Chapter 34 Amaryllis
AMARYLLIS
The prince and I walk in silence through the palace hallways. Rain clatters against the windows, casting strange reflections on the floors while Orion keeps my arm wrapped around his, holding me tight until we reach his bedchamber.
Back in the ballroom, I could hardly watch as Kasimir was dragged away.
I just kept my eyes closed while guilt twisted in my stomach.
This is all my fault. I never should’ve left my room last night.
Never should’ve given in so easily when Kaz suggested we play a game.
I have a fiancé! And now he’s furious and dangling Kasimir’s life in front of me, toying with us both like we’re puppets on strings.
That’s not to mention the damage I’ve inflicted on my sisters. They’ll have nightmares for months!
When we arrive at Orion’s chambers, he shoves me inside and slams the door shut behind him.
I’m not surprised by what greets me. The prince has been given one of the nicer guest quarters on the far side of the palace. A lavish reception room sprawls out before us, filled with velvet armchairs, oak tables, and decorated with tapestries and heavy curtains.
There’s several doors too, leading off to bedrooms, bathrooms and private studies.
From the sheer size alone, it’s clear that Father wanted Orion to feel welcome.
Not that I’m feeling any of that warmth right now.
I can almost taste the fury that rolls off Orion’s shoulders as he leads me towards a chaise longue and forces me to take a seat.
I let him push me down. Tears threaten to overcome me, but somehow I keep my breath steady as he sits down opposite me in an ornate armchair.
“I’m very disappointed in you, Amaryllis,” he says after a few heavy moments.
My heart pounds. “I’m so sorry, Orion, I—”
“I didn’t say you could speak.”
My lips flatten as Orion watches me coldly. The air between us is thick with unease, but it’s nothing new. It’s the same fear I felt when he took me through the maze. The only difference now is that if I try to run from it, Kasimir will pay.
With a slow breath, I meet his stare.
“I don’t want you to hate me,” Orion continues.
With a flick of his fingers, he calls over a nearby servant.
“We are to be married after all, and I’d rather you be happy on our wedding day.
” The young servant pours whiskey into a crystal tumbler and hands it to the prince.
Keeping his gaze on me, Orion smiles as he takes a sip.
“Unless you’d rather play the role of an unwilling bride?
I can always arrange to have you dragged down the aisle in chains.
Although that may tarnish both our reputations,” he chuckles.
“You can still call off the wedding,” I say. “I’m sure my father will compensate you for your troubles and my sisters will return your gifts.”
Orion’s smile fades. There’s a beat of silence, until glass whizzes past me in a blur of gold. Whiskey sprays everywhere. I can’t help but scream as his crystal tumbler smashes against the wall.
“I told you to be quiet!” Orion barks.
My breath stutters.
“I am to be your husband,” he thunders, rising from his seat, “so you will obey me when I give you an order. When I tell you to not speak unless spoken to, you will listen to me. Understood?”
My lower lip quivers as I nod slowly.
“Good.” He drops back into his armchair and gestures for his servant to fetch him another drink.
I blink away tears as the whiskey sloshes into a new tumbler.
“But perhaps I am being too harsh.” The prince brings the glass to his lips. “Since you are clearly feeling so talkative today, then maybe we should talk.” He pauses to meet my teary gaze. “Tell me Amaryllis… did you fuck him?”
The words catch me off guard. “No. Of course not.” My body tenses.
“How obvious it is, when you lie, my darling.” Orion’s lips twitch. “It’s actually quite adorable.” With a smirk, he sets down his glass and relaxes his arms over the armrests, letting his hungry gaze fall all over my body.
Nerves twist my stomach. Even when I look away, I can still feel his eyes on me so I focus on counting the number of candles in the room. Eight, nine, ten. It helps until Orion’s voice cuts right through me.
“Remove your dance gown.”
My stomach drops. “What?”
“You heard me.” He smirks. “Or are you deaf now as well as disobedient?”
“B-but we’re not married yet.” I stutter.
“Ah, but that didn’t stop you before, did it, my dear?
