Excerpt
I stood with my back pressed against a sycamore tree, betraying myself and my honor. Aiden’s lips were surprisingly soft. I always imagined they’d be hard, like his soul. My muscles tensed. I knew I should push him away, but something stopped me. Possibly curiosity. This wasn’t like his other games. No blood. No pain. I had no clue why he kissed me, only that some pitiful, pathetic part of me enjoyed it.
“Cydale,” he whispered my name so sweetly as he moved to kiss my jaw, I could almost forget who he was and what he’d done to me. But as his fingers began to unlace my trousers I knew I had to stop him. He’d take me in the courtyard like some slave boy and that’s exactly how everyone would see me from then on. Most people already thought of me as little more than Aiden’s toy and if I allowed him to continue, their perceptions would become truth. As my lord he could command me to do a lot of things, but this wasn’t one of them.
I grabbed his wrists and whispered, “Stop, my lord.” He pulled his hands free of mine and continued on as if I hadn’t spoken. I grabbed him again, this time more forcefully, “I said, stop.”
Aiden grinned as if my defiance was exactly what he wanted. He worked free of my grip once again, but this time he tore open my shirt. I tried to push him away but my struggling seemed to increase his enjoyment. I knew this was his latest amusement, but I wasn't going to be his victim. Aiden was stronger and faster than I was, but I had more at stake. As he wrestled me to the ground, I stopped at nothing to free myself. I kicked at him and tore at his throat with my teeth like a wild animal. Through my utter panic I swore I heard him laugh. With the force of all my hatred, I punched him in the face hard enough to throw him off me.
He leaned against a rock, tentatively touching his reddening cheek and smiling, "You could have simply refused, you know."
I clutched my fists at my sides. "That was my refusal."
“I don’t get why you are being so difficult about this.”
“You don’t get why I don’t want you taking me like a woman? You don’t understand why I might have some pride left? Of course, you don’t. You can’t see past your own base needs.”
Aiden took a step towards me. “Base needs? You haven’t been listening to me at all, have you? I’ve fallen in love with you, Cydale.”
I took a step back. “Lies. You’d say anything to get what you want.”
“While that’s true, I’m not lying about this. I really am in love with you. What can I do to prove it?”
“Nothing. You can’t be in love with me because love requires you to put others before yourself. Something you’re incapable of.”
“Is this because I used to pick on you when we were kids? How about I let you do to me everything I did to you and then we’ll be even.”
“Picked on? You tortured me. And if I did half the things to you that you’ve done to me, I’d be executed.”
“Never. I’ll always protect you.” Aiden took another step towards me, and then knelt down in front of me. “Don’t you see? When it comes to my heart, you’re the lord and I’m your helpless, devoted slave.”
My heart pounded in my chest. “Get up. What if someone sees you on your knees? What will they think?”
“Who cares what they think?”
“Anyone who isn’t the next ruler of this province, that’s who. Normal people have to deal with the consequences of their actions. Now get up before someone sees you and thinks I’ve bewitched you.”
Aiden shook his head, “Not until you acknowledge my feelings.”
I turned to leave, unable to stand another moment of Aiden’s nonsense.
Lord Rhys, Aiden’s father, entered the courtyard with his guards. I often wondered about Aiden’s parentage. Lord Rhys was a tall, slender man with flowing blond hair so light it was almost white. His fae-like features were in stark contrast with his dreary grey castle which at every turn valued function over form. Aiden, on the other hand, was the ideal of Northern beauty—thick and brawny, with dirty blonde hair and angular features.
When Rhys got close enough to see Aiden's face, he rushed over and touched his son’s shoulder. "What has happened?" He looked back and forth between us, glaring at me with every glance.
I shrank against the sycamore tree.
Aiden sighed and stepped out of his father's concerned grasp. "Nothing happened. Cydale and I were just horsing around, that's all."
Rhys examined his son's swelling cheek more closely. "Did he strike you?"
Aiden shook his head. "Not on purpose. It was an accident."
"Accident or not, he's injured you and must be punished." Rhys gestured to his guards. "Take him."
