I tried to envision a way out.

Nothing came.

You don't even know where Ellis is. He could be dead or living it up with the king.

Not knowing was worse. What had happened to him after we'd been separated? Was he in another pleasure house somewhere, or had he been assigned for something else?

You need to stop thinking about him and focus on your own survival.

That's how I'd even met him and saved his sorry ass, by constantly thinking ahead to the next step.

And yet, my brain was sludge. I couldn't think of a reason to fight. Where had it all gone wrong? Sobbing into the silk sheets certainly wouldn't get me anywhere, but damn, it felt good.

The air was cold, and eventually even the sheets weren't enough to keep the chill from creeping across my skin and settling into my bones. But the skies were at least clear, for a change. Bright stars twinkled above me. If I closed my eyes, I could almost pretend I was back on the balcony in the Northern Ream.

Almost.

"Princess."

I hated that term. Hated it. But none of the fae liked to use my name, did they?

And no one was going to ask, because no one cared.

A presence loomed behind me with dark hair, but it wasn't Shyllon.

Praise the gods for small mercies.

"Shall I leave you here to sulk all night when there is hot food and warmth back in the house? Seems like an odd way to celebrate."

Alihandro's tone was incredulous. It was like he truly didn't understand why someone would be out here in the cold when a sea of warm bodies awaited inside.

"Go away," I whispered. Maybe if I was lucky, I'd catch a cold and die. Or I could refuse to come in and perish from exposure. That would show them.

"So dramatic," Alihandro drawled, walking forward and crouching next to me. He put a hand to my cheek, scowling. "You are cold."

I closed my eyes at the contact, his warm hand feeling so good. Slowly and carefully, he loosened the crown of sharp sticks and rocks from my head, untangling from my hair. With a sneer, he threw it off the balcony, both of us watching its progress as it tumbled down the wall and disappeared into the garden.

"What do you mean by celebrate?" I whispered.

He smirked.

"You think Barthos fell unconscious moments after he disappeared with you by chance?"

I remembered the goblet of wine Shyllon had shoved under his nose. I had thought it odd he'd passed out with barely a grope. Then again, I hadn't wanted to spit in the face of such good fortune, either.

They'd both conspired to protect me. Like Cassus had protected me, twice now. But why? Why were these powerful fae going out of their way to protect me?

"Come, let's end this." He tugged on my wrist, but I balled into myself further, refusing to move.

"Princess," he growled.

"Do you know I fucked a prince on a balcony once?" I burst out, laughing with no trace of humor in my voice. The pitch rose toward hysteria. "I suppose it's fitting then that I end up in a fuck house."

Alihandro raised a dark brow at me. "Lots of things happen in a pleasure house. Not all of them include fucking."

I snorted. "It's less that and more that I had to be bought by pity." I slammed my palms onto the hard stone floor beneath me. "I'm such an idiot."

Alihandro shifted behind me, and I couldn't resist the heat of his frame. I leaned back into his chest, greedily soaking it in.

"And why is the princess an idiot?" he asked patiently.

I hiccupped. "He likened me to his horse when we first met. He said I'd make big babies. And then, I see him with …" I felt more foolish than ever.

Alihandro's arms came around me. "Shyllon is a brute who doesn't always understand the more … emotional aspects in life. And he was right; you would make an excellent breeder. As the king's favored son he will soon be called upon to continue the bloodline. Not for the actual heir of course as a ‘dirty human', but you'd make strong half-breeds. Is that so shocking?"

I wiped my face with the back of my hand.

"It's late, Princess. We must go. Let me get you something hot to eat."

I wrenched away from his grip, flopping stomach-first onto the cold stone. I was exhausted and hungry, but mostly pissed. "No! I don't want to eat! I don't want to be warm! What's the point? Stop being nice to me because you feel bad for me!"

Anger flashed in Alihandro's silver eyes. Good. Maybe he'd leave me alone.

All the air left my body as he hauled me up with one hand and pinned my back against the wall by my hip. His other hand went to my neck, squeezing. His nose was so close to mine it almost touched, his body so close I could feel the heat radiating from it. His lips were right there, and—

"You think Shyllon, Cassus and I are risking our fucking necks out of pity?"

My eyes went wide at the snarl in his voice, and my mind came to a screeching halt. If they didn't pity me, then why were they helping me?

"Shyllon can do whatever the fuck he wants with his status. And Cassus? He doesn't give a fuck anymore."

