The Shrinemaiden (The Maidens) (32 page)

Thornton rounded the table, swooped her up in his arms, and kissed her. She was right; he was still mad, but hidden underneath that layer of anger was desperation, fear. His hands clutched at her waist, his mouth bruising her lips like he wanted to punish her the only way he knew how.

Adelai welcomed it, welcomed him. She kissed him back with equal fervency, accepting his forcefulness as her penance. He knew just as much as she did that they didn’t have any choice, though he might resist it for as long as he could because he would not be Thornton without his stubbornness, his desire to fight against all odds.

“Promise me one thing, Adelai,” Thornton said, when he finally released her.

“Anything.” Her lips felt swollen, tender. The captain’s thumb rubbed across her lower lip, as if trying to atone for his earlier harshness.

“I want you to trust me from this point on. That whatever happens, know that I love you.”

Adelai was confused, at the gravity of his voice, the intense look in his eyes. Surely he already knew her feelings for him.

“Promise me, Adelai.”

“I promise,” she whispered, and then Thornton’s mouth was back on hers, kissing her softly this time.

“Promise me something as well,” she whispered in bed much later, her head against the captain’s chest.

“Anything,” Thornton promised solemnly.

She rose to her elbows. “I mean it, milord. Promise me one thing, one you cannot break despite everything that might happen.”

Blue eyes regarded her, no longer smiling. “It would depend,” he said slowly, “on what that promise is.”

She told him.

It felt more like a funeral procession than an entourage, Adelai thought. Shannika had insisted on using her carriage for the journey to the palace, and she had surrounded them with servants and courtiers, all made to impress. “We want everyone to know that we’re going at the king’s express invitation,” she explained to Adelai. Khalid was nowhere in sight, but Thornton rode beside their coach on a stallion in his full military dress. The Wolf remained behind to protect their prisoners.

Crowds gathered along the route, waving and cheering as the coach rode past. Adelai drew the curtains aside so that the people could see her and Shannika inside, and the cheers grew louder when they waved back, smiling. “I’ve never been put in this kind of position before.” Adelai admitted, surprised by the number of people congregated just to watch them.

“Neither have I,” Lady Shannika said, smiling. “Despite where we’re heading, it’s quite a nice change of pace.”

There was no one waiting for them at the palace. Instead, footmen assisted them in bringing down their trunks, and Thornton helped both Adelai and Shannika out from the carriage. The captain of the guard had been looking grim since they departed that morning, and Adelai’s earlier euphoria faded, to be replaced by growing dread.

The king was not on hand to welcome them. Instead, they were shown with little fanfare to their own rooms, Shannika’s on the other end of the hall from where Adelai’s was. Thornton had left, presumably to meet the king, and Adelai wasn’t sure she wanted to know what would happen after the two talked. She didn’t think that Thornton had come under suspicion himself, with General Falen taking great pains to take the credit when he could, counting on his own popularity with the people to keep himself safe. It was one small consolation, at the least.

The hours passed, and there was still no order from the king to meet them, and Adelai’s impatience mounted. She knew this could probably be another tactic by King Garrant, to let them stew in their rooms for awhile. If no one was going to meet her, she decided, then she would go out and see what the delay was.

This decision made, she strode out of her rooms, making for Shannika’s. Several knocks on her door received no reply, and Adelai was puzzled.

“Shannika?” She knocked again, with more urgency, and then abandoned decorum to push the door open.

There was no one in the room, which only increased her puzzlement - and her alarm. Something was wrong.

“Shannika!” There didn’t seem to be anyone in the palace at all. There were no servants hurrying about, the way she would have expected in a castle this size. Her worry grew. She was certain Shannika wouldn’t have left without telling her.

“Milady.”

She turned. It wasn’t a servant. It was a tall man, heavily built and dressed in light armor. Three other men, similarly dressed, stood behind him.
The king’s bodyguards
, Adelai thought, dread seizing her.

“Milady,” the man spoke again. “We are to accompany you to the king’s chambers.” It was not phrased as an order, and her anxiety grew. Still, she did her best to mask them, lifting her head almost haughtily. “Where is the Lady Maestre?” She demanded instead. She didn’t expect an answer, but she had to try.

