Page 72 of The Doll and The Domination

“Give me a damn minute,” Marilynn groans quietly. “I’m just—processing.”

It’s been too long since we’ve eaten. We’re all weak and sickly. Is this the beginning of the symptoms you get before death?

“It’s because she hasn’t eaten,” Dessin finally clarifies. “If we don’t get some form of food in us, we’re all going to start having terminal indicators until we starve to death.”

Marilynn shakes her head.

“Tomorrow, we have to—”

“You’re all about to trust me a lot less,” Marilynn announces, her silky voice resounding over Dessin’s.

“Huh?” Niles cocks his head back. “What’s going on?”

“I’m late.” Her eyes are glassy, tired, heavy.

Late…Late! “Do you mean…”

“I’ve missed a period.”

“That could be a result of starvation,” Dessin says, though his eyes are narrowing suspiciously.

“It’s not from starvation. I had sex with Aurick before we left.”

“Come again?” Niles blurts out.

My jaw hangs from my face like a decaying branch on a tree. I knew it. I fucking knew we couldn’t trust her. If she slept with Aurick…well, what does that even mean? Is she in love with him? Did he send her to spy on us?

“Why?” Warrose asks in disgust.

“She was engaged to him at one point…” Ruth points out.

So she is still in love with him.

“I’ve heard the stories,” she declares in a frigid tone. Cold edges, like she’s trying to reign in her frustration. “We grew up hearing about the adventures you all have had.”

Her point?

I look over my shoulder at Dessin. He’s stiff, watching her like a predator gathering intel on his prey.

“And I’ve—I’ve only heard of myself mentioned in the prophecies a couple of times. This is one of them. It’s something I had to do.” Her honeyed voice wavers, tapering off as she tries to tie her emotions down.

“Hold on a second,” I interrupt with a disbelieving laugh. “You’re telling me it was in a prophecy that you fuck Aurick once after returning and get pregnant?”

Is anyone buying this?

“That’s exactly what I’m telling you,” she breathes, meeting my eyes with venom and resentment.

I bristle with anger. “The man who hit me. Who tricked me into his home. Who—”

“I know who he is! I know what he’s done!” Her voice blasts through the prison in a fit of indignation. “You think you were his only victim? I lived under the roof of Vlademur Demechnef! I suffered through their games, their hot tempers, their distaste of strong women. All for a fucking bedtime story told to me since I was a small child. You think I wanted this? To live my life as a spy? Never understanding who I really am? All for an epic tale that may or may not come true?”

I’m not sure where to look. I have a wandering gaze that won’t settle. We haven’t known Marilynn long, but she’s hardly seemed like the type to raise her voice. And here she is, wiping snot and tears from her face. That pale complexion now rosy from her outburst.

Niles breaks the silence by clearing his throat. “Why did the prophecy say for you to sleep with him? What was the reason?”

“If I say it out loud, it may never happen. And then I’ll have done it for nothing.”

“Not nothing.” Ruth kneels to be at eye level with Marilynn. “Regardless of the reason, you’re having a baby. Now eating for two!”

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