Page 92 of Seasons of War
His image faded.
...
There was an awareness. That calm was bad, and something wasn’t right. An instinct so deeply embedded that even when her thoughts fizzled out, the awareness remained, until it too faded.
CHAPTER 24
Miya
The Territories
Archai, Caspador
833 P.C. [Post-Collapse]
The python wrapped around Miya's body still, wringing her neck, but when she clutched her throat, she only touched skin.
Coughing and wheezing for breath, she jerked forward to sit up but steely arms locked her in place.
The colors in the room bled into one another. The captain’s face shifted into focus.
Screams erupted from her strangled throat as a hiss, not just because of her swollen vocal cords or her lungs yearning for air. Because the danger hadn’t subsided. Because she was terrified, and now she felt it.
“There, there,” the captain said, cradling her. “It’s not as bad as it seems.” His chin rested on top of her head. “I won’t have to do that again, will I?”
Miya dared not speak. He'd stolen her voice right from her body. The pressure built, greater than when he’d strangled her. No escaping this. No fighting him off. Even if she returned home to her father, the captain would come for her there, just like every other Moress.
What would he do to them? Could Miya look the other way while he killed her entire family and terrorized her kingdom? Never.
“When you return to Krowe’s, you’ll have an excuse for your absence now. Tell everyone you were attacked at the market. But tell the fool the truth.” The captain ran his fingers through her hair, catching on a tangle. “Lance will think, ‘Poor, Miya. Who will protect her?'”
She bit her tongue to keep from speaking. This monster. If Miya ran, she'd never give him what he deserved.
“Bale will be worth something once he has a stake in the mines. Rafferty can be the first to strike a deal with him. It’s a compelling opportunity for your boss. Go with Lance to his people and close the deal with Bale. Keep in contact with him. That’s all I ask of you.”
“What will you do with Lance?” Her voice rasped. Pain cut through her throat.
“What do you care?”
Her heart never forgot the agony of losing her mother, then her innocence, and with it, her hope. No matter what happened, she couldn’t help him do that to another person. She had to stop him.
Could he feel her heart storming in her chest? Miya gazed up at him, not attempting to hide the fear making her skin prickle. He liked her terror. Craved it. “Aiden is weak. I can get him to do anything. I can get anyone at Rafferty to do anything.”
“Do you think you can work me?”
He shoved her onto the ground, and she rolled onto her stomach, pain crashing over her shoulder and down her back. She stared at the worn leather of his black boots.
He'd always win in a power struggle. She had to use his ego and penchant for flattery to dig her way into his heart. To outmaneuver him.
“Don't try your charms on me again, woman.”
Miya bit the inside of her cheek. Every single breath hurt so bad. He nearly killed her, and she doubted he cared.
“Your handler will be here soon.” The captain lifted her to her knees and tousled her hair. “Let's fix you up.”
Her fist curled to hit him.
Fighting always made it worse. She forced her hands to relax. Whatever she did from here on out, it didn’t make her stronger one way or another. People thought a person with dignity wouldn’t go down without trying to rip a man to shreds.She wasn’t the one without dignity. It was the captain. No matter what she did, that was on him.
