Page 34 of The Labyrinth

He was taking an awfully long time to come back. Could he have gotten hurt somewhere, attacked on the streets he told me were dangerous? What if he was gravely hurt, bleeding out on the bright green grass that separated the buildings? What if…I caught my breath. What if he was so badly hurt he would never return to the house? I would never look upon his face again. Never see that flicker of emotion pass through his gaze. I would rot in this room, my flesh decaying, and my bones gathering dust while I waited for a man who I wasn’t sure even liked me to return.

There was no way for me to know how much time had passed except by getting up and looking out the thick curtains to see where the moon was in the sky. But I didn’t want to admit to myself I was worried about Ten, so instead I lay in bed and worried. And thought. And stressed.

What if…

What if…

What if…

I was driving myself crazy with these questions I couldn’t answer. My chest tightened, my breathing shallower. It had been an awfully long time. Too long. I could imagine Ten’s body in all sorts of twisted positions, his last breaths leaving his body as I rotted in my too-soft bed.

Where was he? He should be back by now.It felt like years had passed since Ten left. Maybe I just needed to resign myself to the inevitable. I flopped over, turning away from the curtains begging me to open them and see how long he had truly been gone.

Downstairs, a door opened and shut.

I sat upright.Ten? It occurred to me someone else could have entered the house. Someone else could be creeping up the stairs toward my room. Someone who wanted to hurt me could be unlocking and twisting the knob.

I sprang to my feet, looking around for a weapon. Of course, there weren’t any. But whoever was on the other side of that door, I wasn't letting them take me alive. I assumed an attack stance like Bear had taught me, ready for whatever was waiting for me. The door swung open, and on the other side of the door stood Ten, looking absolutely furious. His expression shifted to one of surprise, before it changed back. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Me?” I snapped. “What the hell areyoudoing? You lock me in here and leave me for fuck knows how long, and I thought you were fucking dead. I thought I was going to die alone locked in this room! Where the fuck were you?” I thought I would be more angry he had left me here. Instead I was more relieved that he stood before me, no worse for the wear.

I expected him to yell at me. To tell me I was being disrespectful, punish me for daring to question him. Instead he crossed the space between us in a few quick steps, gripping my throat with one of his large hands. He brought me to his mouth as I gasped for air, kissing me deeply. I was fairly certain my feet weren’t touching the floor. The edges of my vision faded to black as Ten kissed me hard, slipping his tongue between my lips. Finally, right as I thought I was going to pass out, he pulled back, releasing my throat enough that I could suck in a quiet gasp.

“You’re mine, you know that, right?” he murmured, his free hand sliding down my face. “Mine and only mine. Yes, deliciae?”

“Ye…yes,” I choked out. “Yours.”

Ten released me, stepping closer until I stumbled, the backs of my legs hitting the bed. “I need to know you’re mine, Rissa. I need there to be no doubt in my mind.”

I sat back on the bed, and Ten leaned over me, encompassing me, swallowing me whole with his bulk. I shuffled back, and he crawled on top of me. “I’m yours,” I said. “I promise.”

Because I was, wasn’t I? I had been since the moment we locked eyes inside my shack. I had known I would go with him, and I would do whatever he asked. He wanted to possess me, and possess me he had. He wanted me, and me alone. There was something downright delectable about the idea of being chosen. Beingspecial.

Ten hovered over me, something cool and sharp tickling my thigh. I tried to look down, and see what he was playing with, but he shook his head, pushing my head back onto the bed. He looked into my eyes, that funny emotion flashing past again. “Are you mine, Rissa?” he repeated.

“Yes, Master,” I whispered.

“Mine to do with as I please?” The tickling moved higher up my thigh.

“Yes, Master.” Higher now, brushing along the inside of my flesh, closest to my pussy. My heart thumped, ricocheting off my rib cage like it was desperate to escape.

“Mine to use? To play with? To…mark?” His voice was a breathless command, and on the last word the tickle turned sharp. I knew immediately he was holding a knife.

There was only one response, though. I would let him do whatever he wanted to me. “Yes.”

“I’m going to brand you, deliciae. I’m going to mark you with my initials, right here, on your pretty little leg.” The poking was there again, the tip of the knife digging into my flesh. “I’m going to put my initials on you so no one will ever touch you except for me. It’s going to hurt. Are you ready?”

I squirmed beneath his touch, and he gripped my leg tightly. “Yes, Master.”

The first slice of the knife was quick, piercing my skin with a delicate beauty I hadn’t expected. Then came the pain. It blinded everything, making my world go small. I screamed, tensing my body as Ten held me tightly, slicing me open with his other hand. I imagined him spilling my insides, cutting me up into tiny pieces with his knife. I would let him.

Something warm was running down my leg, and still Ten cut. My scream died out, and I disassociated from what was happening. Somewhere, in another life, Ten was branding me, owning me. But here, there was no pain.

“You’re doing such a good job, deliciae. You bleed so prettily for me,” Ten murmured. “Fuck, your blood is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I wish you could see it.”

I shifted, and Ten pulled back.

“I’m done. Sit up and admire yourself.”

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