Page 53 of Valpar

“And you knew?” I eyed him suspiciously.

Osirus eyed the parchment. He put his hands behind his back, walking back toward the cave where Queen Melina and my brother were nowhere to be found.

Bassza. Those fools.

“I’m a king, Valpar. I know everything.”

Chapter Seventeen

Calliope

Valpar really sucked attying rope.

It was a basic handcuff knot with rope twine. It was kinda funny because even Simon could bite through the stuff with a few minutes of nibbling.

The question was, did I sit there like a good girl, or get out of it and march right out of the cave and take a punishment?

Decisions, decisions.

On one hand, it made my tummy flutter with excitement to wait for Valpar to come back and see his mate sitting waiting forhim. On the other, seeing him get all mad and gruffy and put me over his leg was exciting in itself. I wanted to see if he would follow through with a punishment.

I’ve never really had a good punishment. Spanking looked like fun, and with some of those books I read, it was more than the sexual part I craved. It was the care that came with it. It was how the person delivering the punishment showed their love.

On the outside it sounded twisted and messed up, but I really wanted that. Mom and Dad just ignored my cries for attention, ignored the unacceptable behavior, when I was basically screaming for them to pay attention to me.

“Calliope!” I heard my name sung at the mouth of the cave. My ears perked up and my back straightened. It was Aunt Melina.

“Hi!” I waved both hands in the air, knowing dang well they couldn’t see me.

I snorted and Simon let out a bleat of excitement.

Aunt Melina always gave him treats. He trotted closer to the passageway, and I still had that decision to make.

Do I make a break for it?

Valpar’s head between my legs was pretty tempting.

Good girl or bad girl?

“How’s it going? Is Valpar treating you right?” Her voice echoed, and I nodded my head.

Oh, right, she can’t see.

“Yup, kinda caveman-like, but that’s okay. The matching cave works great. He tied me up and everything.”

There was laughter echoing down the passage, and soon footsteps followed. Why they were coming in the cave I wasn’t sure. I didn’t think Valpar would let them inside.

He didn’t leave, did he?

Surely he wasn’t tired of me already?

I pouted while I sat there waiting, and Aunt Melanie and Sugha appeared. Simon yelled and ran towards Sugha.

“It’s my favorite goat, and human! Hi, Calliope!” Sugha lowered himself to pet Simon, and Simon rubbed his horns all over the orc. At least Simon got along with one of the big green men, if only Valpar hadn’t threatened to eat him.

Was still out there?

Melina pranced over to the bed and landed at my side, as she studied the ropes. “This is a terrible knot,” she said. “You should have been able to get out of these by now, why not?”

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