Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

“Lucian,” I cried out, feeling him smile against my skin as the sheet became damp between us.

“That’s right, little bird, you’re mine.” He growled, untangling his hands from my hair as his lips moved along my collar bone.

***

When Lucian had finally finished with me, I’d fallen into a dreamless sleep.

A knock at the door pulled me from sleep. I barely had any time to pull the sheet up my body to hide my nudity as Kaida came into the room, a small bundle of clothing clutched to her chest. Cora was walking a couple of steps behind her, her eyes downcast as she worried her lower lip. 

She looked uncomfortable in the lavender-colored sundress and wedge sandals. The outfit suited her, even if I knew that it wasn’t something she would have picked out of her own. Cora looked up at me and her nose wrinkled. I looked away, feeling heat flood my face that she should see me like this. 

My body ached and I knew that I must look like a mess.

“Our king has taken a liking to you,” Kaida said, placing the clothing onto the bed. Her wide, red lips split into a grin as she took in the bite of the side of my neck. Her hands went to her waist, the leather corset that she wore made it look smaller. Her hips flared out in a perfect hourglass. Beneath that, she wore a pair of maroon lace shorts. Heavy boots finished off the look with a thin, almost delicate-looking collar around her throat. 

Beneath the collar, I could see the faint scar of a bite mark that looked similar to my own. “Bash told Kaji that Lucian claimed you. I didn’t think that he actually would. Congratulations.”

Tucking the sheet around my body, I dragged my fingers through my hair. “Um, thanks.”

Kaida sat on the edge of the bed, looking back at my sister. She smoothed her hand over the bed beside her, patting it for Cora to sit beside her. “I’ve heard that Lucian has quite the appetite.” 

I licked my dry, cracked lips. Unsure of how I was supposed to respond to her. With Lucian, I was already figuring out my role. Keep him happy and he’d take care of us. Kaida seemed like she wanted a friend. I didn’t know how Lucian would feel about me talking with her like this. Was I allowed to treat her as a friend?

Cora sat down beside Kaida, her lower lip red and swollen as if she’d spent most of the morning picking at her lips. There were bags beneath her eyes and I felt guilty. Knowing that it must have been hard for her to rest. She put her hands in her lap, linking her fingers together.

“Cora?” 

“Yeah?” She asked, not looking up from her clasped hands. 

I looked at Kaida, pressing my lips together. The dark-haired woman shrugged her slim shoulders and I let out a sigh. “Did you sleep well?”

“Cass, I’m sorry.” Her words were barely above a whisper as she picked at her thumbnail. She didn’t look at me, this was what she used to do when we were kids and I’d take the blame for her. 

“Hey,” I said, reaching over to grab her hand. “You didn’t do this.” 

“I know, but if we hadn’t gone out. If I hadn’t bothered you about-”

“Cora, it’ll be okay. This isn’t your fault.” 

“Enough of that. Why don’t you go take a shower and pretty yourself up for Lucian?” She phrased it as a question. I knew that it wasn’t from her tone of voice. I watched Cora’s shoulders drop. I wished I could make her see that this wasn’t her fault. “Go, get pretty. Then we’ll get something to eat. Lucian has a meeting, but he wants to see you after.” She picked up the clothing, pressing them into my lap. 

Nodding, I scooted to the edge of the bed, clutching the clothing to my chest. Careful to keep the sheet around myself. I didn’t want Cora to see the marks that I knew would be there. She didn’t need anything else to worry about. I nodded my head in thanks to Kaida. She wasn’t looking at me. Her gaze was back on my sister. 

When I got us out of this, I’d show her that none of this was her fault. 

Stiffly, I made my way to the bathroom. Muscles aching from overuse. I closed the bathroom door, leaning against the steel door. I could hear Kaida’s voice. Muffled, yet there was no mistaking her tone. She was soothing Cora, reassuring her the way that I couldn’t right now. Something about it reminded me of the way that she’d spoken to Kaji last night, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. 

I wasn’t going to let her be used the way that I had been. Letting the sheet fall to the floor, I stepped over it. Moving to the counter, I sat the clothing down. Resting my hands on the porcelain sink, I looked in the mirror. 

My hair was a mess, my lips bruised and swollen. There was no doubt that I’d been fucked every which way, all night long. Tilting my head, I looked at the bite mark that Lucian had given me. Bruises bloomed along my skin, harsh reds and purples that I knew would take a long time to heal. 

Bringing my fingers up, I winced as I probed at the tender flesh. It felt strange, pulling at things inside of me that I didn’t want to think about. 

Turning away from the mirror, I walked over to the shower that took up most of the space in the bathroom. I stepped inside the stall. The white tile was cold under my bare feet. 

A washcloth and towel were already hanging up just inside of the shower. Outside of where the spray would reach. I grabbed one of the chrome knobs, turning the water on. The spray was cold and I didn’t give it time to warm up before I grabbed the washcloth. 

I picked up a dark green bottle, uncapping it and taking a sniff. It smelled like citrus and sage, it wasn’t a bad smell. Just not one that I was used to. I poured some onto the washcloth, attacking my skin. Trying to scrub the feel of his touch from my skin. I knew that he’d be touching me again soon. This was something that I could control. The water was slowly becoming warmer, but I didn’t adjust it, instead, I let it beat down on my skin.