Page 33 of Glass and Bone
“Tobias and I– we haven’t done anything yet.” I stammer.
“But you will, a few hours means nothing.” His lips brush the edge of my mouth and I try to push against him. His breath is hot, fanning over my face.
“He’s yourson.” My voice is loud and hoarse as I try to convey my discomfort.
“And you’reherdaughter.” He growls before biting my bottom lip. I kick out, hitting him in the shin, but he isn’t fazed. His hand starts to hike up my skirt.
“Stop, please!” I cry out and he pulls my lip into his mouth, sucking on it. He forces me back, the tapestry sliding over us as he shoves me against the wall. I resort to hitting and pushing, but he doesn’t budge.
“We don’t have much time.” He mutters against my mouth, his tongue trying to force its way between my lips. How did he know I would be here without Tobias? How does he know when Tobias will return? Unless…
“You sent him away, didn’t you?” I whisper into his mouth, fighting against his touch and nearly gagging at the taste of him. Whatever he is taking for the illness tastes like death, or maybe that’s just him.
“You just needed to get away from him so you could find me, and you found me. I’ve been here waiting for you all along.” His voice sounds pained as he pulls at the fabric between my legs. I scream loudly and he growls in anger. “You are making a scene.” He whispers, his teeth biting down on my neck. I scream out in pain as his dull teeth pierce through my skin. He snarls before loosening his grip and stepping back. I nearly collapse onto the floor headfirst from the release of pressure, my hands barely catching me as my knees slam into the marble. “Very well, then.” His face returns to its cold, empty nature, his eyes gaze hungrily down my body as he bites his lip. “Another time, perhaps?” He spins on his heels and walks out of the throne room as quickly as he came in. My eyes linger on the empty doorway.
I can feel the nausea creeping up on me and I frantically look around for something to vomit in. A small empty vase lies at the bottom of the dais waiting for flowers. I pull myself up and quickly run over to it, barely making it in time. My eyes water as burning liquid pours out of my throat. I shudder as the memory of his touch, histasteclouds my senses, sending another wave of vomit out of my mouth. Once I’m done, I sit back and try to steady my breathing. Tears stream down my face and I wipe them away with my cold, shaky fingertips.
His touch, hispossessionreminds me of those men. He owns me. The king. Tobias. My father. Everyone owns a part of me.
What is he hoping to accomplish? Is this normal? Was my father right all along? Am I truly destined for a life like this?
Once my breathing settles, I stand on unsteady legs. I need to tell Tobias, hope that he knows what to say or do. Maybe he’ll just keep me away from the king. I’m sure he doesn’t have much time left, not enough time to force me to be alone again.
Why does this keep happening to me?
Chapter Fourteen
I wait a few moments before I exit the throne room. I can hear his leather shoes slapping the marble floors to the right, so I quickly turn to the left, back the way I originally came. Tears are still pouring down my face, my nose dripping with snot. I turn the corner quickly and run face first into a hard chest. Sweet grass fills my nose as hands wrap around my shoulders to steady me and I get the strange sense of deja vu.
“Woah, Nora? Are you okay?" Theo dips his head slightly, so his face is level with mine. “What happened?” He demands as he wipes at the tears dripping down my face.
I can’t fight the sobs that come out of my throat as he folds me against him. I know I shouldn’t let him touch me, let him hold me when Tobias could walk by at any moment, but it feels good, and I hate it. My body fits perfectly against his, as if we were molded for each other. I can feel a spark everywhere his skin is touching mine. I can feel my heart begging and pleading to stay right here for the rest of time, and I hate myself for it.
“Talk to me?” He whispers against my hair, and I wipe my nose on my hand, trying to keep the snot off his tunic.
“The king.” I choke out as I pull myself out of his grasp.
“What about him?” His voice is cold, stern. His eyes darken as I meet his gaze. “What did he do?”
“I was in the throne room, exploring, and he came up behind me.” A small squeak escapes my lip as I fight against the chills running through my body. “He was touching me, trying to get under my dress. He was forcing himself on me, biting my neck and my lips.” I nearly gag as I remember the smell of the tincture, the taste of his tongue. Warm fingers brush against my neck and he sighs loudly.
“There areliteralteeth marks on your neck, Nora.” Theo growls, his voice doing little to hide his anger. I start to shake harder, the sobs wreaking havoc on my body.
“Oh gods.” I cry and he pulls me back into his chest.
“Youneedto stay away from him. Never walk around alone, always have Laris or Tano with you.” Tano must be the other guard, the one with yellow hair. Theo’s voice is hard, strained, as if it’s taking everything in him to not go after his father and to just stay here with me.
“He said that he could get me pregnant. That he can guarantee I’ll carry a boy, an heir, and that Tobias would never know.” I mutter against his chest. The cotton tunic is partially open, his golden skin warm against my cheek.
“Gods. It has to be the sickness, or the medicine. It has to be making him act like this. This isn’t him.”
“He said he’s been waiting for me for a very long time. When I said Tobias was his son, he said I washerdaughter. He means my mother, right? Why would he be obsessed with me being her daughter?” He stills under me, and I pull out of his arms again. He refuses to make eye contact with me, so I step away from him. What is he hiding? “What do you know?” He sighs and runs a hand through his light hair.
“Your mother lived here at one time. I believe my father was in love with her.” The way he speaks is so nonchalant, like it’s common knowledge that my mother and his father had some sort of connection.
“Wait. What?” My eyes widen and my voice comes out louder than I expected, startling myself. “What about Queen Amaya?”
“Your mother was engaged to King Argent; did you know that?” I shake my head, my mind reeling. “She lived here with Argent for a couple of years. When he died, my father wanted to keep her as his queen, to rule over the kingdoms like she was meant to do with Argent. The problem was, he was already married to my mother, Tobias was a toddler, and my mother was pregnant with me. He couldn’t leave her.” This doesn’t make sense. My mother livedhere? How did she end up in Chatis?
