Her fingers slowly closed into a fist, tightening beside her before she pushed out a breath and slowly turned to face the queen. She felt her heart jump and then plummet to her feet. Was this about what the queen had seen a month ago? Savannah was painfully aware that she’d never discussed it with her and it hung over her head like a knife, its pointed tip shooting for her head at the slightest provocationShe plastered a meek smile on her face but the queen was not having it. She yelled. “Dinner should have started minutes ago but we all had to wait for you! You have become such an insolent idiot!”Scalding fury coursed through Ryker’s veins as he listened to his mother babble on about how Savannah had been disrespectful towards her since she entered the palace. His lips thinned into a straight line as he forced himself to keep from saying anything. Jumping into Savannah’s defense wouldn’t bode well for either of them especially with what the queen had seen. He was already on a tight
Nobody broke the silence that permeated the room for a long time and it was only when the King peeled a chair back and settled on it, did he clear his throat. “Go ahead,” he arched a brow at his youngest son, waving his hand in a notion for him to go on with whatever he wanted to say.An evil light glimmered in Ryker’s eyes and he thanked his father. “Yes, since Savannah had been brought into our pack, she’d been maltreated by everyone in this castle, Reginald and Mother inclusive. Even Amelia had done despicable things to her. The time Savannah attended the ball with injured knees and was abandoned by Amelia, it was all fucking intentional. Hell, the injury on her knees that they all told you was caused by an attack from rogues is a fucking lie! It was mother who asked her to crawl on her knees to punish her for just waking up late. This happened on the second day here. You’d be surprised to learn that Reginald beats—”Savannah had gone as white as a sheet and thankful to the goddess
A strangled gasp of surprise clawed its way up from the depths of Savannah's chest, only to be stifled by Ryker's palm as he forcefully covered her mouth. She pushed his hand aside, her eyes wide with panic, and whispered in a hushed, urgent tone, "Why are you here? Did anyone see you follow me?"He shook his head softly, his eyes scanning their surroundings cautiously. "You left in such a rush," he whispered. "I needed to make sure you were okay. I don't think anyone suspects I followed you; they've all retreated to their own rooms since dinner abruptly ended. You spent quite a while in there, and I was on the verge of breaking in, worried."Savannah's tone didn't even soften as she hissed back, "Humor is the last thing on my mind right now. Look at me. Do I look fine to you?"He tilted his head to the side, allowing his eyes to sweep her form from head to toe before he shrugged casually. “You tell me. You seem to be really comfy with my brother.”Savannah's voice crackled with pent-
What? Bernice was so stunned by Savannah’s request that for about thirty seconds, she didn’t move a muscle and could only stare, open-mouthed. Then as if under a spell, she began pacing the bathroom, so fast that it was a surprise the soles of her shoes didn’t burn a hole through the tiles.“NOW!” Savannah’s impatient voice kick started her into motion and she dashed out of the bathroom to get them.Left alone in the restroom, Savannah was still on the floor and after flushing the toilet, she closed its lid and rested her head against it, too worn out to move away, no matter how gross it might seem. Her eyes fluttered close and she sent another thank you prayer to the goddess that Reginald was not present and she silently prayer that he would be out for long.Bernice later returned with two strips and Savannah roughly grabbed them from her, shooing her out of the bathroom to do the needful. A pee and thirty seconds later, Savannah and Bernice were both outside the bathroom door, star
Rinsing out the remnants of the salty, musty taste in her mouth, Savannah dries her face with the hem of her dress before returning to the room. Reginald had left after finishing in her mouth so she was alone in the room. At least only her mouth would be used for the next two weeks. Savannah thought, depressed and sad as she laid back on the couch, crawling beneath the covers. She hid under there all morning, staring bleakly at the ceiling, refusing all offers of food that had been brought by other maids on Bernice’s instructions. As if fate was on her side, Reginald didn’t return to the room.For the rest of the day, she kept to the couch, fortunately, undisturbed by the queen or anybody else. She did not leave that warm cocoon until the early hours of the following morning when the desperation of her situation and the loneliness of her spirit, combined with the terrible fears of her future, drove her to seek the consolation of Valerian’s library. Other than the one in the castle, th
Her heart was pounding as she made a quick escape from the library. If there was a way to pluck out her eyes and wash that ghastly sight from it, then she would but it was impossible and as she hurried down the hallway, that was the only thing that played over and over in her head. What the fuck? What the actual fuck? What was that she’d seen? Savannah screamed in her head and dug her knuckles into her eyes, trying to scrub it out! Left with no choice but to remain in her hiding spot, she’d watch two siblings have the dirtiest type of sex she never knew people had. The memory of how Lexington had splayed Amelia’s ass cheeks apart and drove into her in one hard thrust sent shivers of disgust rumbling through her.The inhumane noises and literally pig-like squeals that Amelia had made during the act were like and endless loop in Savannah’s eardrum. When the duo finally left each other’s arms, Savannah could now inch out of the shadows behind the shelves and run for her life. No doubt th
“So why are you all dressed up?” Celia quirked up a brow at her when she got close enough. “Got a date?” She scoffed at the end of her word as if it was totally unbelievable that Savannah would get a date and not just because she was ‘engaged’ to be married.Savannah on her end was tongue-tied and the only sound she could hear was the roaring of her own blood in her ears. She began regretting that she’d agreed to Bernice dressing her to enhance her looks.“I said where are you going all dressed like a fucking clown?” Celia snapped, this time raising her voice loud enough to make Savannah freak out and yell back. “Where I am going does not concern you in any way and you should mind your business.”Shocked by her outburst, Savannah recoiled and fell back a few steps. Celia reared her head back and burst into full-blown laughter, cackling like an old witch. “The measly bitch finally grew some balls. Tell me, what’s your secret?’“Look, Celia. I don’t want trouble. I am…” her tongue twist
Her voice was barely audible, trembling as she asked him, “Who told you that? How did you find out?” she felt a surge of panic rising in her chest, threatening to overwhelm her. What was that sound? Right, it was her heart thumping and beating faster and harder while her breath became shallow. Did…he…suspect that he might be its father too?”Distantly, she felt his arms wrap around her, pulling her into a solid wall. Her cheeks pressed against a warm satin-covered chest and her eyes fluttered close as began whispering soothing words in her ear. His voice was calm and reassuring like a gentle breeze. He told her. “it’s okay, Savannah. You don’t have to be scared.” She slowly relaxed in his embrace, feeling his warmth and comfort. Maybe he was right. She shouldn’t panic. The scent of his cologne and coffee drifted into her nostrils and she smiled into his shirt before pulling away from him when she was calm enough. Her eyes locked into his as she searched their depths for answers. Ryker