Page 10 of Immortal Origins
“I-I couldn’t possibly sir, it wouldn’t be right of me to assume the companionship of someone of your status,” she rushed out, turning to face him.
Sheneededto see him.
Stopped a few paces behind her, his facial features twisted in the candlelight. The cape he’d been holding was pooled at his feet like a pool of blood. Every nerve in her body told her to run. To get away as far and fast as she could. She mapped out the amount of paces left to the servant dorms but they were still too far to thank him, run, pretend like she was really tired, and disappear.
No.
To run now would be to run from a ranking member of the Imperial Guard.
Not a light offense.
Weighing her options, she tried to think of the words that could turn him, bore him, or make him go away back to his bed and forget all about her.
“You know, you’re quite pretty.” He cocked his head to the side. The light of her candle flickered and she caught a good look at his rank.
Not good.
“Thank you, sir. That’s a huge compliment from someone of your status.” The words spilled from her mouth as quickly as her thoughts raced. Her heartbeat drummed in her ears as fear told her torun.
“How about a proper thank you then?” No sooner were the words out of his mouth, he closed the gap between them.
Her heart beat so hard she was sure he’d be able to hear it with how close he was. She knew there were predators in the palace and she’d fallen right into this one’s trap. His hands snaked their way around her waist, one of them closed around her wrist and pulled it behind her back while the other reached up to wrap his fingers in her braid, pulling it down so her face would meet his. He pressed his body firmly against hers and brought their faces so close together his hot breath spread across her cheeks.
“You know, you servants are one of my favorite things about being stationed in the palace. Royalty always gets the best of the best and you’re all just so pretty andtempting… I just can’t help myself. It’s like you’re here just for me, ripe for the taking. And no one stops me. No one says anything.” Her scalp tingled as he brought his mouth down to where her neck met her shoulder and pressed himself even further into her. As his lips brushed her skin she wished she could rip out of it. Her body went stiff against his.
She couldn’t refuse him. To refuse him would be a dangerous offense. A servant who outright defied the guard defied the gods.
She couldnotrefuse him.
It would be a crime that could forfeit her life. His body towering over hers made her feel like a mouse caught by a cat while the feline decided just how it wanted to play with it. How much would the little mouse struggle?
She knew there was nothing she could do. She should submit, and it would be over before she knew it.
How long could it last anyway?
Were a few excruciating moments worth being executed for?
Maybe it wouldn’t be that bad.
Maybe she could forget all about it after. Like it never happened.
Throw it from her mind.
His hand slipped from her wrist and found its way to the brooch that was the only thing holding her gown in place. With one click on that tiny lock he could pull it away from her with ease. Panic boiled in her chest.
She reminded herself this was her duty. She couldn’t say no.
His fingers swept over the only piece of jewelry given to her kind and pressed on the tiny gold clasp—
NO!
A blast of energy ripped them apart, the guard’s body thrown across the corridor but he landed on his feet. Her breaths came desperately as she stared at him and processed what she’d just done. She looked from her extended hand to the guard that stared back at her with only a sliver of confusion slapped on top of rage. The shock on his face a mirror of her own before he reigned it into a look of murderous determination.
No going back now.
Ambrose cleared her mind and honed all her attention. With the shock quickly fading, the man in front of her had just become the most dangerous thing in the palace. A soldier who had been beaten down and built backup into the perfect weapon. Never before had she been more grateful for her training. The moment she’d been preparing for but never thought would actually come. Her brother knew she would never fall in line. The endless lectures of accepting her place and the order of things. How they couldn’t have control but they could be grateful for the gifts that were given. Lectures they both knew fell on deaf ears. All while he trained her until her back gave out. She would never accept her place. And now it could be what signed her death warrant.
Maybe Ms. Asquith was right about it getting her killed one day.
