Chapter 183

**CAY POV**

I wish someone would rescue me, I wish that my family cared enough to come get me even though they may have to fight. I don’t think my father had fought in years, and I want him to, I want him to fight for me and my life.

But would he do it after the way that I spoke to him? I made him look weak in front of all his advisors and my brothers when I rejected the throne. And I know that he was mad at me for it. He was furious.

And I don’t blame him, not at all, he always wanted me to succeed him, he wanted me to take the throne, even though I couldn’t shift like my brothers.

My father never seemed to care about the fact I am more mortal than them, he always said that I had the power to pave my own stones in this world, but I think that maybe he was wrong, I’m not strong enough. I’ll never be strong enough.

Mihen left me on the floor of the tent, bleeding from wounds that he inflicted whilst raping me, he used my body as though it was his to take, and he doesn’t care about the shadows he has left in the corners of my mind.

Men break women, it has been the same since time began, and I don’t think it’ll ever change. Not whilst they believe that women are there’s to do what they wish with.

But enough is enough, he will not touch me again, I will make sure of it. Because even though I screamed and cried, I learnt something during those moments of dire depression.

I learnt that he can only break me if I let him, I am the one who gives him the power to destroy me, and I am going to take it back.

He does NOT own me, regardless of what he believes, I am free. And I have this freedom because I choose to, because I have chosen to fight back.

Maybe not now, and maybe not for the rest of today, but I will fight, and I will take back what he has stolen from me.

Mihen rushes into the tent, a smile gracing his upturned lips, “your parents are here, and they have brought an army.” He laughs, “they think they can save you, how heroic is that?”

My eyes grow wide at his words, they have come for me. They have come to take me home.

But if that is the case, why don’t I hear any fighting?

I slowly stand, using the long tunic that Mihen give me to hide the bruises on my body, “Then take me to them.” I say, my eyes on his.

He smiles, almost so sweet that it would rot my teeth. “I am going to, princess, and I am going to show them that you already belong to me.”

I allow him to pull me from the tent, and deep in my chest I know that he is wrong, I don’t belong to him, I never have.

There is someone else out there that I belong to, someone who will show me love and care, not violence and pain.

I just have to wait for them to rescue me, and I know that they are coming. I can feel it the same way that I can feel each breath enter my lungs.

Mihen drags me through the camp, his grip on my arm bruising, but I barely notice, I barely pay attention to the pain.

I see my mother and father in the distance, lines of soldiers behind them, all of them with their weapons drawn. They are ready to fight for me.

Mihen releases me, and I do exactly what he expects of me, I run towards them, embracing my father in a tight hug, and he holds me as though I am still the same innocent child I was when I left.

Would he hold me the same way if he knew what Mihen had done to me?

My father says nothing, he keeps his eyes trained on Mihen and the others, but I do not, I don’t care what they are doing. I am going to take this moment and savour it for when I need it.

“Mother.” I whisper, throwing myself into her embrace.

“Sweet girl, what has he done to you?” She murmurs in my ear, tears in her eyes.

But they are not sad tears, she does not mourn my innocence, they are full of anger and hatred. They are full of light and darkness.

They are the eyes of someone who knows what it feels like to be taken without consent.

“Nothing that has not been done to you.” I say back, tightening my arms around her.

“Well, isn’t this a sweet reunion.” Mihen says, “but that is enough now, come back to me princess.”

He thinks that I will run to him like a good woman, and kneel at his feet, but that isn’t who I am.

It’s not who I will allow myself to be.

“No.” I say, releasing my mother from my arms and taking her hand, “you have had enough obedience from me, that ends now.”

Mihen looks at me like he could tear my spine from my back and throw it on the ground for my defiance, but I stay where I am, holding my mother hand for both strength and comfort.

“Those are not the words I want to hear.” He growls, stepping forward, “so, I will give you one more chance to come to me, Cay, and only one chance.” He looks at me in disgust, “if you defy me, I’ll make it so much worse for you, you’ll be on your knees begging for forgiveness before the night takes over the sky.”

“I don’t think I will.” I say with a smile, my mother squeezing my hand to give me courage. “Because I am not going to come back to you, I am going to be free, and you are going to be dead.”

Mihen looks shocked for all of a moment, and then he growls, drawing his sword, “if that is what you wish, little princess.” He chuckles, “but remember that I gave you a choice, and you rejected it.”

“It is the only choice you have given me this entire time.” I growl back, “but you will not have my body again. Not whilst I have breath in my lungs.”

I tremble as I speak, but I know that I speak the truth, I would rather die than allow him use of my body again.

It is my body, not his, and he will never touch me again.