Chapter 6

Ronika

"Y-ou can't do that," I stuttered, shaking my head as a cold feeling took over. I had seen my father whipping people, even in public, but I never thought I'd find myself in a similar situation.

"On-the-bed." He pronounced each word slowly and clearly, making sure that it sank into my mind.

"N-o." I crossed my arm over the hem of my towel, then clutched it under my armpit so it wouldn't loosen. Quinlan had other plans, though; he pulled it away in one go, leaving me shamefully bare for him. I tried to snatch it away from him, but before I could, he lifted me and threw me on the bed, making me gasp.

"I hate repeating myself." He approached the bed in slow but long strides, making me crawl backwards on the unmade bed. I couldn't believe I had been reduced to nothing; not even servants were treated in such a manner.

"On your stomach," he ordered yet again, his voice void of any emotion, and unlike before, I did as asked, swallowing painfully. My body was exposed to a stranger, a mu