I didn't struggle as the guards grabbed me; doing so would have been futile.
"Take his hand," Rhys commanded.
The guards were about to take me away when Aiden blocked their path. "Wait! You can't dismember him." There was more desperation in his eyes than I'd ever seen. He was the type of person that always wore a cheeky grin regardless of the situation.
"He attacked his future lord and master. I can't let that stand. He must be made an example of."
I was utterly numb. Of course this is where I'd end up. From the moment Aidan first saw me, my life had spiraled downward and this was it's naturally conclusion. I'd be rendered unable to defend myself, and after that Aiden would have his way with me. And given that I'd be crippled and virtually useless, I might even feel some sort of gratitude to Aiden for keeping me. In the end, they'd all get what they wanted. What I wanted was insignificant. I was insignificant.
"But father, he’s here as my guest. He won't be much fun to be around after he's been chopped up." Aiden tried to smile, tried to blanket himself in that same nonchalant swagger that always protected him, but this time it fell flat.
"It's no concern of mine how happy he is. All I care about is the future of this province and if you can't teach your subjects to respect you then I have to. You brought him here to have someone to play with, but you are too old for toys. It's time you grew up."
Aiden's expression hardened and for a moment I saw a glint of family resemblance between them. "You're right father. He’s my responsibly. So I'd appreciate it if you let me handle this my own way."
Rhys folded his arms, but didn’t respond.
Without ceremony, Aiden grabbed my hair in his fist. "You must learn your place." He punched me so hard my back tooth came loose, which made what came after easier to endure. I was so dazed that most of his strikes were a blur. He beat me until my legs gave out, and only the guards held me up. When they dropped me onto the ground, he kicked me. I assumed he was going to beat me to death, which would have been preferable to a life crippled. So in some strange way, I felt gratitude towards him, he was finally freeing me.
But as my consciousness began to wane, I heard him tell the guards, "Father is right. I'm too old for toys. Get him out of here." The last thing I saw before I passed out was Aiden walking away from me in disgust.
I stood with my back pressed against a sycamore tree, betraying myself and my honor. Aiden’s lips were surprisingly soft. I always imagined they’d be hard, like his soul. My muscles tensed. I knew I should push him away, but something stopped me. Possibly curiosity. This wasn’t like his other games. No blood. No pain. I had no clue why he kissed me, only that some pitiful, pathetic part of me enjoyed it.
“Cydale,” he whispered my name so sweetly as he moved to kiss my jaw, I could almost forget who he was and what he’d done to me. But as his fingers began to unlace my trousers I knew I had to stop him. He’d take me in the courtyard like some slave boy and that’s exactly how everyone would see me from then on. Most people already thought of me as little more than Aiden’s toy and if I allowed him to continue, their perceptions would become truth. As my lord he could command me to do a lot of things, but this wasn’t one of them.
I grabbed his wrists and whispered, “Stop, my lord.” He pulled his hands free of mine and continued on as if I hadn’t spoken. I grabbed him again, this time more forcefully, “I said, stop.”
Aiden grinned as if my defiance was exactly what he wanted. He worked free of my grip once again, but this time he tore open my shirt. I tried to push him away but my struggling seemed to increase his enjoyment. I knew this was his latest amusement, but I wasn't going to be his victim. Aiden was stronger and faster than I was, but I had more at stake. As he wrestled me to the ground, I stopped at nothing to free myself. I kicked at him and tore at his throat with my teeth like a wild animal. Through my utter panic I swore I heard him laugh. With the force of all my hatred, I punched him in the face hard enough to throw him off me.
He leaned against a rock, tentatively touching his reddening cheek and smiling, "You could have simply refused, you know."
I clutched my fists at my sides. "That was my refusal."
“I don’t get why you are being so difficult about this.”
“You don’t get why I don’t want you taking me like a woman? You don’t understand why I might have some pride left? Of course, you don’t. You can’t see past your own base needs.”
Aiden took a step towards me. “Base needs? You haven’t been listening to me at all, have you? I’ve fallen in love with you, Cydale.”
