Crescent (Old Version)

+ Part 46 +

After a rather tense dinner, I'd gone straight to my room. I was nearly asleep, book open on my chest when Ceth stormed in. The door slammed open on a phantom wind, and he was upon me before I could blink.

"What the fuck did you think you were going to accomplish?" he growled, grabbing my throat and slamming me against the headboard so hard my skull ached. The book that had been in my hand tumbled to the ground beside the bed, and when he squeezed even harder, my breath choked out of me. I kicked and pried just to loosen his hold on me, but it was useless.

Angry. I had expected him to be angry.

My mistake always seemed to be underestimating just how angry he'd be. I watched his anger boil over into a vicious grin as I gasped a breath.

He enjoyed hurting me; he liked seeing me writhe beneath him.

He finally released his hold. My lungs heaved, words long lost on my tongue. That only seemed to please him more. I knew he wasn't done yet as he slowly strolled away from the bed. The door to the room closed with the snap of his fingers as if he'd only just remembered anyone could walk by and see if they truly dared.

The lock clicked and I found myself shrinking into the bed as he spoke with his back turned: "What will it take? What will make you realize..." he whipped around, facing me with that cocky grin I despised. "That the only way you see your family again is if you obey me."

Nothing could stifle that fear I felt in my throat, still aching and begging for air, at the mention of them. At the hope of seeing them again. At the memories that threatened to bubble to the very surface as Ceth again walked to the bed and sat carefully at the edge of it.

"Do you understand what will happen if you defy me again?" I nodded my head in answer. He cocked his head, a tilt like that of a wolf before it honed in on its prey. "Do I need to remind you?"

I didn't let myself imagine what Ceth would do. But, I gulped down a breath and opened my palms to him, a white flag. "I don't... have to go tomorrow. I'll stay out of it-"

He scoffed. "Oh, no. There's no going back now, Brenna love. You'll go and you'll play your part. You'll sit quiet while I negotiate with the top contenders at that table... and win." He smiled, flashing his white teeth as he stood and began unbuttoning the front of his tunic. He stripped and I panicked as he went to work on the button of his pants.

"What are you doing??" I blurted. His green eyes were anything but playful. I looked away as he chucked his outfit to the corner of the room.

He was now naked and angry. Oh so angry.

"Me? I'm going to bed." The bed shook as he climbed onto his side and relaxed against the pillows. One arm was poised behind his head now. "You will be spending the night in the library. You'll memorize the contents of every jewel collection within a hundred miles of this castle..." I didn't even need to ask what would happen if I didn't listen; he answered, "Or... the so-called visits with your family will end. Permanently."

At some point, I'd started shaking. Rage, fear. Something in between snaked through me and I felt every muscle quiver as he settled against the mattress and pulled the sheets up to his chin.

Magic pulled the door open on its hinges, and both the candles and the fireplace went dark as he settled. It took everything in me not to lean over and throttle him in his sleep.

I wanted to hurt him for everything he'd done. I knew he meant every word he said: My family would be gone and everything I had worked for all these months would be too. All in an instant if I didn't behave.

So, I stepped out of bed in nothing but my silk night set and stalked to the library without another word.

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