The man shook his head, and repeated, “We are to accompany you to the king’s chambers.”

She wanted to run from them, to flee the castle, though she knew the men would catch up to her easily. She knew that the instant she met King Garrant again, there would be no turning back.

She squared her shoulders. “Lead the way.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Betrayal

The king was just as she had remembered. Dressed in rich purple robes, Garrant lounged on an ornate chair that was only slightly less opulent than the one in his throne room. He was just as handsome as ever, but the cruel glint was still in his eyes. “We meet again, little maiden.” He drawled, when she approached.

The guards were barring the exit behind her, preventing her from leaving. Adelai folded her hands before her, hoping he wouldn’t see her nervousness this time. “Where is the Lady Maestre?” She asked, fearing the worst. She was afraid - for herself, for the missing Shannika, and she was beginning to understand Thornton’s reservations, his insistence that she not come at all, even if it meant that the rebellion might fail.

“The Lady Maestre is currently indisposed of at the moment,” The king was still smiling, but without any warmth. “I’m afraid her slave Khalid was killed when he tried to resist some of my men, and she is grieving for her loss. She paid a hefty sum for her expensive toy after all. Unfortunate that he broke so easily.”

The world spun. Khalid was dead? Her heart went out to the Silvermaiden, at her anguish. And then - suspicion. The Sarcopian king could be lying. Until she saw Shannika herself, and the woman could confirm this, she had to take anything the king had to say with a grain of salt.

The man was clearly enjoying her discomfort. “Do not worry. She is safe in the castle, being… comforted, by her estranged fiance. Quite vigorously, I would imagine. He is not known for being gentle.” He grinned at her. “Oh, didn’t you know she was affianced, my dear? I suppose you weren’t as good friends as you think you are.”

“Why did you invite me to the palace?” she asked, refusing to give him the upper hand. “I never once received an offer before now.”

“I was busy with more important things. If you sought to get my attention, you have it now. You’ve caused quite a stir in the short time you’ve been at Arbentide, Adelai. In the span of a few months you have unearthed a conspiracy brewing between two of my most loyal supporters, and gained my people’s favor in the process. I knew you were an unusual girl since our meeting in the gardens. I should have gone with my first instinct and purchased you then and there. You would be the shining star of my collection.”

She froze. “Have you finally taken me up on my offer to buy my contract, your Highness?”

“I intend to, but first there is the matter of the rebellion in my city to address. The rebellion you seem to find yourself at the center of.”

He’s not going to kill me
, she thought.
That would be too easy
. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Perhaps we can ask someone who can provide a more succinct answer than your evasions. What say you, Thornton?”

“Here, your Highness.” The captain of the guard said, stepping out, and this time Adelai could not hide her shock. On his part, the captain was expressionless.

“Captain,” the king said, “several months ago, I asked you to undertake a mission for me. Would you care to explain to the Lady Adelai what that was?”

“I was to insinuate myself into King Belair’s trust,” Thornton replied harshly, “and pretend to sympathize with rebels conspiring with Atalantea. I was to serve as a double agent, pretending to cooperate with Belair while spying for Sarcopia.”

The guards in the room, even the king, ceased to matter at this point. All Adelai could see was Thornton’s face, and all she could hear was his voice as he proceeded to give her the details of his betrayal.

“King Belair planned to send a shrinemaiden to Sarcopia to ferret out information he can use to prevent a war with Sarcopia - or, failing that, to seek an advantage to win it. She was selected by Belair himself, long before the auctions, without anyone else’s knowledge. She was asked to accept only contracts from Sarcopia, in a bid to ingratiate herself with high-ranking nobles here. She established contact with General Falen and the Lady Maestre, and the two aided her in uncovering documents linking General Kazer, the Earl of Sevigne, and his son to the disappearances of several noblewomen. Following their capture, she took me into her confidence.”

With quick precision, he outlined everything Adelai had told him in the days after the arrest - of how she had been able to deduce the existence of the safehouse, how she had fooled Daken and the Earl, and how she had outsmarted them. Adelai’s eyes never left Thornton’s, even after he had finished.

