Page 71 of Consort's Dragon
The moment they were married,Titus turned on Avera with a leer.“And now to make some heirs.”
The thought of him touching any part of her disgusted, just like her inability to fight depressed.Drugged and unable to protest, she was led into the tower by her new and much too eager husband.
The viziers remained on the roof with the three collared—and very angry—dragons.How she wished she’d trusted her gut.Fled when she had a chance.
Killed Titus.
The man dragged her down the steps, chattering as if this were the best day of his life.“…once they are grown, no country will be able to stand against us.”
“You plan to conquer the world?”
“Of course.”
“What of Zhos?”
He waved a hand.“Will be handled.I can’t have that thing interfering with my plans.It is regrettable that we need to kill at least one if not two of the dragons and lose a third sending it through the rift, but what is a few months while we wait for them to hatch and grow full-sized again?”
“You’re assuming they’ll let you trap them a second time,” she pointed out.
“They will come to heel.It is my destiny.”
“Let me guess, Kachezi told you so.”
“She claims I will be the last emperor this world ever knows.Now enough talk about my grand future.Disrobe.”
He shoved Avera into the bedroom she’d been using.Despite the magical compulsion urging her to obey, she pressed her back against the wall and shook her head.“No.”A single syllable uttered through reluctant lips.
“You do realize your refusal won’t stop me.You won’t be the first unwilling bride I’ve bedded.”His lips curved cruelly.
“You are depraved.I wonder what your citizens would think if they knew.”
“They know exactly who and what I am.”
She thought of Prielli and those in the streets cheering their emperor.“I find that hard to believe.Your people seem to love you.”
“They love their miserable lives.There are consequences for those who defy me.Those who speak poorly of me.Those who would greet me with anything but fervor.I brook no dissent.And those who dare lose their heads along with those of their family.It provides a great incentive, don’t you think?”
Avera felt faint at just how deep the web of lies spread.
Titus removed his shirt and advanced on her, muttering, “Time for you to learn the same lesson as them.”
Her breathing came quick and frightened.Her hands clenched but refused to rise and defend herself.
Titus neared enough for her to smell his sweat.To see the perverse gleam in his gaze.
Her stomach cramped hard, and her thighs wetted as if she’d pissed herself.She glanced down and gasped at the red stain spreading across the white gown.
Titus looked too and swore.“Klothi didn’t mention your menses had started.”
Avera didn’t comment on the fact it shouldn’t have been due at all as she’d endured it during her brief tenure in the palace.However, this sudden gush couldn’t have arrived at a better time.
“Bedding you now would be a waste.You will inform me when you’re done bleeding.”
With that order, Titus stormed out of the room and Avera slumped with relief.A relief that would only last a few days.There had to be a way to escape before Titus raped her.But how?The lava filled the channels outside making the plains impassable.Even if she did manage to get past them, the bridge had been removed—or burned away.She wouldn’t be able to cross the chasm or evade the army camped on the other side.
She couldn’t give up, though.There had to be a way out of here.Only, thinking proved hard with her shaking body.
She sank to the floor and hugged her knees to her chest as she rocked with silent sobs, allowing herself a moment of distress.Emptying herself out of her despair so she might fill the void with resolve.
