Page 21 of Cages and Crowns
Chapter Eleven
The Caged
I awake in the morning,unshackled. My arms feel better than they have in weeks. The welts less red and my muscles finally loose. I stretch out, sighing as I take in the massive bed. I curl back up in a ball, pulling the blankets up around me, relishing in the warmth.
Tobias was soft last night, caring even. We ate together, talking about nothing in particular, and then he held me again as we fell asleep. He was gentle and reminded me so much of the man he once was. I frown slightly thinking of the old Tobias. He was kind, but he was also doing the same things to me at night when I wouldn’t remember. He’s always been this way; I just didn’t know.But I know now.
Could things actually be different? Can I pretend tolove him in a way that doesn’t end up with me actually feeling that way?
The blankets are ripped off of me and I gasp. Davel is standing next to the bed, a smile plastered to his pockmarked face.His crooked teeth are biting into his lowerlip, and I want to gag.
“What do you want?” I snap, sitting up.
“Do you know where your husband is?” I look around the room, seeing that it’s empty. I shake my head. “He left to visit Tellavid. Meaning he will not be back until this evening.” I almost say something sarcastic, but the look in his eyes tells me that I am not about to like what he has to say.
“If you touch me again, I will tell him.” I warn, a lump already forming in my throat. He chuckles loudly, and I flinch.
“Do you think he’d believe you,whore? Who hasn’t been in between your legs?” He reaches forward, snatching my ankle. I kick out, but he grabs my other foot with his free hand. I kick as much as I can, but his grip is strong. He yanks me down, settling me against the edge of the bed.
“Get off of me!” I scream. I reach around, clawing his face. I leave deep gouges along his cheek, narrowly missing his eye. Blood pools in the wounds instantly and his eyes widen.
“You bitch!” His fist flies out, hitting my temple. My neck makes a weird cracking sound and I cry out as pain radiates down my spine. I can hear his pants dropping and I shake my head to clear the fogginess. He has my legs trapped in between his thighs and I kick out. I get a leg free and plant my foot against his hip, shoving him back.Panic barrels through me as I try and get free.
He trips on his pants and falls off the raised platform, landing on his backside. He shoots back up, righting his pants, as I scramble across the bed. My heart is in my throat as I throw myself over the other side of the mattress, landing hard on the marble floor. I get back to my feet, ignoring the pain snaking down my back and the bruises no doubt forming on my knees.
He jumps over the bed, reaching for me, but I dart out of the way at the right time, sending him sprawling across the ground. I run as fast as I can, and getto the door. His hand tangles in my hair, yanking me back against him. I feel strands rip from my scalp, and I scream before sending an elbow back, hitting his nose. He falls back to the floor, taking me down with him. His arm around me loosens just enough, and I slide out of his grasp. I get the door open and fall face first into the hallway.
I scramble to my feet and run as fast as I possibly can. I don’t pass a single guard, a single servant in the hallway. I reach the stairs and fly down them, my bare feet sliding on the slippery floor. My nightgown is short, and I know I am probably going to give anyone I pass an eyeful of my body, but I don’t stop.
I can hear him running after me, and I fully let the tears fall as he gains ground. Where the hell is everyone? I cross through the side exit and see the stables. Not only do I see the stables, but I see Tobias is still sitting on Wyclif talking to a man in a red cloak.
His head shoots up in my direction and he quickly dismounts, fury pooling in his eyes. He meets me halfway and I throw my arms around him.
“He–he tried to rape me.” I spit out, breathlessly. He holds me close to him and I can feel as his head snaps up. His hand holds my head against his chest, his arm wrapping around my back.
“She’s lying.” Davel retorts, just as breathless. “She tried to run.”
“I didn’t, Tobias. Please believe me. He said you were gone, headed to Tellavid and that you wouldn’t believe me.” The words tumble out of me in a single breath along with a steady stream of tears.
“That’s not true!” I lean back and grasp the sides of Tobias’s face, begging for him to believe me.
“If you love me at all, look at me. Look at what he did.” I can feel the blood dripping from my hairline, feel the muscles in my neck spasming from whatever he did to it. His eyes search my face, taking in every scrape and bruise.
“Put him in the dungeon.” I nearly melt into him as a sob escapes my throat. He bends slightly and I wrap my legs around his waist as he lifts me. He’s walking, and I think he’s going to take me to the palace, but we step into thestables. Silence blankets us and it almost feels as if the shadows are pushing in around us, giving us privacy. He sets me down on a workbench and pulls back. He brushes hair away from my face and I wince when he touches my temple.
“What happened?” He asks as he searches my skin for every wound.
“Tobias, he said that he wasn’t the only one who’s touched me.” I whimper and his eyes snap back to mine.
“What?”
“He said that he wouldn’t be the first.” My voice cracks and I suck in a shaky breath. I’m not pretending this time. The pain and desperation I feel is real. And I hate to admit that the comfort of being here with him is real too.
“Are you saying that others have touched you?” His voice is deep, edged in anger.
“Not to my knowledge, but have you ever left mealonewhen I am too drugged to remember? Have you left me alone during any time I could be vulnerable?” He ponders this for a moment and then his face hardens before shock settles into his features.
“Gods, Ela, I’m sorry.” He pulls me to his chest, and I relax into it, into him. Cedar and smoke wafting around us, mixing with the scent of hay and horse, and for once I feel safe in his arms.Elaenor, what are you doing?
