Page 9 of Their Queen

“That’s right, Boss. We’ll have enough for our own castle,” one of them said from the darkness, but I couldn’t see who since I didn’t dare remove my focus from the true threat that was inches from my person.

“And whores. So many whores,” another one said, grabbing his junk and thrusting into his hand obviously in my peripheral vision.

I curled my lip in disgust, the man in front of me tilting his head with a leer. “Or perhaps we can sample the goods before we deliver her. I’m sure the Queen wouldn’t mind. Even though she looks like a human...” He spat the last word in disgust before continuing, “I’m sure her cunt is nice and warm for us.”

Holding my muscles tight, I refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing my fear, flashbacks rushing through my mind of the times before. I swore then that I’d never be a victim again and I meant it. Right now, I was just biding my time for the right opportunity. I knew Cyerra was awake, even though her breathing hadn’t changed, and she hadn’t made a sound. She was playing this smart. Good. Maybe we’d both get out of this unharmed.

Taking note of who was armed with what and how many men there were, I knew our chances were slim to none that we’d get out of this without incident. But as long as we both did, I would count that as a win. I counted six men, including their leader. “You don’t look like guards,” I said, trying to buy some time.

The men laughed before Boss replied, “No. You’re right. We’re definitely not guards. Just a few concerned citizens looking to keep the realm safe,” he said, placing a hand over his heart in mock sincerity.

“That’s right, Boss. We’re just helping to get rid of the threat,” another man, one holding a bow, chimed in to reinforce the farce.

“I see. And what if I weren’t the threat?” I asked, studying their movements. If I could get them to relax, I could surprise them and give myself more of an advantage.

“We all saw the trials. The human who thought she was good enough to become the next Queen. Had a good laugh about it too, didn’t we, Boss?” a man with a sword said as he stood behind and to the right of their leader. Most likely the second-in-command.

“Seems to me, someone should teach her a lesson about what happens to those who think they can rise above their station,” another spoke out.

“Perhaps,” Boss said as if he were considering this option while his eyes gleamed with blood thirst and hunger. “You don’t think you’re better than us, now do you?” he asked me, a hand reaching out to play with a strand of my hair that had fallen lose from the ties.

Instead of spitting on him or gutting him like I wanted, I played along. “No. I don’t.” A shadow caught my eye behind Boss, and I knew instantly it was Cyerra. None of the others reacted to the sight of her. Trying to buy her some time, I crumbled. I let my body shake in fear and looked back at Boss with tear filled eyes. “You’re not going to hurt me, are you?”

“Well, sweetheart, that depends on you,” he answered, satisfaction lighting up his eyes. He was taking pleasure from my fear. The others grinned, their teeth gleaming in the moonlight that fell between the foliage. “That is, we won’t hurt you as long as you do exactly what we say.”

“O…Okay,” I stuttered out with a nod, forcing tears from my eyes to add to the act.

He grabbed my arm hard enough to leave bruises, jerking me forward. “Now, stand up.” I didn’t fight him as he dragged me, making me stumble from the force, landing against his chest. “Now, that’s more like it.” He leered at me, dropping his head to run his nose along my neck. “You do smell delicious. I can’t wait to get a taste.”

“I’m next,” Second-in-command called out, eager at the prospect of having a turn with me. I barely kept the shudder of disgust at bay. The act was working, and slowly, they were letting down their guards.

“You’ll get your turn.” Boss smiled in triumph. “After, we get her somewhere safe. Somewhere she can’t escape,” Boss explained, turning me away and pushing me forward until I fell to my hands and knees. “I do like you like this,” he said, and I ratcheted up my fear response, letting myself tremble and shake.

“Please, don’t hurt me,” I begged him with a sob, moving my hand slightly as I cowered on the ground before him. I just needed to get to my knife.

“Get up,” he demanded with a hungry smile. When I flinched away from him, his anger rose. “I said get up, whore!”

That last movement had positioned me so I could wrap my hand around my knife without anyone noticing, too focused on the cowering girl before them to dream that I’d dare fight back. I risked darting my eyes around to find Cyerra. A flicker. There. I dipped my head just enough to let her know that I was about to make my move.

The men had put their weapons away when the boss had grabbed me. Their mistake, thinking they had me fully under their control. It would be the last one they’d ever make; I’d make sure of it.

Boss stomped forward and bent down to grab me again. I lunged up, thrusting the blade deep into his throat before ripping it out. For a moment, everything hung in suspense, Boss’s eyes widening as he realized what happened. His hands instinctively clasped his throat as red liquid poured from it; his effort was futile at trying to contain so much blood. He collapsed to his knees beside me. “Who’s the bitch now?” I asked him with a malicious grin.

As if my words spurred everything into motion, the men rushed forward, drawing weapons to attack me. Cyerra chose that moment to flash into a solid state, breaking the neck of the second-in-command who was getting ready to lunge at me.

I jumped up as he fell, spinning and searching for the next threat. A flash of light in the air drew my eye to the blade from one of the men too late; his dagger had already left his hand. It flew through the air, and I tried to turn into my shadow form too late, and the blade impaled into my side.

Grunting as I bent forward from the impact, I pushed away the pain, walling it off in my mind as my hand immediately went to put pressure on the wound. I didn’t dare pull the blade from my side. Too many criminal TV shows had taught me that this would only make the wound and bleeding worse.

As I was distracted, a body collided with mine, forcing me to my hands and knees. The bastard laid his considerable weight on top of me, trying to force me to the ground, but I threw my head back. My skull cracked into his face, and his nose crunched under the assault, resulting in the loss of weight on my back.

Taking the opportunity I had created, I twisted and lunged at the man with my own blade, receiving a sharp pain in my own side at the same time, the dagger impaled in my flesh slicing me further as I aimed between the ribs like Callum had shown me. My blade hit home, and the attacker collapsed beside me.

As he fell, my head started to swim. Between the head impact and the knife to the gut, I wasn’t in great shape. I swayed on my knees as I looked at the man I’d just killed, seeing a knife in his hand. When did he get that? I guess it was a closer call than I had thought.

“Rhowyn!” Cyerra rushed to my side. “You okay?” She briefly looked me over as the three remaining guards regrouped. “Let’s get out of here.”

“No,” I said, softer than I had intended. “No,” I said more forcefully when she tried to pull me up.

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