Page 71 of The Iron Fae
The guard raises the whip and slashes it back down. Lincoln's screams replay through the valley. The crowd gasps, many holding their breath or taking a step back. But they can't leave. No, Cordelia needs an audience and they have no choice but to stay.
"No,” I yell again, looking to the crowd. "I am your queen. I am your queen." I repeat the sentiment as the tears fall in streams against my cheeks, making the skin taut. "Stop hurting him. He's mine. And I love him."
Lincoln's shoulders shake, as he hunches forward, pulling the rope as far forward as they'll go. His pain lives inside his mind, angry and shameful.
Cordelia's face glows with purple anger. "Oh, youlovehim."
Her heels dig into the soft dirt of the earth and she storms towards Lincoln. Blood drips down his back, his skin flushed a bright pink. As she walks to him, she starts picking up the fabric of her skirt. It slides high up her thighs and she keeps pulling at the material.
She reaches for Lincoln’s hair, pulling his face up toward the sky. He’s slick with sweat and his cheeks are damp with unasked for tears, his hair clinging to the sheen of his forehead.
"Lincoln is mine. Iownhim." Cordelia says, her tone is calm. "I'll wash him clean of you. I'll fuck him till he forgets you exist."
My heartbeat stops.
Cordelia flings one of her legs over his shoulder, Lincoln's mouth opens as he groans in pain, her heel hitting the fresh cuts. The queen slips a hand under her skirt, pulls her panties to the side and presses Lincoln’s face into her, burying him in her pussy.
I turn away. But my mind is still aware.
Panic. Shame. Disgust. It’s all relevant and comes to life inside of Lincoln. His mental walls slam up with such force I can no longer see the world through his eyes.He’s alone in this place of disgrace.
"Turn her to me. I want her to see my cum on his face."
The guard that hovers with me grabs my cheeks and turns me toward the scene. I press my eyes as closed as they can be, but the sounds... they persist.
Lincoln chokes and gags, desperate to pull away. I can also hear the slickness of the queen. The wet slap as she grinds against his face. She breathes heavily, moaning under her breath with every rock of her hips.
The crowd behind her is silent.
Warm fingers fight to pry my eyes open, giving me glimpses of the wicked gratification on Cordelia's face. My stomach turns.
A pleasure filled cry, soaked in the satisfaction that I'm here to bear witness, croons from her red lips. She pants, riding the wave of her performance shamelessly.
My jaw is set so tightly the muscles in my neck and face protest. I only willingly open my eyes as her foot slams back to the ground. She gives me a satisfied smile, tilting Lincoln’s head back. His lips, his cheeks, and his chin all shine. As she drops his head, he sags to the ground, spitting.
Her smile lights up her face in the most terrifying of ways. She enjoys this. The cruel queen gets off on her unconsented dominance.
Bile rises in my throat.
I’ll fucking end her.
She watches me. Her laugh an airy taunt. She holds her gown up off the ground and dips her hand between her legs. With glistening fingers she points at me and turns back to Lincoln. Her red nails dig into his cheek making crescent indents in his skin as she forces his mouth open and runs her fingers over his tongue.
Lincoln’s eyes are shut so tightly his skin crinkles with the exaggeration. Somehow, he is unmoving under her touch. Somewhere in the back of my mind I register the guards hold on me.
But my limbs have gone numb.
And I’m thrashing against the hold.
“I’ll kill you.” I hiss the promise.
Cordelia nods to the guard, leaving her fingers fish hooked inside Lincoln’s mouth. “I’d like to see you try.”
Then the guard behind him raises his whip and strikes again.
And again.
And again.
