Kingdom of Lies

Chapter 9

The pounding in my head was worse than getting run over by a horde of demons.

I let out an extremely unladylike groan as my heavy eyes peel open,the world above me bleary.
What the hell happened last night?

Luckily,the room was dark so I wasn't blinded. The sheets felt heavy and hot again my bare skin,my legs were tangled in them-

Wait a minute. Bare skin?

I groggily sit up,putting a hand to my pounding head. With a wince I focus my eyes, the cream colours of my skin and the contrast of  white sheets came into focus,I furrow my brows at my bare thighs.
How did my night gown ride up that much?

A hiss escapes my mouth as the curtains are flung open,pouring blinding white Idris light into the dark room. I throw my heavy arms up to shield myself, the light increasing my headache by the tenfold.
I lower them after a moment to glare at Jace,who was standing next to the curtain.
He was outlined in gold light, his hair a messy halo. I can see a small smirk on his face.
"Morning,sunshine."

"What happened last night?" I groan, dropping my hands. Jace shrugs and walks over,hands deep in the pockets of his pyjama pants.

"Nothing much." His eyes drop down to my chest. I frown and look down- my nightgowns aren't exposing?

Oh,but this is.

I clamp a hand over my mouth as I stare down at my white bustier and stocking set.
A garter belt? What was I wearing?!
I shriek softly and grab the covers, drawing them around me tightly.

"Why am I wearing this?!" I near scream at Jace. He looks down at me in amusement,gold eyes glinting. He seems guarded somehow,as if cautious of me.

"It was under your dress,which you took off last night. All by yourself,may I add, so don't blame me." He adds offhandedly. I shake my head in confusion,panic, exhaustion and pain all colliding in my head.
My jaw drops at a horrifying thought.

"We didn't..." I whisper,gazing at Jace with wide and shocked eyes. He shakes his head,still clearly amused.

"No,not last night." Relief hits me like a freight train and I tiredly slump,the bustier cutting into the skin of my thighs. "Even though you certainly tried hard to."

And I did. I remember.

Dread and humiliation fill me as pieces of last night start to come together slowly in my mind, forming a fragmented but clear picture.

Jace watches me carefully as images of the mortifying situation from last night became clearer.
I remember small details- like how his fingers felt against my thigh, the dark and delicious look in his eyes as he returned my torture,feeling so in control.
I hate how good those memories were.

With a sickened groan, I launch myself off of the bed and sprint into the bathroom,locking the door firmly shut behind me.
I stumble to the counter, my fingers gripping the edge so hard they were white.
My chest was heaving as I drew in one ragged breath after the another, fighting back tears.
What had happened to me? A little alcohol and I'm in lingerie on Jace's lap?

Whore.

The word flashes through my subconscious, in the voice of Valentine after having a drink.
He had called me that only once,but it had stuck.
His whiskey soured breath was still sharp in my nose as he sneers at me, lips drawn back in a viper smirk.
He'd caught my eyes lingering a split second too long on a servant boy, practically the only glimpse of male beauty I'd ever seen.
Valentine had backhanded me, claiming I was no better than my mother, that he felt sorry for my future husband.