Page 39 of Royal Captive
“Was negotiated,” said a menacing voice from above as all. I couldn’t turn and look. My neck hurt too much. But I recognized Cassus’s lilt.
The matron stumbled. “My Lord. I apologize, I didn’t know—”
“It was a late purchase,” Shyllon said graciously. With no apology at ruining everyone else’s evening, he yanked me through the parlor and out the doors of the pleasure house.
Hazy confusion poured through me, warring with relief. “Where are we going?” I choked out, my voice nothing more than a tortured rasp.
His grip around me tightened.
“My home.”
The confusion only intensified, and I fell asleep.
Fourteen
EVE
Ow.
My throat hurt. My head hurt.
Blearily, I cracked my eyes open, raucous noise assaulting my ears. Aches and bruises from yesterday’s abuse riddled my body.
From yesterday.
It all came back in a rush.
I was still at the pleasure house. Melek had strangled me unconscious, then had his way with me. I was only waking up now, and then they’d—
Wait.
That wasn’t right. Someone had stopped him. We’d gotten into a carriage, and then? I remembered nothing.
Shyllon.
I bolted upright, regretting the actions immediately as my head pounded. Someone had wrapped me in a nest of silk sheets, in some kind of large, round lounge chair. I glanced around theroom, seeing many couples in various stages of undress and … business.
My jaw dropped even as I blushed furiously.
“How are you feeling?”
I turned as Shyllon kneeled down beside me, nothing but concern in those dark eyes. My lips parted, but nothing came out. How could I even express my gratitude for what he had saved me from? I glanced down and winced at the ugly bruise on my throat.
“Is … is this your manor?” I asked dumbly.
I’d thought he was a guard when we first met. Yet he’d forked over all of his money to buy me for the evening.
Prince, someone had even said.
I went red again just thinking about it.
Correctly interpreting where my mind was going, he drew back from me, fingers barely grazing my shoulder. I clutched the sheets closer to my body.
“I’m sorry about all of that. Usually, the pleasure houses are much more civilized. You’re a special case,” he offered apologetically.
I opened my mouth to respond, but at that moment, a man draped himself across Shyllon’s lap, hooking his arms around my savior’s neck and giving him a peck on the cheek. A human man!
Shyllon relaxed, but kept his gaze on me. The man turned and gave me a wave with his fingers. “Woof. She looks rough.”
