Chapter 179

**CAY POV**

My head is pounding when I open my eyes, the pain making my vision spin, and my body ache. Perhaps I shouldn’t have provoked the general, but I couldn’t help it. He was so annoying and full of himself, someone needed to knock him down a peg or two. Not that I think I did, in fact, I’m pretty sure that all I did was anger him.

The pain in my head is confirmation that I angered him, but right now, even with the pain, I’m glad that I did, he needed to know that I wasn’t just someone he could push around.

I may be his prisoner, for now, but that doesn’t give him the right to abuse me, where I come from, even prisoners are treat with respect and they aren’t hurt unless they break the rules.

I look around the tent, searching for the general, but he was nowhere to be seen, which I was grateful for. I didn’t think I could handle him right now.

I was laid on a small mattress, and thin blanket wrapped around my shoulders, so it turns out he doesn’t want me dead, not yet. At least he’s trying to protect me from the cold.

I slowly stand, trying to get closer to the fire that was still burning on the other side of the tent, but the moment I try to walk, I fall over, my ankle twisting and something digging into the bone.

I look down, frowning when I realise I had been chained to the post beside the mattress, what did he think I’d do? It isn’t like I can run anywhere. I’m not faster than the horses they have.

I grunt in anger, moving back under the blanket to keep warm, what is the point in having a fire when I cannot even feel the benefit of the heat?

I jump when voices drift towards me from the outside, one of them I recognise as the general.

“I told you that I’d handle it Jren.” He snaps, sounding angry and frustrated.

The other voice barks a laugh, “yeah, you will, you have no choice, otherwise it’ll be both our heads.”

“Fuck off.” Snarls the general, the man I hate appearing in the tent seconds later.

He looks at me where I’m laid, his eyes narrowing, “Don’t even think about giving me attitude today, princess, I’ll snap your spine clean in half.”

I frown, what did he expect me to say?

“I’m hungry.” I murmur, trying to change the subject.

He stares for several more seconds, his eyes still narrowed, “Do you like stew?” He finally asks.

I nod my head, trying to sound grateful, “I love stew.”

He scoffs, but eventually nods and disappears outside again, leaving me alone.

I lay back down, puffing out a breath as I try to remain calm, I hadn’t even provoked him that time and he wanted to rip my head off. What kind of man is he? He clearly isn’t a nice one.

Although his men seem to respect his authority. That must count for something, right? Even if he is a monster.

The general reappears a little while later with a steaming bowl of stew, and he places it in front of me without saying a word.

“Thanks.” I murmur, digging straight into the food.

A part of me is terrified he’ll take it back off me, so i eat it as quickly as i can, and even though it’s hot, it doesn’t burn, i have dragon blood after all.

The general sits by the fire, warming his hands as i eat, and i cannot help but wonder why he is so cruel, did something happen that changed him, or was he always like this?

He mentioned that my father destroyed everything he cared about, but i don’t understand why he would do that. My whole life all my father has done is take care of other’s, he only fights when he must.

“General.” I call, placing the empty bowl on the floor as he turns to look at me, “Can i ask what you want with me?”

“That’s easy.” He chuckles, “I’m going to tell your father that i have you, and if he doesn’t surrender, i will rape and kill you.”

I frown, my chest tightening, but I'm not sure if it is because of fear or rage, why should i be punished for something that i had np part in?

I pull on the rope in annoyance, “But i don’t understand what my father has done to you, he helps people, he doesn’t destroy.”

The general growls, his footsteps shaking the ground as he corners me. “Your father destroyed my village.” he snaps, “He wasn’t always a kind king, he was once crueller than me, and he hurt a lot of people, including my family.”

My frown deepens, and my heart aches, “I’m sorry that my father has hurt you, but i am not responsible for his actions, and neither are the people you have slaughtered.”

He laughs, grabbing y chin tightly and forcing my head back, “You are Dieter’s most prize possession, he changed the entire Griffin kingdom so that it would be a safe place for you to grow.” He leans closer, his vile breath skating across my cheek, “Did you know the women there used to be slaves to men? They were beaten for even speaking out of line.”

I hold my breath, hoping it will calm the racing of my heart, and the tremble of my skin, but it does not.

Is what he says true? Was my father truly a bad person? I know he did some questionable things in the past, but i never thought he’d murder innocent people.

“You’re wrong.” i gasp, the pressure in my jaw agonising. “My father would never hurt those who don’t deserve it.”

He's going to snap the bone if he doesn’t let go. “He will, and he has.” Growls the general, he destroyed everything, my home, the land, the money. He took it all, and i am going to take it all back.” he pushes me onto my back, “And i am going to start by breaking the one thing he loves above all else.” He smiles at me, “I’m going to rape you.”

I recoil backwards, “Please don’t.” I beg, “I have never done anything to hurt you.”

Perhaps leaving home was a mistake after all.

I should have listened to my father.

“Don’t worry, princess, I'll be gentle.” he whispers, his hand slowly moving down my body until he reaches the bottom of my dress. “Just relax and it’ll all be over soon.”

I scream when his hand wraps around my breast, trying to push him away, but he is far too strong. I've never seen myself as weak before, not until now.

I want to go home.

“Stop it.” I cry, thrashing my entire body, and hitting him where it hurts, between the legs.

The general chuckles, wrapping his hand around my throat, “You are going to lay there and do as you are told, otherwise I'll let the entire army have a turn, and when they are done, they’ll be nothing left of you.” he rips the bottom of my dress, “Do you understand, princess?”

I nod, tears streaming down my cheeks, and then i stop, i just lay there silently whilst the monster takes away my virtue, and i wonder, if i truly am dead.