Biyu stirred in her bed,the sheets sticking to her sweaty body and an uncomfortable tugging at her feet making her want to kick forward. But it was probably Jade, her cat, kneading on her feet, or wrestling with her toes. She groaned softly and pushed the heavy blanket off her body. It was too hot in the room. Humid and stuffy, as was the case in the summer. She always ran hot—it was probably a side effect from her preference for fire magic. Or maybe her preference was the direct effect of her body naturally always being so warm. She never really cared to think too hard on it.
She threw an arm over her eyes and sighed. She had thought for sure she had opened the window last night to allow the cool night air to filter into her room, but it was still so muggy. The uncomfortable tugging on her toes continued, and she pulled her legs higher. Her eyes were still closed as she turned in the bed.
“A little more,” a male voice murmured, shattering through her groggy, half-sleepy thoughts.
All the hairs on her body rose.
Who … was that?
Her sleep vanished and she jerked upright in her bed, her hands fisting over the blankets to cover her body. The curtainssurrounding her bed were pulled back, tied together with the silver threaded tassels, at the end of the bed, one of the palace guards, Chao, stood. One hand of his hands was in his pants, and the other rubbing her foot. She didn’t dare stare at the bulge in his pants, or the lecherous expression on his face as he gawked at her night dress sticking to her curves.
She screamed, kicking his hand and backing away until she slammed against her headboard. Her long, waist-length hair tangled behind her and stuck to the sides of her sweat-slicked face. She yanked the blanket up to her heaving chest, staring wide eyed as he continued to pleasure himself while watching her.
He wasn’t allowed here.No onewas allowed here.
The creeping realization and dread hit her even as her mind refused to believe what she was seeing. A memory gripped her tightly, where something similar had unfolded, but she refused to go there—refused to remember the horror of that day.
Chao made a groaning, breathless sound. “Come on, princess. Take that off if you’re so hot.”
“What are you doing here?” Her voice came out shrill and she held the heavy, woolen blanket over herself. Her gaze cut over to the open window shutters, filtering in warm, humid air, and then to her door. She could try to run to the window, but she certainly wouldn’t survive the four-story fall, and the door … He was blocking it and could easily grab her if she tried it.
“Make that face again.” He moaned again, the corners of his mouth lifting up as she remained rooted where she was.
“What are you doing here?” she practically screamed, splaying herself against the headboard even more, as if her body could warp right through the lacquered wood, or disappear into the fibers of it.
“Take it off,” he growled, gaze lingering on her breasts, which were outlined by her night robes. “Now?—”
“You’re not supposed to be here.” Her voice trembled. She was alone with him. Anything could happen. Even though her guards weren’t allowed to do anything with her, they had all certainly wanted to try it at one point or another. She could tell by the lustful look in their eyes as she grew older. None had done anything, but they acted like they could do whatever they wished with her body. After all, she was a disgraced, abandoned prisoner.
“Take. It. Off.” He reached for his sword with his free hand, his other hand not slowing down.
“Get out!” Biyu grabbed the first heavy object she could from her nightstand—a lantern with an unlit candle inside—and chucked it at him, but he ducked just in time, the object crashing onto her floor and the glass splintering into a dozen pieces. Biyu lurched to her feet and sprinted to the door. Her hands had just wrapped around the handle when her head snapped back. The guard held a fistful of her hair and reeled her against him while she thrashed and screamed, her nails raking against his hands.
Ash filled her mouth.This couldn’t be happening.
The putrid smell of garlicky fish and rank sweat filled her nostrils as he breathed against her neck. Razors ran down her spine and the backs of her eyes burned. But she refused to give up, refused to freeze up like last time. She kicked him, harder, and screamed with everything she had.
“Let me go! Let me go!” Biyu’s elbow connected with his ribs. “Let me?—”
“Just stop?—”
Biyu stomped on his foot with all her might and elbowed him simultaneously. He instantly released her with a curse, and she yanked the door open and bolted outside. She only took four steps out before barreling into two palace guards. They weren’t her personal guards—at lease none she recognized. One of themclamped a hand on her bicep to keep her from crashing to the floor.
“You fucking bitch—” Chao started, rushing out of her room.
Biyu tried pulling away from the guard holding her, whose dark eyes flicked over her figure and then back to Chao, whose clothes were still rumpled and disheveled. At least he didn’t have his hand in his pants anymore, but his filthy hands were now clutching the hilt of his sword.
“Release me!” she shrieked. “You’re not allowed to touch me! I’m a princess! A princess!”
They should have been able to hear her screaming back when she was alone in the room with Chao, so why hadn’t they done anything? The answer slowly dawned on her as all three guards exchanged glances and began to chuckle. As if she was a petulant child throwing a tantrum.
Had they all … known?
Horror sliced through her until it was hard to breathe. Were they all planning on doing something with her? Were they going to … take turns? Her stomach turned to acid and her legs shook. That couldn’t be right. Nobody was allowed to touch her. Nobody was allowed to be in her room. Nobody was allowed to do this to her.
She was still a princess.
Biyu backed away from them both, yanking her arm harder, her chest heaving. Finally, the guard released his hold on her and she nearly slammed against the hallway wall.
