Chapter 37 Amaryllis
AMARYLLIS
I’m quiet by the time Orion drags me inside his quarters. My vision is blurry from all the tears, and my throat is full of all the words I want to scream, but there’s no point in screaming now.
Not that I’d hear it over the thundering in my ears.
Father knows about Kasimir.
Father knows, and now Kasimir is going to die.
This is all my fault.
Orion shoves me through another set of doors that leads to his sleeping chamber. A large bed dominates the dark room, the only other furniture being a lonely armchair, a small nightstand, and a clothes dresser that’s already been cleared out.
I swallow at the sight of it. His clothes are gone, along with his belongings. I don’t have time to figure out if this means I won’t get to say goodbye to my sisters as Orion forces me down onto his bed and takes a seat opposite me.
“You’ve been a very bad girl, Amaryllis.” He leans forward in his chair, his elbows pressing into his knees. “Whatever am I going to do with you?”
My jaw clenches. “There is nothing you can do. You have taken from me the only person who will ever know me better than my sisters. Nothing you can do now will hurt me more than that.” Somehow my voice remains steady despite the sob threatening to tear up my throat.
Orion watches me with a glare until his lips twitch cruelly.
“Oh, but you see, that’s where you’re wrong,” he chuckles.
“There are many ways to torture a person. And what I did to you earlier today was mere child’s play compared to what I can do back home – where your guards cannot hear you scream, nor will your servants be able to tend to your wounds after I’ve had my fun. ”
No red flashes in his eyes. Not even a flicker. But I don’t care. “Torture me all you like, I will never submit to you.”
Orion grins. “Then perhaps I do not need to torture you.” With a laugh, he pushes up from the chair. “Perhaps one of your sisters will do?”
“No.” His words suck all the air from my lungs. “No, Orion.”
“That’s Sir to you,” he corrects , stepping closer until he towers over me. “You will refer to me as Sir or Master, and you will not speak unless spoken to. Do you understand?”
I grip my skirts to stop my hands from clawing at him. “Yes,” I force out.
Orion raises an eyebrow pointedly.
“Yes, sir.”
“Good,” he purrs. I resist the urge to flinch as he cups my jaw, brushing his thumb over my cheek. “You know, when I bought you at your father’s auction I expected a whore, a beautiful whore, but a whore nonetheless.”
My molars grind together, but somehow I remain silent.
“Imagine my surprise when I finally meet you, and I realise that all twelve princesses have been kept hidden away in your father’s palace all these years. Sol’s pure little doves. Only you’re not a little dove any more, are you, dear Amaryllis?”
When I don’t reply, his gaze darkens. “Answer me.”
“No, sir.”
He pauses for a minute, smiling. “So now you have put me in a difficult position, you see? I had expected to need to beat you into shape, but the fear in your eyes when I cornered you in the gardens – that was like nothing I’d ever seen before.
Your innocence was… delicious,” he marvels.
“Only now that man has ruined you for me, and the experience I expected, the one I thought I’d paid for – handsomely might I add – has been stolen from me. ”
He strokes my cheek, his gaze slipping to my lips. “I don’t like to be stolen from. So now you will have to pay.” His voice drops to a whisper as he leans closer. “And I will fuck you in every hole, using your body in every depraved way I can think of until I feel the debt has been settled.”
I shudder, but remain silent. He can do whatever he wants to me, I don’t care any more.
“Blossom will be accompanying us to my palace, though. I’m sure I can convince your father if I tell him it’s the only way I can guarantee him an heir,” he continues, ignoring the way my face pales.
“And perhaps one of the other girls too. Eden has a lovely smile, but it would look even lovelier wrapped around my cock.”
I almost choke. “Please, Ori— Sir.” My voice is a soft squeak. I don’t miss the way his grin widens at my begging. “Please don’t bring them into this.”
“Oh, but you see I have to,” he breathes. “If it is the only way to make you submit—”
“It’s not,” I blurt. “I submit to you.” Dipping my head, I clench my fists. “I’ll do anything you ask. I’ll be the perfect bride. Just don’t make them come with us—”
“Your lies are as sweet as honey, Amaryllis, but unfortunately not as sweet as the thought of me taking your sisters’ virtues while you watch tied up against my bed frame.”
Horror claws up my insides while my thoughts rage like a hurricane.
There’s nothing I can do. Father will agree with Orion.
My sisters will suffer, and it’ll be all my fault.
If only I’d never left for Night Alley. If only I’d stopped seeing Kaz after Hugo’s death. If only Kaz were here so he could—
No.
Metal digs into my breasts as my chest heaves.
I don’t need Kaz to rescue me.
Steadying my breath, I let a tear slip down my cheek. “I understand, sir.” My tone softens to something weak, pathetic. Perfect.
Orion’s brow raises. “You do?”
“Of course.” I keep my gaze on the floor. “I have been awful to you, and I must be punished. And you, being the wise prince you are, know that the best way to punish me is to use my sisters.”
Orion narrows his eyes. “It is.”
“But if I may request one thing, sir? Before we leave for your palace?”
“Go on?” he presses.
“I am so frightened after today. Everything has happened so fast, and I wish I could just forget it all and start again.” Rising slowly from the bed, I wring my shaking hands together.
“I do want to be good for you. Truly,” I breathe.
“So will you grant me one kiss?” I glance up to meet his surprised eyes.
“Please kiss me so we may start again, so I can learn how to be a good wife for you. I truly wish to make you happy, sir.”
He studies me for a moment, but the tremble in my lower lip must be convincing enough as he guides me back until I’m pressed against a wall. Drawing closer, his hands flatten against the wall either side of me.
