Page 23 of Of Rime and Ruin
And when he placed my hand on his neck.Gods.
If those muscles weren’t thick as ropes, I might have done what he asked. If I had a knife, how long would it have taken me to saw through them?
I blink to clear the vile thought. I’m not violent, and I do what I’m told, mostly. A little rebellious, sure, but notviolent. What is it about that male that brings out the absolute worst in me?
It must be the cold. No one who lives in this climate could have an ounce of warmth in their heart.
I pull my tail into my chest and shiver. My teeth chatter, the noise echoing dully through my cage.
The walls are thick, too thick to claw my way out. An iron gate bars the exit, each rung clinging with frost too cold to touch. A coat of rime covers my tail like white lace, dulling its vibrant color. I swipe my thumb down my scales, clearing the residue to maintain the shine.
I will not succumb so easily.
But the frost keeps forming, and after hours of passing my time clearing the shit from my tail, hopelessness descends.
I swipe and swipe. Saltwater pricks in my eyes, warm and then cold. Why the fuck did I leave again? To avoid being trapped in a marriage?
Like this is much better.
Winona was right. I’m foolish. Stubborn. Led by my guppish whims.
How naïve of me to think I’d have control of my future. The tides of fate have never treated me so kindly.
I take to swimming laps in my cage. Round and round. I kick my tail lazily, turning at the corners. It’s a small space, but at least I have room to move. The exercise warms my blood, and the movement warms the water. Not by much, but it’s better than it was.
Gradually, the water darkens. Nightfall, I assume, though I can’t see the sky. When the blackness descends completely, I hear a screech of metal. Someone jingling the lock.
I move to the back of my cage, heart pounding. Is it the king, here to taunt me further?
A Voice comes, tenor in pitch, not the deep rumbling bass of the king. A golden thread of light emits from the siren’s mouth.
A different male, then. His small eyes reflect the light as it spirals from his lips, then fingers. His voice is sharp and raspy.
“Hello?” I call. Fuck it. He already knows I’m in here, and I won’t cower in the corner.
His Voice purrs around the words. “I’ve come to inspect your condition.” His light slithers through the bars, swirls around my wrists, and snakes up the length of my arms. Warm.
“Inspect away.” I want to lean into the magic, and its heat is hard to ignore. But I stiffen and hold my posture. “I’m in no position to resist you.”
He smiles, and his perfect teeth reflect the light. “Says the female who ruffled His Majesty’s gills this morning. I believe you have more power than you admit.”
“I’m not powerful.”
His magic brushes beneath my chin, then sprawls over my chest. “We mustn’t tell lies, my sweet.” His lips snarl around the words so briefly I think I imagine it.
“Now hold still. This won’t hurt.” He pauses. “Much.”
“Much?” I repeat, fear spiking. But he doesn’t answer. His song alters, taking on a deeper tone. His magic rears, then dives beneath my skin with a stinging thread.
I gasp, watching with awed horror as the light swims beneath the surface of my skin, illuminating the sinew and bone.
“Anywhere giving you pain?”
“My ass,” I quip. His magic crawls lower, passing over my stomach, then hips.
He hums as he inspects my hind end. “I’m not finding anything.”
I roll my eyes. “Your king,” I clarify. “He’s a pain in my ass. He sent you to poke at me, no?”