I blinked, remembering how much worse Cassus had seemed. "Did he get to see his family?"

Alihandro's face twisted into an ugly expression. "He saw them all right. The king is many things, but a liar is not one of them."

At my blank expression, Shyllon sighed, raking a hand through his hair. Alihandro's face stayed carved from stone.

"Fennis kept his word," Shyllon began cautiously. "Cassus saw his wife and newborn daughter. He saw their hanging bodies from the rafters in his front parlor."

For a moment his words didn't make any sense; the reality of them was simply too horrible. I blinked, then choked.

"Then that means that the king—"

"Gave Cassus his life only to ruin it," Alihandro finished, eyes glowing fiercely in the darkness.

Oh man. Fennis was a dick.

And it meant Cassus now had every motivation to stick it to Fennis and help me, and there was nothing left for him to lose. At least that made sense why he'd helped Shyllon get me out of there.

Not a very smart corner to back an enemy into, Fennis.

That covered Shyllon and Cassus's motivations.

"And what are you?" I asked Alihandro.

He snorted. "I don't have nearly as much leeway as Shyllon or Cassus. I am … technically a prince, but not."

His breath puffed against my cheek, the vehemence in his voice at odds with how the hand around my neck loosened, fingers curling as they gently stroked the flesh at the hollow of my throat.

"Technically a prince?" I breathed out, but I wasn't really listening. I'd never seen fae eyes this close before, and it was mesmerizing. The silver in his irises wasn't just silver—it was a kaleidoscope of blue and violent streaks that were only visible this close.

His lips ghosted over mine, my mouth parting on instinct. He lingered there, our breaths mingling as our chests heaved in time with each other.

"I am lower born, from one of my father's trysts. My mixed blood gives me more freedom than Shyllon in a way, though dear Father does take me to task when he catches me outright. Luckily, I like a bit of punishment," he breathed out.

Before I could process that, his lips lowered to mine. It wasn't demanding like I had expected from a fae male. Instead, his kiss was hesitant and soft.

And after everything I'd been through, I wanted a moment to just cede control and let someone else dictate things. I wanted a release. I needed a release.

Or at least, that's what I told myself that's when I moaned into his mouth and kissed him back.

The sharp scrape of his fangs against my upper lip barely gave me pause. Ellis wasn't here to save me. I wasn't there to save him. Maybe this time, the bad guys would win. Would it be so bad? I wanted to hurt. I wanted to bleed.

Dying wouldn't be so bad, I thought, going limp against the wall.

"Oh no, Princess, we can't have that."

He bit down on my throat, pinning my hands over my head. A flare of irritation shot through me, stronger than my brief bout of despondency. On the balcony with Ellis, I had been in control. I wouldn't let myself be taken by this fae like a goddamn slave.

I twisted my head to the side to break his assault of my throat and attacked his mouth, my teeth clinking against his as we fought for dominance with our mouths and tongues. My body struggled to get as close to him as I could to feel his heat, writhing against his grip on my wrists. A moan left my lips as a hand curled into my hair and pulled.

Alihandro's nostrils flared, silver eyes closing for a moment as they went hooded. Then they snapped open, and a grin showed me his brilliant white teeth, complete with fangs.

"Even though you're a princess, I'm not your prince. You're a whore plucked from a whorehouse," he growled in my ear. "You want me to fuck you?"

His words didn't sting like I thought they would. Maybe because it was nothing but the truth? I didn't mind. I knew who I was: labels from the fae wouldn't change that.

"Well, Shyllon certainly isn't going to," I quipped, Calten's smug face rearing in my mind.

A loud, throaty laugh erupted from him, delight shining in his eyes. In the space of a breath, he undid the tie of his breeches and freed his swollen cock, and pushed up the hem of my shift.

"No, he certainly fucking won't," came his rough grumble.

I threw a hand on his thigh and squeezed, stopping him.

"What will it get me?" I grit out.

The glint in Alihandro's eyes turned feral. "You little minx. You know what you're doing."

I barked out a laugh of my own. "Hardly. I just need protection and a damn good reason."

Because when Ellis found out, he was going to lose his mind. The thought simultaneously thrilled me and intrigued me.

I should feel guilt, shouldn't I? Ellis and I certainly had an understanding, but we weren't married. We weren't even engaged. A fuck on a balcony and a few other stolen moments in between dodging death could hardly count as lifelong vows.

