Page 105 of Their Blood Queen

My jaw drops open.

Why would it disappear?

Unless…

“Check her,” the Duchess says with a snap of her finger.

The blood drains from my face when I realize who the cloaked figures are. Reflective metal glints on their chest as they move, betraying stethoscopes hiding underneath the fabric. They’re not servants.

They’re medical doctors. All of them male, based on their physiques.

Check her.

What are they going to check?

I already know the horrible answer. “Beatrix!” I scream when a rough hand grabs my wrist and yanks me to the floor.

The Duchess rolls her eyes as Beatrix looks like she’s going to break her jaw if she clenches it any harder. “She can’t help you. Stay still for the examination, girl. It’ll be easier for everyone without hysterics.”

I’ll show you hysterics, you?—

Another man is on top of me, and all I can hear is the sound of my enraged screams paired with the tearing of fabric.

Riiiip.

What’s left of my dress is yanked off of my chest, leaving me exposed as I try to use my teeth. I’m rewarded with a male’s grunt as I snag a finger and chomp down until I taste blood.

They want to treat me like an animal? I’ll behave like one.

It’s unnecessary to completely strip me for the examination, but Duchess Rinhold has chosen to make this some sort of humiliation. My jaw is wrenched open by a strong grip, freeing the trapped finger, as the work is continued.

“Where is Edward!” I scream.

The Duchess straightens as another man grabs my knees, but I lock them closed.

No.

They can’t.

Julie finally unlatches from her rooted position, and the tray of tonics shatters onto the floor. She screams as she rushes one of the men, but they easily pull her aside. Beatrix is crying as they drag both women out of the room.

At least they won’t have to see this.

“Edward will hate you for this!” I bellow as the male fights with my legs that I refuse to open.

I’m going to kill them.

“Trust me, I already hate her,” my betrothed’s voice says from the doorway.

My strength wavers when I see him. His face is expressionless, but his eyes seem sad.

Yet, he does nothing. He stands there in the doorway with his hands folded and watches. I want to beg him to take off his gloves and show me his palm so I can see for myself.

He was wearing gloves yesterday, too.

Gloves are currently out of fashion, but now both Edward and his mother are wearing them. And Edward has been wearing them for days.

He knew.

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