Page 23 of Brutal Empire

“It’s not that I don’t think you are capable. It’s that you shouldn’t be drowning in filth,” Bas told me.

“I’ve learned how to swim in the depths of despair.”

The silence was palpable. He didn’t say anything, probably thinking about a way to tell me why I wasn’t good enough to go.

“I don’t want to go back,” I admitted, the words I had been too scared to say earlier.

“Did Daphne do something to you?” His tone was harsh.

I quickly shook my head. I didn’t want him to think I was accusing her. They were obviously close and, dare I say, friends.

My stomach dropped at that word. Did I have friends? People who cared about me?

One second, I was standing there, my head lost in my thoughts, and the next, I felt myself being dragged.

Bastian took hold of my hand and pulled me toward him. My wrist hurt with the force he was using. My body landed on the bed, and as soon as I put a hand down to steady myself, careful not to hurt him, he wrapped his other hand around my throat.

My eyes widened.

I couldn’t breathe.

This feeling was the one that always haunted me. Felt like I was drowning, gasping for air. Nothing was there.

“Can you kill me now?” he mocked.

My mouth opened, but no words came out. I ignored the fact that he was injured, and this time, when I moved, I did it with the intent to kill him. He was faster. He let go of my neck. Instead, he went for my hair, gripping it back.

“Now, tell me what will happen if I try to fuck you,” he spat, and I froze.

My master’s voice was in my head as he laughed at me.

You’re not going anywhere, pet.

My whimpers echoed in my ears as he used his strength to throw me off the bed. The loud thud of my bony ass hitting the floor rang through the whole place. I didn’t dare look up. Instead, I brought my knees to my chest and hugged myself.

“You took it too far, Bas.”

Roman’s voice was as cold as Bastian’s had been. I didn’t look up at either of them. I was too busy trying to control my breathing. My mouth felt dry, and I forgot where to place my tongue. Did it go under or up? My swallows kept mocking me. Saliva pooled in my mouth, and my panting got louder.

“Cam, I’m going to crouch near you,” Roman warned.

I was too busy trying to get my body under control to see him.

“Ignore everything…just focus on my voice. I want you to take a deep breath and hold it for five seconds. And then exhale.”

I did as he asked. My mind desperately tried to focus on counting the numbers. A few minutes later, it started to work, and I wasn’t hyperfixated on every little detail of my body.

Roman was crouching in front of me, still giving me orders, and now that my breathing was back to normal, I could tell he was keeping enough distance not to make me feel crowded.

“I’m okay,” I said without looking at him.

He didn’t reply, but his body shifted, and I slightly looked up to see his neck craned, and I assumed he was looking toward Bastian.

Feeling defeated, I got up and began to make my way to my room so I could get my things and go back to Sweden. Except I halted at the thought. What had I achieved?

His voice mocked me. I closed my eyes to clear my head, but his face was right there. That smooth face that would grace my skin reminded me of every blemish and every cut that now marred my body. His hair was like silk, while mine was matted and coarse. He was one of the most handsome men I had ever seen. It was the reason why I now despised beautiful things. I had forgotten many things, but why couldn’t I have forgotten him?

Because you were my pretty little pet.

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