Chapter 8 Eight.
Until now, I wasn’t even aware that King Sven already had someone he planned to make Luna. Her presence only raises more questions. If King Sven already has a future Luna, then why does he want me to accept our mate bond and bear him a child? Why can’t he just let her bear the child he so desperately needs? I have a theory as to why, but I can't say for sure because King Sven isn’t entirely Fae. He’s a hybrid.
“News circulating the palace says King Sven has taken you as his personal slave,” Katniss says, standing before me, her head held high, sizing me up like I’m prey. “It’s rare for King Sven to do such a thing. Tell me, did you bewitch him?”
“Don’t you think he’d be dead by now if I could?” I reply without thinking.
Of all the reactions I expect, laughter isn’t one of them. But Katniss laughs—boisterous, unabashed. Tears slip down her cheeks as she finally speaks again. “Bold words. Dangerous ones for someone whose head should’ve been on a stake last week.”
“But it’s not. And as long as I’m alive, there’s hope for my freedom. Death is the least of my fears,” I say, my gaze unflinching.
Katniss sobers, her smug expression returning. “Do you know why people call Fae foolish creatures?”
I say nothing, and she takes that as her cue to continue.
“Let me tell you a story,” she begins. “A long time ago, there was a Fae—an arrogant Fae, might I add. Even after the walls of Eris had fallen, he kept praying amidst the bloodshed of his people. He cried. Fasted. Even cut himself. He was later taken captive by the people of Selenium and placed on a cross to bleed to death. Even in the face of death, he never lost faith in your goddess. Do you know what his last words were?”
She lets the question hang in the air before answering it herself.
“‘Why me,’ he said. And with his last breath, he cursed your goddess— Elysia. He cursed ever having Fae blood. He begged for mercy. He was Lord Yangtze, King of Eris.”
“And why do you think I need to know all this?”
“Because, like him, you cling to a false illusion of prerogative —a foolish hope of gaining freedom.”
“Maybe so,” I reply, keeping my voice steady. “I might be at King Sven’s mercy, but I won't break.”
She scoffs, crossing her arms. “Is that so? I happened to be there in the council chambers and I'm positive I saw you clinging like a leech to King Sven, begging to be saved from Lord Emmett and his wife. Is that your idea of being unbroken?”
“You seem to mistake my will to survive for surrendering.”
“But you did ask to be granted death. How is that part of your will to survive?”
“I asked for death,” I say evenly. “Not because I’m broken, but because even death is a choice—a choice I can make for myself, unlike this cage I’m trapped in. But don’t mistake that for surrendering. Because as long as I’m breathing, I’ll keep hoping.”
“A fine sentiment, but tell me, how long do you really think you’ll last under King Sven’s rule?” She jibes. “You're like a toy to him. When he’s done having his fun with you, you’ll be nothing more than a memory, like Lord Yangtze.”
Katniss and I lock eyes in a silent standoff, and I can’t help but think how little she knows. She has no idea that her future husband already has a mate – me – and that I’m expected to bear his child before I can even be granted death. What King Sven doesn’t know, however, is that I plan on escaping this kingdom long before any of that happens.
After a while, Katniss breaks eye contact and takes a step back, her lips curling into a sneer. “You should have gone with Lord Emmett, really. Sven will break you till there's nothing left of you to mend. Your confidence will dwindle soon, and you’ll learn your place,” she says coldly. “If you survive, that is.”
“You're jealous, aren't you?” I ask, feeling bolder.
“Why would I be jealous of a mere slave?”
“The same slave your beloved King Sven will be bedding tonight,” I say with disdain. “You have a man who sleeps around with other women, so I believe that's enough for you to be jealous. In all honesty, Katniss, you look unloved.”
Her eyes narrow as she moves towards me and raises her hand as if to strike me. “You know nothing about me. Keep your mouth shut!”
“Or what? You’ll slap me? Go ahead. I’m only speaking the truth.”
Katniss trembles with barely restrained rage, tears welling in her eyes before she drops her hand. “I’ll make sure your days here are hell,” she hisses.
With that, she turns on her heel and leaves, closing the door with a bang.
I release a sigh as I rise from the bed. Why did I provoke her? Was it the stress of my situation? Or the looming nightmare of tonight—the night I’ll lose my virginity to King Sven, the man who destroyed my home. I can't even believe I brought it up so casually to Katniss.
I cross the room to the window. From there I can see it's evening already, and my view is that of a thick forest — the area lit with lanterns. There are no guards around. It's a perfect escape route. My fingers barely graze the glass before I'm abruptly pushed back to the ground. Isadora was right. The window is bound by a spell to trap whatever is within. It's like a magnetic field.
I let out a frustrated huff. I have to think of another way to escape…
“Thinking of ways to escape?” A voice shoots from behind me.
The shackles weigh heavily on my ankles as I attempt to get off the ground. When I finally get my bearings and turn around, King Sven is waiting by the door, watching me with a taunting smile. I was completely unaware that he had come in.
“Shocked?” He steps closer. “Why do you fight so hard to escape when it will only throw you into a den of wolves?”
“I was just checking the view outside,” I lie, my throat dry.
King Sven stops in front of me. “Really? I guess you wanted a scenic view of what freedom might feel like once again — how optimistic.”
“No. I just wanted to take in the view of nature,” I reply. I don't want him to know I plan on escaping. If he does, I'm sure he'll probably place me under Twenty-Four hour surveillance.
“Perhaps after you give me a child, I should take you straight to the edge of a cliff,” he quips with a smirk. “But don’t worry, I hear the view from the bottom is the best nature has to offer. That aside, you know what I'm here for so why don't we get straight to it.”
Of course I know what he's here for, but that doesn't make it any easier on me.
“Strip, my little Fae,” he commands, a wicked smile on his face as he brings his hand to my face and I stop breathing for a moment. “Or would you want me to do that for you?”
“I'll do it myself. After all, it's nothing you haven't seen before.”
He laughs, withdrawing his hands from me before taking a seat on a chair near the window. “Well said. Do your best to give me a show.”
My palms grow sweaty, heart pounding loudly as I force myself to look away. This is happening. I'm about to lose my virginity to the one man that's the cause of my misery — the man who waged war against my people.
Slowly, I lift my hand to the rope securing my garment, untying it with trembling fingers. It slips from my shoulders, pooling at my feet and leaving me completely exposed.
“Why are you acting shy? After all, it's nothing I haven't seen before,” he mocks. “Come closer.”
I take a slow breath and bring my gaze to meet his before moving closer, the rattling sounds of the shackles echoing through the room as though they're mocking me.
“On your knees, my little Fae,” he adds, calmly, one hand resting on his chin.
I don't break the gaze between us as I fall to my knees, my heart running a marathon as I come face to face with his bulge. From the outline of his trousers alone I can tell he's huge, and that made me even more nervous.
His smirk deepens as he leans closer, his fingers grazing my lower lips. “Ever given a blow job?”
“Why does it matter?”
He laughs, taking his hand off my face. “I like my women experienced, especially when it comes to sex, but I don't mind teaching you everything you need to know.”
“And if I bite?”
He grins wickedly. “I don't mind some pain, baby.”