35. Chapter 35
thirty-five
T he moment Ripley and I reach my room, I shut the door behind us, adrenaline pumping through my veins as my flight response reaches higher. I want to get as far away from Hephaestus as possible. If that’s possible.
My eyes flicker to the door as Ripley walks past me to stand by the bed.
Hephaestus will come for me soon.
I defied him in front of the clan leaders. I embarrassed him in the worst possible setting. He was determined to break me into pieces in front of them and let them each have their piece. But I showed him up.
I broke his hold and proved that I have more power than he thinks, but that doesn’t mean I’ll win every fight with him. He’s still far more powerful .
“I have to get out of here,” I murmur, tightening Ripley’s cloak as I hurry around the room, looking for something to wear before Hephaestus comes storming in.
My guard remains silent, and he hasn’t looked at me once. I don’t know whether he tries to give me privacy or he can’t stand to even look at me after everything that has happened. I still don’t truly know where he stands.
“Say something,” I yell as I raid the closet and rip the first dress that I get my hands on off the hanger.
“He’s your dragon, Draconis. There’s nothing to be done.”
My body freezes. My teeth grind as I close my eyes. “He’s not my mate.”
The cloak drops to the floor, and I drape a new light purple dress over my body, ignoring the bruises that paint my arms. “No mate of mine would ever bruise me the way he has bruised me. A mate of mine would never throw me to the wolves like he just did!”
Ripley doesn’t say anything and keeps his eyes glued to the floor, tension radiating throughout the air. It’s almost like he wants to side with me, but he can’t. He’s caught in Hephaestus’s web, believing he’s Dominion Cedric, just like all the rest of them.
“Look at me,” I say to Ripley as I step out of the closet.
His jaw tenses and he slowly lifts his head, his dark eyes filled with sorrow. It’s such an unexpected sight that I find myself lost for words for a few seconds, wondering what dim thoughts are occupying his mysterious mind.
However, his sorrow won’t get me away from Hephaestus unless he takes action. He needs to know that Hephaestus is nothing like what he expects and that I won’t settle for this, for having a monster as my mate. I got away from him once. I will again.
“I’m not his, and I never will be,” I grit.
His gaze drops to my neck. “He marked you. You’re his. ”
My lips part. I am just about to respond to his words when the door flings open and Hephaestus storms inside.
“What did you do?” he seethes, and my brows knit.
“I left,” I spit, managing to speak despite the jolt of surprise and fear that hits me. I knew he was coming for me, but there’s nothing like seeing his anger face-to-face.
His pupils morph into slits, and scales form on his bare arms as his hand cuts through the air. The back of it connects with my cheek, sending me stumbling to the floor.
My knees scrape over the stone floor. The taste of copper moves over my tongue as my cheek and jaw throb. Tears sting my eyes as I scamper to my feet.
Briefly, I meet Ripley’s gaze, hoping to convince him to help me once more. But what can a Sentinel do to an Aetherion? A god in a shifter’s body…
“Why couldn’t you just leave me alone in peace? Hasn’t your curse caused enough destruction?”
He mumbles under his breath as he shakes his head and loosens his thick leather belt, gliding it free from his attire until it hangs by his side.
My blood runs cold at the sight, my breaths becoming quick and shallow as my lungs shrivel up. I know he’s not afraid to hurt me. He’s proven that multiple times already. My cheek and jaw nearly feel numb from his slap, and he’s going to do far more damage with that belt.
“Hold her down,” he orders, and my gaze flicks to Ripley again.
“Please, don’t,” I beg him as tears glimmer in my eyes. If I can just get his help, there’s a small chance I can make it out of here and get back to my dragons where I belong.
Ripley hesitates, his eyes flicking back and forth, the turmoil edged on his features, but it isn’t enough. Hephaestus has too strong of a hold on him to make him disobey as no dragon shifter or rider will defy their Aetherion.
He swallows thickly and saunters closer, peeling me from the floor and turning me around.
“Strip her!”
Another hesitation, but he still obeys, ripping the back open and nudging me down with his hand.
I struggle slightly, but as the tears roll down my cheeks, I already know I’ve lost. A sense of defeat overtakes me, mingling with the sick pleasure that Hephaestus undoubtedly feels from making my life hell.
The mattress under me is soft and gentle. I sigh, laying my head down and closing my eyes, hoping my mind takes me far away from here.
Somewhere no one can hurt me.
In the arms of my dragons. In a beautiful garden with blossoming flowers on a bright, sunny day. In bed with the two people I love the most. That’s where I need to be right now. That is my freedom, my escape.
The leather cuts through the air and slices my skin. I bite on the inside of my cheek to keep myself from screaming. I clutch the sheets under me as I hear it again.
The change of air, the breeze that comes with it, softly moving my hair before the impact. A sharp, stinging sensation that burns my skin and saps my strength. Every strike is personal, every strike a punishment for all I’ve done to him today and before he cast me out of the Godlands.
A whimper slips through my lips, and the next lash comes even quicker.
“You.”
Slash.
“Belong.”
Slice.
“To. ”
Whip.
“Me.”
I cry out as blood flows over my skin, dripping onto the white sheets. Hephaestus pants behind me, his leather belt hanging loosely in his hand. He rolls his neck and then trails a forefinger down my back, making my stomach churn in disgust.
“Behave for once, Aphrodite,” he whispers and saunters out of the room, slamming the door behind me as my body quivers under Ripley’s touch.
“Please,” I whimper as he peels his hands away. “You have to help me.”
I turn and hiss as the loose fabric grazes over the cuts on my back. Ripley doesn’t say a word and shifts on his feet to leave, but my fingers dig into his wrist.
“I know Ares isn’t a saint, but he never hurt me.” I peer up at him with hope in my eyes, just needing a chance. A helping hand.
He jerks himself free, making my jaw drop in surprise. “Perhaps, but he did hurt my species. ”
I gulp and slump back. “I’m not asking you to stand by him. I’m asking you to stand by me.”
We haven’t known each other long, but in the small amount of time that we’ve been around each other, he’s seen how badly Hephaestus treats me, how evil the man is.
He shakes his head. “I can’t,” he says and walks out. The door locks behind him.
Silence rings throughout the room as I stare at the closed door, a sense of doom rolling over me like a dark cloud. Despite all the trouble and turmoil that have already happened, the storm is still coming my way.
There’s no avoiding the destruction that’s about to come.