The King's Captive

The Price of Defiance

"Good. You have done well. Now, come here and sit on my lap." he wanted her to be close to him so that he could feel her submission, her fear and her pain, and he wanted to see how much she would tolerate.

With a mixture of shock and resignation, she slowly walked over to him. Her body trembled with fear and pain, but she knew she had no choice but to obey. Hesitantly, she lowered herself onto his lap, her eyes wide with apprehension as she tried to steady her breathing. The weight of her situation pressed down on her, but she forced herself to remain composed, despite the turmoil within.

"Good girl. You are being a very good servant. Now, I want you to tell me that you love me. I want to hear you say it," his voice, filled with arrogance and cruelty, demanded her words so he could be certain she truly belonged to him.

Avalyn's heart pounded in her chest. The words he demanded felt like poison on her tongue, and she knew that to speak them would be to further degrade herself. Her lips trembled as she met his gaze, her silence a defiant answer in itself.

King Henry's eyes narrowed, displeasure creeping into his expression. He leaned closer, his grip tightening. "Say it," he commanded, his tone icy and unyielding.

Avalyn's breath hitched, but she remained resolute. "I cannot," she whispered, her voice barely audible yet filled with a quiet strength. "I will not lie to you."

A fleeting flash of fury ignited on King Henry's face, his brows knitting together like storm clouds ready to unleash their wrath. Yet, amidst the tempest of his anger, Avalyn stood resolute, her defiance radiating a quiet strength. In her unwavering gaze, there flickered a glimmer of hope, a beacon that refused to be extinguished. She knew deep within her heart that she would not allow him to shatter her spirit.

"Louder. I want to hear you say it louder. I want to hear you say it with conviction," King Henry demanded, his voice echoing through the cell with a chill.

With no choice and a heavy heart, Princess Avalyn whispered, "I love you," the words tasting bitter on her tongue. Her voice was soft, barely more than a murmur, but the weight of those words felt like a chain tightening around her spirit. She couldn't meet his gaze, her eyes fixed on the cold, unyielding floor as she fought to keep her dignity intact.

King Henry's lips curled into a satisfied smirk, the triumph in his eyes unmistakable. "Good. Now, wasn't that easy?" he taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Remember this moment, Princess. Remember who holds your fate in his hands," King Henry said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "Now, I want you to kiss me." His demand was clear, leaving no room for defiance.

Avalyn's heart plummeted as if a stone had settled in her chest, the reality of the situation crashing over her like a tidal wave. The burden of his command loomed heavy, wrapping around her like a vice, squeezing the breath from her lungs. She could feel the desperation tightening her throat as she braced herself, steeling her nerves for the daunting task that lay ahead. Every instinct urged her to turn away, but she knew she had no choice in the matter.

She leaned in closer, her heart racing as her lips brushed against his. They were soft yet quivered with uncertainty, reflecting the tumult of emotions swirling within her. A mix of fear and anguish tightened her chest, overwhelming her senses. Despite the bitterness that gnawed at her, she understood that she was cornered—this was a choice she felt she had to make, even if it felt like a betrayal to her own heart.

His embrace intensified as he reciprocated the kiss, his lips assertive and demanding against hers. At that moment, he savoured the sensation of her soft lips pressed against his, relishing the control he held over her. A surge of satisfaction and delight welled up within him, as he found himself revelling in the allure of her surrender to him.

He pulled away from the kiss and looked at her with a cruel smile, "You are mine now. Do you understand? Now, I have one more thing I want you to do," he had one more test for her, and he wanted to see how far she would go to please him.

"What is the matter, Your Majesty?" she inquired, her voice quaking with fear.

"I want you to call me 'Master'. I want you to call me that from now on, and I want you to call me that with respect," he said, his voice filled with arrogance and cruelty as he came closer to her and pinned her against the wall.

She backed up and hit the wall roughly and held him on his muscular chest to stop him from coming any closer, "Y-yes, Master."

He stared at her hand resting on his chest, his jaw tightening with suppressed fury as the warmth of her touch ignited a storm of emotions within him, "Do not dare to halt or lay a hand upon me without my permission. I wish to witness your loyalty and adherence to my wishes. Stand still, and this will all come to a swift end."

"I apologize, Master," she uttered her tone a mix of fear and resistance.

"It seems you're starting to be quite rebellious, and I'm not pleased about it. You know the consequences when you choose to go against my wishes," he expressed his concerns with increasing intensity in his voice.