Chapter 40

Chapter 40
My reputation would be forever ruined.

I left the door and ran to the bathroom. The tub was filled with water. Good! I ripped the letter into pieces and tossed the fragments into the water. Right before my eyes, it vanished.

A loud bang shook the door. I jumped from sheer fright.

“Open the door!” the guard shouted.

“What are they still doing?.

This guards are totally insane.
I left the bathroom and returned to the door. “Go away!”

“I don't want to see any of you I shouted on top my voice.
Another bang came, louder this time. The door rattled and wood splintered. They were breaking in. 

I felt some relief that I had destroyed the letter, but I was still scared what these monsters would do to me.
I kept panting round the room.
Another bang and the door gave way.

They had completely damaged it.

They'll  need to pay for  damages.
The guards stormed in, with their eyes glowing with rage.

Searching my rooms as if they left something.

The first one grabbed my arm and turned to his companion. "Search her!"
“Let me go!” I shouted, twisting in his grip.

I tried to escape but he was too big for me.
I should resisted.

"Why did you run? What are you hiding?"
“Nothing. Just leave me alone!"

How many times do I have to tell you.

I have absolutely nothing to hide.

You had the guys to follow me to my room.
Ronan will hear of this and punish you both.

The first guard tightened his grip on my arm and yelled at his companion. "Search her!"

"No, let's take her to the king. She's hiding something. Running shows she's guilty."
Panic clawed at me. 

Are you both insane?.
You can go ahead and search me or my room.

I needed to pee that's why I ran away from you both.

Is that not a good reason for me to run?

Or would you prefer I peed in front of you? Huh answer me.

They kept silent.
It was a good thing I had destroyed the letter  earlier on before they eventually came in. 

But  they would take me to Ronan and he would know I was up to something. My stomach churned. I had alteady told them the reason for my running.
The second guard ran his hands over me. He checked my sleeves and turned up my neckline.

“Get off me!” I felt a surge of rage. It was dehumanising the way he was touching me. 

No one was allowed to touch me or any part of my body that way except for Ronan.

I kicked the shin of the guard searching me and elbowed the one holding me, catching him in the face.

Banking on their pain and surprise, I yanked free and dashed straight to the bathroom. Yeah, they would get me again, but I would have some time to think before they dragged me to Ronan.

I slammed the bathroom door and tried to think. I peered at the window, wondering if I should just jump and escape. The window was too small for me.
“Open this door! You are making this situation worse for yourself!”

You better don't make me break into it.

I pressed my back against the wall. How could I explain coming back late from the lessons? 

My mind was blank. It didn't help that the guards were banging on the door. They would break in soon and I still hadn't thought of any story.
The door shook with a violent bang. Just one bang and the door burst open. The guards stormed and grabbed me again.

“Move,” one of them growled. He yanked me forward so hard I stumbled.

I couldn't resist them now. The surprise factor was gone. The worst thing was my mind was empty. No rational thought dropped in my mind regarding excuses or explanations.
They dragged me into the hall and my heart pounded every step of the way. I was in deep trouble. 

Damn it, why did I even think going to Caius was a good idea?

Now I left to face my shame all by myself.

What do this guards really want from me.?
“Where are you taking me?” I asked with a shaky voice.

The first guard didn’t look at me. “To the king. He will deal with you personally.

My blood turned cold. Ronan’s cold eyes flashed in my mind. I remembered his promise that he wouldn't touch me anymore. 
He would instead unleash the undead guards on me.

"Wait, let me explain!” I tried to reason with the guards.

The second guard shoved me forward. “Save it for the king.”
We gave you enough time but you choose the hard way.

My heart sank. How do I get out of this mess?

Ronan’s POV

I stood on the balcony and focussed on the night sky. Blinking stars stared back at me. My hands gripped the stone railing. It was cold against my palm.
Caius’s defiance has been eating at me and I had no idea how exactly to confront it. 

He was right after all, I was loosing it.
He was the only person who could sense when something was off.

His sharp words back in the council hall still echoed in my head. I couldn't deny what was happening.

He had stood tall and called me weak, right in front of another general. If I let him keep getting away with that bullshit, he would grow more balls and do something worse that I could ever imagine.

I needed to stop him, and it had to be in a drastic way.

My chest felt tight as the incident replayed in my head.

His eyes and that smirk mocked me. I should have ended him right there. I held my axe to his throat, inches away from killing him, but I let him walk away. Why? My jaw clenched. Had I grown truly weak?

I really do need a break.

Years back, I would have treated his disrespect different. I have killed generals for smaller offences. 

Why on earth did I let go of him so easily.

My teeth ground together. I couldn’t lose control now. The witch was still out there, plotting and my kingdom was fragile. It felt like things were hanging by a thread. I had to be careful.