” he chuckles, waggling his finger. “You know, I am a forgiving prince, Amaryllis. If it’d been a brief love affair with a duke, or even a commoner, I would happily look past it.
I am no angel myself, of course.” He laughs, tilting his head.
“But I fear that this guard, or whatever he may be, has tainted you.”
My throat tightens, my palms sticking to my skirt.
“And now you need me to help you fix the mess he’s made.” Orion stands, stepping towards me.
Pushing up from my seat, I stumble back. “Please.” I hold out my arms. “Please, don’t do this.”
“But you leave me no choice, Amaryllis.” He snatches my wrist and yanks me towards him.
I hold back a yelp as his hand caresses my face.
His hand trails down to my shoulders, and I send a silent thank you to Camellia, who was able to find me a more modest, high-neck dance dress this morning.
If his fingers were touching skin instead of lavender tulle, I’d be resisting the urge to scream.
“I need to claim back every area that he touched you,” Orion says, stroking the fabric of my dress. “I need you to know what it is like to be taken by not just a man, but by a future king.”
Tears stream down my cheeks. “No, please. Just let go of me!”
Orion stiffens. Scowling, he grips the sides of my arms and shoves me back a few steps.
“What’s this?” He swipes his knuckles over my wet cheek. “You’re crying.”
Swallowing, I steady my voice. “I know what you want, but I’m afraid I can’t give it to you right now.” Or ever, but I keep that thought inside. “So please, I am begging you to please let me return to my chambers.”
If I can get out of here maybe I can find a way to free Kaz. Maybe together we can—
“You are refusing me?” Orion scoffs.
“I’m sorry.” I’m not. “But I’m sure there are plenty of ladies in the palace who would indulge you, and I wouldn’t mind. I’ll look the other way.”
Orion laughs so hard his shoulders shake. “Oh, my darling,” he tells me, before turning to his servant. “You. Fetch us a pitcher of water. My dear bride is confused.”
My lips part. “What?”
Before I can ask any more questions, Orion scoops me up and carries me towards a dresser.
Placing me on top so my legs dangle over the edge, he reaches behind me and pushes open a window.
A rush of cold air cuts through my dance gown, along with a spattering of rain, leaving goosebumps down my arms.
“In my entire thirty years,” Orion starts as he presses my palms against the wood, trapping me on the dresser, “I have never been refused by a woman – princess or commoner.” He shakes his head, leaning closer. “Your guard really has ruined you, hasn’t he?”
I narrow my eyes at him while the servant arrives with a silver pitcher. Orion accepts it, then shoos him away without a thank you.
“What are you doing?” I ask, not wanting to know the answer.
Orion smiles. “Showing you just how cold the world can be without a kind prince to warm you.” With that, he lifts the pitcher and dumps its contents over my head.
I gasp. Icy water pours down my hair, dripping onto my shoulders and soaking my dance gown. I shiver, and then another gust of wind swoops in from the window. It may be summer outside, but the weather is still awful from the rain storm. The chill feels like knives against my skin.
“Why are you doing this?” I whisper.
Orion leans closer, placing a soft kiss against my dripping forehead.
“He’s broken you, my darling, and you need to be fixed.
” He draws back, meeting my gaze. “Soon, you will beg for that gown to be removed. You will beg for the heat of my body to warm every inch of you – even the parts you believe belong only to him.”
I shiver. “No.”
“It’s for your own good, Amaryllis.” He turns away to return to his whiskey. “And don’t even think about getting down from there. If you move even an inch, I’ll take you to the roof.”
My jaw drops.
“Now, be a good girl and think of how warm you’ll be once you finally accept me.” He tosses me a wolfish grin before reaching for a book and settling into his chair. “I’ll be here whenever you’re ready.”
My fingers are turning blue. I’m not sure how much time has passed. Hours, maybe. The sun has long since set, and Orion has moved from his armchair to study papers at a desk across the room.
But I’m still on the dresser. Soaking wet and sitting in an icy-cold puddle.
My muscles are starting to ache from all the shivering.