I took a step back. “Lies. You’d say anything to get what you want.”
“While that’s true, I’m not lying about this. I really am in love with you. What can I do to prove it?”
“Nothing. You can’t be in love with me because love requires you to put others before yourself. Something you’re incapable of.”
“Is this because I used to pick on you when we were kids? How about I let you do to me everything I did to you and then we’ll be even.”
“Picked on? You tortured me. And if I did half the things to you that you’ve done to me, I’d be executed.”
“Never. I’ll always protect you.” Aiden took another step towards me, and then knelt down in front of me. “Don’t you see? When it comes to my heart, you’re the lord and I’m your helpless, devoted slave.”
My heart pounded in my chest. “Get up. What if someone sees you on your knees? What will they think?”
“Who cares what they think?”
“Anyone who isn’t the next ruler of this province, that’s who. Normal people have to deal with the consequences of their actions. Now get up before someone sees you and thinks I’ve bewitched you.”
Aiden shook his head, “Not until you acknowledge my feelings.”
I turned to leave, unable to stand another moment of Aiden’s nonsense.
Lord Rhys, Aiden’s father, entered the courtyard with his guards. I often wondered about Aiden’s parentage. Lord Rhys was a tall, slender man with flowing blond hair so light it was almost white. His fae-like features were in stark contrast with his dreary grey castle which at every turn valued function over form. Aiden, on the other hand, was the ideal of Northern beauty—thick and brawny, with dirty blonde hair and angular features.
When Rhys got close enough to see Aiden's face, he rushed over and touched his son’s shoulder. "What has happened?" He looked back and forth between us, glaring at me with every glance.
I shrank against the sycamore tree.
Aiden sighed and stepped out of his father's concerned grasp. "Nothing happened. Cydale and I were just horsing around, that's all."
Rhys examined his son's swelling cheek more closely. "Did he strike you?"
Aiden shook his head. "Not on purpose. It was an accident."
"Accident or not, he's injured you and must be punished." Rhys gestured to his guards. "Take him."
I didn't struggle as the guards grabbed me; doing so would have been futile.
"Take his hand," Rhys commanded.
The guards were about to take me away when Aiden blocked their path. "Wait! You can't dismember him." There was more desperation in his eyes than I'd ever seen. He was the type of person that always wore a cheeky grin regardless of the situation.
"He attacked his future lord and master. I can't let that stand. He must be made an example of."
I was utterly numb. Of course this is where I'd end up. From the moment Aidan first saw me, my life had spiraled downward and this was it's naturally conclusion. I'd be rendered unable to defend myself, and after that Aiden would have his way with me. And given that I'd be crippled and virtually useless, I might even feel some sort of gratitude to Aiden for keeping me. In the end, they'd all get what they wanted. What I wanted was insignificant. I was insignificant.
"But father, he’s here as my guest. He won't be much fun to be around after he's been chopped up." Aiden tried to smile, tried to blanket himself in that same nonchalant swagger that always protected him, but this time it fell flat.
"It's no concern of mine how happy he is. All I care about is the future of this province and if you can't teach your subjects to respect you then I have to. You brought him here to have someone to play with, but you are too old for toys. It's time you grew up."
Aiden's expression hardened and for a moment I saw a glint of family resemblance between them. "You're right father. He’s my responsibly. So I'd appreciate it if you let me handle this my own way."
Rhys folded his arms, but didn’t respond.
Without ceremony, Aiden grabbed my hair in his fist. "You must learn your place." He punched me so hard my back tooth came loose, which made what came after easier to endure. I was so dazed that most of his strikes were a blur. He beat me until my legs gave out, and only the guards held me up. When they dropped me onto the ground, he kicked me. I assumed he was going to beat me to death, which would have been preferable to a life crippled. So in some strange way, I felt gratitude towards him, he was finally freeing me.
But as my consciousness began to wane, I heard him tell the guards, "Father is right. I'm too old for toys. Get him out of here." The last thing I saw before I passed out was Aiden walking away from me in disgust.