Ellis wasn't here now. The gods only knew what he was doing. I needed to survive. Though I'd be lying if I said I didn't want it at all.

"I could take you right here against this wall with no fucking promises," Alihandro rumbled against me, pushing his hips against mine. "And you'd let me, wouldn't you?"

My breath stilted against my chest.

"You could, but you won't," I challenged him. "Then you'd be just like the others in the house. That's not what you want. You want me to want you."

His palm wrapped around the hollow of my throat, applying pressure. My eyes closed, half-hooded, as pleasure shot through me. Something was seriously wrong with me.

Or seriously right with him.

He leaned in close, his tongue licking a possessive trail up my neck, jaw, and cheek.

"You already want me, Princess. I can smell it. What would your prince think of that?"

My hand shot out and wrapped around his cock, longer and shaped a little differently than Ellis's or Gregory's, with a rounder head and little grooved bumps along his shaft.

He went still as death, struggling to hide his heavy breaths.

"Hmm. My prince's is bigger," I shot back.

He laughed again and slammed me back against the stone wall with his hand still wrapped around my throat.

"That's it, Princess. Keep fighting."

He parted my legs and thrust into me, all rational thought in my mind lost as he instantly hit a spot deep inside of me I didn't know existed. All the air left my lungs as he pulled out, the bumps on his dick doing things to my insides that were absolutely sinful. I sucked in one breath before he thrust back in again, my head banging off the wall as I threw it back.

"Say you want this. Say you want me," he rumbled against me.

His thrusts punctuated each sentence, not giving me space to breathe, let alone think, and spit out a retort.

"Say it."

"Yes! Please! I want you!" I cried out, unable to deny it any longer. I wanted to feel safe. I wanted to feel protected. I wanted to feel something other than fear and pain and anxiety and misery for one goddamn second even if it meant fucking Alihandro.

With a growl, he withdrew and turned me around, pushing me down to the ground on all fours. Before I could breathe, he entered me from behind, and all conscious thought left my mind. Nothing existed but this glorious, sinful new position, and how full I was, and how tight it was, and how he kept one hand on my hip to drive deeper into my body, and the other tangled in my hair as yanked my hair back, forcing my back to arc.

The air filled with the sound of slapping flesh, my body too overwhelmed to make a single sound other than my pants for air. His hand drifted from my hip to my core, fingers sinking softly into my flesh and finding that small, magickal, little nub and gently circling it.

"Oh my gods!" I cried out, unable to explain the deep-seated itch that was building deep inside of me.

"Yes, call out. Let the entire manor know we're here. Take my cock like a good little princess."

I should be offended. I should hate him. But oh gods, his dirty words fueled something deeply repressed inside of me, his cock sliding easier in and out the more filth he spewed in my ear.

"Scream for me, Princess," he breathed at the back of my neck, his fangs biting down as his fingers worked my clit and his cock pounded inside of me.

It was too much—I cried out as the wave of my pinnacle took me, washing me away in its sweet embrace as my muscles clenched and spasmed around him. He choked from behind and went rigid, a gush of new fluid spurting into me and down my thighs.

It was obscene and vile, and I loved every second.

After a few moments, Alihandro dropped me to the ground, tucked his cock away, fixing the ties on his breeches. Shakily, I stood and straightened my skirts, blinking in confusion as he walked toward the inside of the manor. I followed automatically, confused and taken aback. It was just like my first time with Ellis, but in reverse.

I shoved down the guilt.

A warm feeling enveloped my chest, my head fuzzy like I'd had too much to drink. It was nice. Disarming.

"Hey! Wait!" I reached out and snagged hand, pulling him to a stop just before he reached the corridor.

"You never said why," I panted.

He smoothed down the front of his tunic, rumpled from our near—whatever that had been. I couldn't help but notice Alihandro didn't wear a belt like the other fae had—Melek.

"Why what?" he grit out, glancing both ways down the corridor. Was he already regretting what had happened? Or afraid of this punishment he mentioned?

I pulled the shift down my legs, his wetness sticky between my thighs. His eyes flicked to it briefly, then back up. Had I imagined the look of smug satisfaction that glimmered there?

"You said you weren't helping me out of pity. So what's the reason?"

Alihandro sniffed, giving me a light bump forward.

"Spoilers, Princess. Spoilers."

I let him lead me back to the others.