After an hour, I lifted my legs and hugged them to my chest, scooting to the side a little while the prince’s back was turned.
The new position helped protect my middle from the harsh breeze, and for a few minutes my intense shivers slowed.
Until Orion noticed how comfortable I was and called over the servant again.
Then, another pitcher of water was dumped over my head, and all the ice returned to my bones.
I hate Orion. I hate him so much that when I catch sight of his smirk as he reads his papers, the anger in my veins makes me want to scream.
But I don’t dare tell him that, not while there’s still broken glass on the floor from his last outburst. And I’m too cold to think of an escape plan, so instead I twist the sparkling ring on my finger and focus on not falling asleep.
For some reason, just touching something that belonged to Kasimir warms the awful chill in my bones, even if it’s just a little.
Stars, I hope he’s alright. Because I’m not certain how I’m going to get out of this.
A tear rolls down my cheek as my heavy eyes begin to shut.
“Look at the state of you.”
I gasp, bolting upright.
Orion stands before me, inches away from the dresser, with his arms folded across his chest. He blinks at me with narrowed eyes while a scowl pours over his sharp features. “I’ve never seen a princess look so unkempt,” he scoffs.
Anger boils inside me, but I’m too cold to do anything other than meet his stare.
“Are you hungry, Amaryllis?” he continues, tilting his head. “I’d offer to escort you to the banquet hall, but you’re clearly in no state to leave my bedchamber.” He smirks.
“My father won’t stand for this,” I say through shivering breaths.
Orion laughs then leans closer. “We’ll see about that, my darling.” He lifts my hand from my damp skirt and presses a kiss to my fingers.
I hate the way his hand feels so warm, and how I miss the feeling when he returns my hand to my knee.
“You can make this all go away,” he whispers. “Just say the word and I’ll have a hot bath prepared for you. Then I’ll dry you myself and carry you into bed. All will be forgiven, Ami.”
“No.” I hug my knees tighter.
Orion’s gaze darkens, and he returns to his full height. “Servant!” he calls out.
I flinch. But before his servant can deliver another pitcher, a knock at the door cuts through the cold air.
“What?” Orion snarls at the door.
It creaks open to reveal Martha, her hands clasped together against the bodice of her servant’s gown. When she notices me on the dresser, her eyes grow wide.
“Oh, my lady…” She gasps behind her hand.
“You have something to share, servant?” Orion barks.
“N-no.” Martha shakes her head, dropping her gaze. “Please forgive me, Your Highness. I was merely sent here to fetch Princess Amaryllis. The King wishes to speak with her.”
My lips part. Father wants to see me? My sisters must’ve told him about Orion... I bring up my hand to stifle a laugh. I’m saved.
Orion turns to glare at me. “It seems your prayers have been answered, my dear.” He steps forward and drops his voice to a whisper.
“But don’t get too used to the idea of leaving my bedchamber, because when your father returns you to me – and I’m certain that he will – you won’t walk out that door again until I’ve claimed every part of you. ”
I swallow down bile in my throat. “We’ll see about that,” I sneer, before pushing myself off the dresser and stumbling towards Martha.
My maid rushes forward to help. Lifting my arm over her shoulders, she half-carries me through the doorway, and the moment we’re in the hall, I make sure to kick the door shut behind us.
“Oh, my lady, what happened in there? What did he do to you?” Martha blubbers. “You’re freezing cold – and your gown!”
I shake my head, urging us to walk faster down the hallway. I am moments away from crying, but I need to hold it together, at least for a little longer.
“I need to speak to Father. Now.”
“Of course.” Martha chews her lip. “But perhaps we should stop at your bedchamber first? Let me put you into some dry clothes.”
Now I’m away from the prince, I already feel so much warmer, so much safer. But a dry gown would certainly be nice to change into – and there’s something else in my bedchamber too. Something I really wouldn’t mind being tucked into my bodice for the next time the prince leers at me.
“Yes,” I say, lifting my chin higher. “That sounds like a good idea. Thank you, Martha.”
But I’m not smiling as she leads me down the hallway.