“I don’t know how long I was down there, but he just kept asking me why I ran. It wasn’t until I gave him an answer that he let me leave the dungeon.”
“What did you say?” He asks.
“I told him one of the guards tried to touch me, which wasn’t a complete lie.” I shrug again. I look up at him, he looks disgusted.
“Did they?” I look away from him, fighting the tears. Disgusted. That’s what he feels. Why wouldn’t he? His wife has been with more men than she can even count.
“Yes.” My voice cracks. “I was left alone a lot, naked and on the bed. He left various guards to watch over me, and sometimes they would find pleasure in mystate.” I sigh.
“Does Tobias know?” I shrug again. “Stop that.”
“He knew about one of them, and that guard was placed in the dungeon, but he somehow got out. He visited me a lot during the last few days.”
“Rosie…”
“There were so many in the last few days. So many. If I am pregnant, Nithe, what if it isn’t Tobias’s? What if it’s one of theirs?” I sit up and run my hands through my hair.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It does!” I yell, turning to face him, smacking him in the stomach. He’s looking up at me, my body angled over him. He looks down at my chest and to my hand that’s resting on his abdomen. His hand lifts up and closes around mine.
“No, it doesn’t. We can’t exactly terminate it—if there even is anit, so we deal with it. Together.”
“I’m so tired, Nithe. I am just so tired.” His hand leaves mine and brushes a tear off my cheek.
“I wish I could take away your pain, your scars.” I shake my head and fall back against the pillows.
“There is only one that I want gone.” I admit. Which is the truth. The only one that labels me ashis.
“Can I see it?” He asks, curiosity lacing his voice.
“See what?”
“The scar you want gone?” He answers, curiosity filling his amethyst eyes.
“Why?”
“I don’t know.” He turns so he’s looking at me, his eyes soft, curious.
I nod and roll onto my back. He adjusts so he’s on his knees, leaning over me like I just was to him. I lift the hem of my nightdress, exposing my underwear and my bare stomach. He sucks in a breath before lifting his hand. His fingers are cold as they brush the two lines carved into my flesh.Goosebump spread across my stomach and my breath catches. “I saw it a bit earlier, but I couldn’t make outwhat it was. Enzo said he branded you; I just couldn’t believe it.”
“Pretty, isn’t it?” I snort and his eyes flash to mine.
“Elaenor…” I push his hand away and pull my nightdress back down.
“Goodnight, Nithe.” I roll over, putting my back to him, as I feel the tears form. I keep my crying silent, my breathing even, as I soak the pillow under me with salty drops of sorrow.
“What was it like?” He says after a few minutes.
“It was a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from, no matter how hard I tried. And even now, I fear that I am still asleep.”
Chapter Forty-Five
The Caged
Breakfast the next day is quiet. I can barely eat, nausea pooling in my stomach making every swallow painful. Nithe was gone when I awoke, much to my relief, but Scarlett made sure I wasn’t alone. She’s been going on about her situation with Enzo and Emery and I find the whole thing irritating. I don’t care what she does and who she does it with, but it’s the same situation that she was in with Theo and Rhea.
“I can’t choose.” She whines.