Page 21 of The Prince’s Plaything

Phillion stalks a good few metres behind us while Lux leads me out of the dining room. He’s been keeping his distance lately. I’m assuming because, like most of the men from Father’s palace, he’s terrified of bleeding women.

Speaking of men keeping their distance, I haven’t seen Castor since my first morning here. Lux hasn’t mentioned him either, and of course I’ve been in no mood to bring him up.

Perhaps he’s also afraid of women’s cycles. It wouldn’t surprise me.

If a perfectly natural bodily function is all it takes to keep him away, then maybe I don’t need to be as afraid as I thought.

Lux’s hand drops to the small of my back as he leads me around a corner. With a smile, I lean into him. His cinnamon scent teases my nose, making me feel warm all over.

I’ll write another letter to my sisters soon. Tell them all about how pretty the manor is and how kind Lux has⁠—

An odd moaning noise makes me jump. “What was that?”

Lux doesn’t let us stop. “I didn’t hear anything,” he says, but there’s an odd edge to his tone. “Probably just the birds outside.”

“It didn’t sound like birds.” My brow lowers. It sounded like a woman in pain. Or crying. “Shouldn’t we check⁠—”

Her cry echoes down the walls again, followed by the panicked words, “No please! Stop! Let go of me!”

Dread pools inside me. I know that tone all too well.

With my heart in my throat, I bolt out of Lux’s grasp.

“Eden! Wait!” he calls after me, but I’m already darting down a smaller hallway towards the sound.

As I veer around a corner, I hear it again. “Stop it! That hurts! You’re too big!” she screams.

She’s not far. I can hear her sobs getting louder with every door that flies by me.

“Do I need to gag you, bitch?” a man’s voice snarls. “I said be quiet!”

Horror claws up my throat. “Where are you?” I yell. There’s so many doors down here, but every handle I try doesn’t budge. They’re all locked. “Which room are you in?”

Her sobs quieten. He’s probably gagged her. But I can still hear movement through the wall to my right.

Breath ragged, I stoop to check the nearest keyhole, only to smack my hand over my mouth.

A young woman has been gagged and tied naked to some sort of wooden rack. Her wrists and ankles have been forced into a spread-eagle position while a black masquerade mask covers her face. But I can still see her fiery red hair, as thick and as curly as Gilia’s.

Looming over her, is a tall man with a matching mask. He’s dressed in regal clothing with hair as blonde as ice. In his hand, he holds a glistening black rod.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out where that’s just been.

“No,” I cry, falling backwards. It takes me seconds to pull myself together enough to scramble up and sprint back the way I came.

Even if Lux doesn’t have a key, he could help me break the door down. We could save that poor woman⁠—

Someone slams into me, and I yelp.

“Eden!” I’m caught before I go flying. Two warm hands grip my waist, steadying me. “Where did you go? You just bolted! I couldn’t find you,” Lux growls.

“There… woman… needs help,” I wheeze.

Lux tilts his head, but I don’t let him argue. Taking his hand, I yank him down the hallway.

“There. You need to break down this door. Quickly.” I point at the door.

“Eden…” he murmurs.