Chapter 56

Lilitha spent the night alone, her face sticky with tears. She kept glancing toward the door, certain that the Champion was up to something, but he didn’t return.

The agony of her guilt and the unknown, of being trapped with her thoughts, with nothing to distract her, was almost as unbearable as Mandalay himself. Okay. Maybe not.

He didn’t return when the sun rose. Lilitha slept the day away undisturbed, as much as she could tossing and turning, assailed by dreams of the forest, of Clara, of what lay ahead.

She woke to the sound of the drunk man’s breaking neck.

It was late afternoon when Mandalay reappeared. He was dressed in his Champion’s uniform, his sword belted at his hip, looking every inch the arrogant man who’d chased her down the streets of Norfolk.

He ~was~ handsome, in a mean, sadistic kind of way. He held out his hand. “Come. I’ve made my quarters ready. You can come and stay with me, not this dreary place.”

When she did not take it, he seized her wrist and dragged her after him. His tight grip burned her arm as he hauled her down the stairs and through the front door. Lilitha halted, jerking against him as she saw what awaited them.

“It’s a fair distance. We’ll take Agaroth.”

Lilitha’s throat went dry as she stared up at the tall black horse. He stood over them like a dark cloud, like a black mountain, as she recalled that terrible day she rode with Mandalay to the town dungeon. His ears swiveled toward Mandalay’s voice. His big blue eyes rolled in his head.

Mandalay laid a hand on her shoulder. “You’re afraid. Don’t be.”

Lilitha gasped as he hoisted her on top with a strength that was shocking. The horse shifted, then bobbed its head as Mandalay mounted behind her. He grabbed the reins with his huge white hands, made a clicking sound and the horse trotted ahead.

It seemed to take forever to reach their destination. Mandalay’s chest was hard against her back. His right arm was swung loosely around her waist, like he already owned her, like she was already his. He kept breathing against her hair.

Lilitha’s stomach was tied up in knots as she sat stiffly, doing her best to sit away from him as much as possible. Doing her best not to throw up.

The sun had almost set, red light flashing against the clips and buckles of the saddle and horse’s bit. Men stood on their ladders as they began lighting the roadside lamps. People glanced at them as they trotted by, some tipping their hats at the Champion.

She doubted anyone knew him by name. Not like Norfolk. Mainstry was just too huge.

So big, in fact, that she’d never been in this part of town before. Lilitha looked around in surprise. She’d never seen such pretty houses. They even had gardens. With actual flowers! Everything looked so clean. No refuse or rubbish. Nobody shouting or fighting on the streets.

More people rode horses or used new and nicely painted wagons that rattled against the cobblestones. The men were handsome. The few women she saw were glamorous. Their clothes were astonishing. Umbrellas. Big colorful hats, some with feathers and even jewels.

“Nice, isn’t it?” Mandalay said. “You’ll like it here. Much better than where you live. Much better than Norfolk. Ratty fucking place.”

They eventually stopped before a building similar to the others. White door. Flowers in the small garden. Two levels with at least three windows. He dismounted, then held out his arms to her. Lilitha leaned over and he helped her to the ground. He took her hand and led her to the door.

Lilitha looked up at him in disbelief. “We’re—we’re going to stay here?”

He grinned, showing all his teeth. “That’s right. It’s my home. ~Your~ home now.”

“Your—your home? Both levels?”

“Both levels.”

He opened the door. Lilitha stared. It was so clean. No rushes on the floor. No nails sticking out. She doubted there’d be a single mouse scuttling in the walls. The furniture had a strange smell. A nice smell. It seemed to permeate everything. It took her several moments before she realized what it was. New furniture. This was what ~new~ furniture smelled like.

“Well, go in. Have a look around.” Hand against her lower back, he guided her inside. “I’ll be back shortly. I’ve got to stable Agaroth.”

The door clicked shut behind her. She waited for the usual sound of it being locked, but it didn’t come. Mandalay’s home. ~My home~.

Lilitha swallowed as she slowly made her way through the hall and through his many rooms. There were stairs. Actual stairs. Like an inn. Rugs. Thick heavy curtains. There were ~two~ fireplaces. And an actual water closet! No more toileting outside. What would that feel like?

Lilitha was so shocked, her ears ringing so loudly, she didn’t realize Mandalay had returned until he whispered in her ear. “What do you think?”

She jumped and spun around. “This is—this is all yours?”

“All mine.” He laughed. “You’re cute when you’re shocked. I’m a knight, Lilitha—and a good one. What did you expect? My quarters in Norfolk weren’t anywhere near so nice. I won’t be going back. That’s for damn sure.”

He went over and sat on the couch. An actual couch! He patted the spot beside him. The red of the setting sun was pouring in through the window behind him, gleaming against his hair and uniform. “Come and sit.”

Lilitha hesitated. Mandalay’s eyes darkened with warning and Lilitha jerked toward him, clutching at her skirts as she sat beside him, knees pressed together. She held back a gag as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close enough that their hips touched.

“You’ll like it here,” he told her. Taking her hand, he enfolded it in his. Lilitha stared straight ahead, focusing on the weird-looking lamp standing in the corner of the room. Focusing on anything but him. “Did you see ~our~ room?”

Lilitha swallowed. Of course she had. She’d seen everything. But she didn’t want to answer. She didn’t want to admit its existence. To admit its existence meant she had to admit what lay ahead. The bed was big.

Mandalay stood and went over to the lamp. She heard a click and Lilitha leapt to her feet when the room suddenly flooded with sharp light.

Mandalay grinned at her. “Electricity.”

Lilitha stared at him, her mouth agape. His face contorted with laughter, which then boomed around the room.

She felt as though she was in a fog as he strode toward her. He took her face in his hands and kissed her on the mouth. For a strange, sickening moment, she kissed him back before ripping herself away and staggering backward.

She wiped her mouth. Mandalay was panting, his eyes blazing in the lamplight. He licked his lips, closed his eyes with a sigh, then opened them again. With a trembling hand, he rubbed the back of his neck. Lilitha’s hands were shaking even worse, so she hid them behind her back.

“Come. I can get you properly cleaned up,” he said, as though nothing had happened. He held out his hand and when she didn’t take it, he seized her arm. “Remember what I said.”

Their bedroom was on the second level. Mandalay walked in, but Lilitha remained standing on the threshold. It felt like she was standing on the edge of a cliff. She couldn’t bring herself to look at the bed. Mandalay switched on another lamp, then sat upon the edge of the mattress. The light felt like pins in her eyes.

“I know you’re scared,” he said. “And I don’t blame you. But you’ve got to get used to it. There really is no alternative.” His voice was deep. “Look at me.”

Lilitha’s throat felt like sandpaper as she did so. The light was gleaming against his hair, against the shine on his lips as he licked them again.

“I want you in my arms tonight,” he said. ~“Tonight.”~ He patted the spot beside him. She didn’t move. ~“Lilitha.”~ His voice was filled with threat.

Lilitha lurched toward him, stopping a few steps away.

“Sit,” he commanded.

Lilitha’s knees buckled as she did so, far enough away that she didn’t touch him. The air caught in her throat as he reached over to turn her face, forcing her to look at him.

“Don’t be afraid. All I want to do is love you. Isn’t that a good thing? This won’t be like before—I promise.” His eyes blazed. “Now, kiss me.”