Mated To The Enemy (Previously TVKWP)

CHAPTER 8

I turn away from the door, curling up and drawing my knees close to my chest. With my eyes shut tight, I seek solace in the darkness—not for sleep, as rest is hard to come by in the enemy's den. I must bide my time, allowing my wounds to mend and gathering my strength before devising my next move. My hand instinctively drifts towards the tender bite on my neck, a silent reminder of the recent encounter. As my fingertips graze the mark, a shiver courses down my spine, and I gasp at the sensation. m all too aware that this occurred because of him—no one else's bite would have elicited such a reaction. Swallowing hard, I shift uneasily in the bed, attempting to dispel the unsettling feeling creeping over me.

My brief moment of peace shatters as someone seizes my arm with force, wrenching me from the bed and sending me crashing to the ground. Ember's eyes blaze with unmistakable hatred as she looms over me, her grip unyielding as she drags me across the floor. A sharp pain shoots through my side as it scrapes against the unforgiving surface, eliciting a wince from me.

Gritting my teeth, I lift my head defiantly, meeting Ember's gaze with a steely glare of my own. She knows full well that Nickolas has just fed from me, leaving me in no condition to withstand such rough treatment. As for how I didn't hear her approach, the result from Nickolas's feeding has dulled my senses, making me unaware of her presence until it was too late.

As I tear my gaze away from Ember, I assess the damage to my side, noting the bruises marring my porcelain skin. Before I can fully process the extent of my injuries, Ember grabs me by my shirt collar, yanking me upright with a snarl. I struggle to maintain my balance, my legs trembling beneath me as she releases her grip, causing me to collapse to the ground once more. The impact is harsher this time, sending a jolt of pain through my bruised knees.

"Hey!" I retort, allowing my anger to override my better judgment, momentarily forgetting the precariousness of my situation.

"Did you just shout at me?" Ember's voice booms, her words laced with fury as her hand connects with a sharp slap across my cheek. The sting radiates through my skin, igniting a fiery rage within me as I instinctively bring my hand to cradle the tender flesh. The urge to strike back simmers beneath the surface, but I restrain myself, knowing the futility of retaliating against her.

Glaring daggers at Ember, I meet her gaze with an intensity that could pierce steel. In that moment, a painful realization washes over me, threatening to engulf me in a tide of despair.

I'm nothing but a pawn, at the mercy of my mate's mistress, to be treated and tortured as she pleases. The words reverberate in my mind – "my mate's mistress" – a phrase I never imagined uttering. Yet, it's unmistakably clear, without anyone needing to tell me. It was written all over her when she walked in earlier.

Tears well up in my eyes as I grapple with the weight of my reality, the realization sinking in like an anchor dragging me down into the depths of despair. The gravity of my situation crushes down on me.

"Apologize," Ember grits out, her fingers wrapping around my chin with a force that threatens to crush bone. The pressure intensifies, sending waves of pain radiating through my jaw. Despite the agony, I refuse to yield to her demand, my defiance burning bright within me like a flickering flame in the darkness.

Blinking back tears, I steel myself against the pain, refusing to allow her the satisfaction of seeing me break. I may be their prisoner, but I am still a princess – a fact I cling to as a source of inner strength. Though I cannot escape the physical torment she may inflict upon me, I am resolved to maintain control over how it affects me. And in this moment, I refuse to offer her the apology she demands.

"Did you fucking hear me? I said apologize for raising your voice against me!" Ember's voice booms, her nails digging into my chin with a relentless force that breaks the skin, drawing blood that stains my shirt once again. I grimace, the pain searing through me as her grip tightens, refusing to release its hold.