“One kiss?” His voice deepens.
I nod. “Let me be good for you, sir.”
His lips twitch, but only for a heartbeat, before he crushes them against mine.
I gasp, letting my body soften beneath his. Closing my eyes, I part my lips as his tongue invades my mouth. He tastes awful. Like cinders and stale whiskey. But I force my gag into a moan as his hand roams up my bodice.
“Allow me.” I push his fingers down to my hips, using my other hand to adjust the ties of my bodice.
Orion lets out a hungry moan. “I thought you just wanted a kiss.”
“I just want to please you, sir,” I reply breathily. “Please let me give myself to you.”
“It seems you’re learning after all,” he says with a grin, rolling his hips against mine.
I loosen the strings of my bodice, watching through heavy lashes as his eyes close. While I kiss him, three thoughts weigh heavily in my mind:
Father will not get his heir.
I slip my hand inside my bodice.
Orion is not taking me to his palace.
I grasp the wooden handle, sliding the weapon Kasimir gave me from its sheath.
And most importantly, Orion isn’t putting his fucking hands anywhere near my sisters.
I yank the dagger from my bodice and jab it between his ribs.
Orion gasps. Panic flares in his gaze.
“Y-you bitch,” he wheezes, glancing between the dagger and me. “H-how?”
“Fuck you, Orion,” I hiss, pushing him backwards.
But the prince doesn’t budge. Instead his hands fly up to my neck.
“You think you can just kill me?” he hisses. My head hits the wall as he squeezes. “If I die, you’re coming with me, whore.” I squirm against his hold, desperate to push the dagger in further, but he’s too strong. Darkness closes in on my vision. I can’t breathe. I—
Blood hits my face. Orion goes limp, and I collapse to the floor. But before my limbs hit the wood, I’m caught and pulled into a pair of strong and very familiar arms.
“I’ve got you, Ruby.” Kasimir’s nose brushes my ear as he holds me tight.
This can’t be real. He can’t be real.
“Am I dead?” I rasp, my heart pounding.
“You’re safe,” he tells me, inhaling against my hair. “I’ve got you, and you’re safe.”
Slowly, I pull away to see Kasimir standing before me. Behind him, Eden trembles beside a sheepish-looking Blossom – and Dahlia, who looks just as murderous as Orion did.
I want to sob in relief, but the thought of the prince makes my heart freeze.
“Orion, he—”
“He’s dead,” Kasimir says, taking my hand to guide me away from the prince’s slumped body.
“You don’t need to fear him any more, Ruby.
He’s gone.” Orion’s blood forms a growing puddle on the floor.
Kasimir must’ve slit his throat while he was suffocating me.
I want to ask him what happened, but my thoughts are a mess.
As if sensing this, he pulls me in for another hug. “You’re in shock, Ruby.” He rubs my back gently. “You did so well using your dagger. I’m so proud of you.”
“Is she alright?” Blossom asks quietly.
I feel Kasimir nod.
“What’s Father going to say about this?” Eden’s panicked voice sounds over the blood rushing in my ears.
“Father won’t find out,” Dahlia snarls. “Kasimir will clean this up for us, won’t you, Scorpion?”
I barely hear him as he groans. “It’ll be a hell of a clean up job, and I give it an hour before the servants start sniffing around and alert the guards. We’ll have to be fast. Unless…”
Carefully, he pries me out of his hold. “Ruby?” He speaks softly. “I know I asked you this before, and you were quite adamant that it was a no. But I’ll never forgive myself if I don’t ask you again. Just one more time.”
My body tenses.
“Do you want to come home with me? Permanently?”
My sisters gasp behind him.
“If you agree, I’ll take you away from here. I’ll make it look like someone broke in and killed you both. Your father will never know you’re still alive, assuming your sisters don’t go snitching.” He shoots them a glare, but they’re too busy watching me to notice.
“I…” My chest warms at the thought. But then I catch sight of Blossom’s tear-stained face. I can’t leave her. My gaze flicks to Eden, then Dahlia as she scowls. I can’t leave any of them. They need me. They—
“Go with him,” Blossom says.
“What?” I stutter.
“Go with him, or I’ll make you.” She glares at me.
“But I can’t leave you all. Father isn’t what he seems. He’s not a good man. He doesn’t love us. He—”
“I know.” Dahlia shrugs. “I think all of us have always known – apart from you, apparently.” She narrows her eyes. “But you were always his favourite. At least, until you grew up.”
Sadness blurs my vision. He loved me once. I’m sure he did. But I suppose it’s much easier to love a little girl who doesn’t have opinions and looks at you as though you’re the sun.
It hurts that I thought I never really stopped looking at him like that. Until today.
“There’s nothing we can do about Father now,” Dahlia explains, marching towards me. “You have to get out of here, Ami. I love you, but after what Father did, it’s not safe for you here any more.”
“It’s not safe for you either!” I take her small hand. “What if something happens and I’m not here to protect you?”
“There are still eleven of us left.” Blossom steps forward, the pink skirt of her gown dipping into Orion’s blood.
“You think too highly of yourself if you think we need you to protect all of us.” Her tone is firm, stronger than I’ve ever heard her speak.
“Go with the Scorpion,” she orders. “The best thing you can do for us now is save yourself.”
Kasimir steps forward to take my hand. “There’s not much time, Amaryllis. You have to decide.”
I meet his gaze, then Blossom’s, Dahlia’s, and Eden’s, before glancing at the door one final time and thinking of my eight other sisters, probably hiding in Camellia’s room and worrying about me.
My eyes water. “I’ll go,” I whisper, turning to Kasimir. “Please… take me home.”