“Thank you, Captain. Your loyalty has been noted.” The king was perceptive enough to see through her. “It’s quite painful, isn’t it?” He asked, sounding almost gentle. “To have trusted someone these last few weeks, to take them into their confidence, only for them to betray that trust. Consider this payback, sweet Adelai. But after all - we’re even now, aren’t we? You were a spy working for Belair, and Altfyre was a spy working for me. Let us look at today as a chance for new beginnings, to let bygones be bygones. No one needs to know about breaking your oath, my dear. But in return, you must be willing to do something else for me.”

Two of the guards were suddenly on either side of her, before she could do anything else. They had taken hold of both her arms. Panic rising in her, Adelai found herself looking back at the captain almost out of reflex, but the blue eyes looking back at her were aloof, disinterested.

“I could easily throw you into the dungeons, or send you back in disgrace, to embarrass both Belair and your long-nosed high priestess. But since I’m a kind-hearted man, I will do no such thing. On the other hand, you are not the shrinemaiden you claim to be, and to award you the same privileges as the others I bought will decrease their value, don’t you think? I propose a compromise. You get to keep your pretty little head - ”

There was a ripping sound, as the guards tore her dress, so swiftly that she barely had time to cover herself.

“ - and you get to be my personal whore, who shall fuck whenever, wherever and whoever I decide.” His smile was predatory now, a strange light in his eyes. “Move her to the table, men.”

Despite all he’d said, Adelai was hoping that Thornton would put a stop to this, would rescue her. But he only watched, looking almost bored, as the men hoisted her up on the wide table, forcing her legs apart. The king moved toward the end of the table, and Adelai closed her eyes, not wanting him to see her defeated, for him to have her think that he could still possibly win this.

“Even as we speak, I have sent some of my men into the city to proclaim both General Falen and the Lady Maestre traitors to the crown,” The king traced down one side of her leg with his hand, and she jumped at his touch. There was a rustle of clothing, as the king began to strip. “It was very fortuitous of you to bring the Silvermaiden with you, so that I have two in my custody when I expected one. The Wolf will be a much more cunning opponent, but that will make it even more satisfying, once I have finally broken him. In the meantime - Thornton.”

The captain stepped forward at the king’s command, and began to undo his breeches as well. King Garrant’s hand slapped hard against her thigh, making her gasp.

“Open your eyes, slut,” the king ordered, “I want you to see me, fucking you. Open your mouth as, well. My captain here is in need of some servicing, and as you are already thoroughly acquainted with his cock, I presume you know what to do.” His robes were now loose around him, and Adelai saw him holding his shaft.

And then Thornton was there, slowly forcing her lips open. Soon he was filling her mouth with the familiar taste of his cock, forcing her head back so he could go in deeper, blocking her view of everything else.

The guards were still holding her against the table, and there was little Adelai could do, as King Garrant slowly settled himself in between her legs, the blunt cockhead pressed against her. She had been too frightened to be aroused, and she was dry there, but that didn’t stop the king - it only excited him more. He pushed into her, and Adelais cry of pain was muffled by Thornton’s cock, as he cruelly forced the rest of his length into her, taking only two or three swift strokes to fully sheath himself into her.

“Ah,” he grunted, “such a tight little cunt you have here, Adelai. I can understand why Sevrigne and Kazer wanted you. You were very fortunate, Altfyre, getting this bitch’s pussy for free.” He withdraw, drove into her again, and Adelai felt her eyes water. Thornton was still moving briskly in and out of her, and his face was the only thing she could see. His breath grew ragged as he pleasured himself with her mouth, using her body without giving anything of himself in return. She felt the tears leak out, no longer from the rough pounding the king was administering to her. She was beginning to grow wet despite herself, even as she gradually became used to King Garrant’s thrusting, the table rocking from the force of his movements.

“Take it, sweet cunt,” Garrant growled, lunging into her, so deep inside her that he should have been hurting her. Instead, her traitorous body was beginning to welcome him, the wisps of tension beginning to coil in her belly. Realizing this, she tried to lash out with her legs, doing her best to hinder his movements, but he only laughed.