Page 85 of Dragon Eternal (Dragon Kings 4)
The derision in his voice only made her more nervous. Her stomach churned as her blood turned to ice. “I don’t understand your anger.”
“Do you really think you’ll get your freedom?”
“It’s what the Divine offered if I delivered a Dragon King. Shaw is here.”
Amsden barked a laugh as he dropped his arms and pushed away from the wall. He stalked to her and put his finger against her forehead before shoving her against the back of the settee, his face contorting with fury and satisfaction.
He loomed over her for a moment. Of all the people to bully her, it had to be him. Normally, Nia would play the part everyone expected of her, but being with Shaw had shown her another way. She straightened and watched Amsden warily. What she wouldn’t do for a weapon. Or a Dragon King.
“With all the things you know, do you honestly think you’ll get to walk out of Stonemore?” He bent and put his mouth near her ear. “How naïve of you.”
Her flesh crawled with fear. Nia tried to move away and get to her feet, but Amsden grabbed her and shoved her onto the cushions. Before she knew it, he had her on her back. Everything Shaw had taught her went straight out of her head. She tried to push Amsden away. Despite his lanky frame, he was stronger than he looked.
The sound of ripping material yanked her from her shock. Shaw’s voice filled her head. Focus. Strike the eyes, nose, throat, and groin. Any one of those will incapacitate your attacker.
Amsden had her hands over her head and held them there with a secure hold. She attempted to wiggle loose. He shifted to grab her hips. It was all the time she needed to jerk up her knee, connecting with his groin. He let out an outraged cry and fell to the side, clutching himself. Now free, Nia rolled from the settee to her feet.
She only got one step before a hand clamped around her ankle and yanked it back. She pitched forward, landing heavily on the floor and banging her forehead against it. Pain radiated outward like a blast. Dots swam in her vision.
Nia fought against the darkness pulling her under. She refused to become unconscious and let Amsden have her body. With her eyes open and blinking, she clawed at the floor while he continued tugging her back. Finally, she rolled over and attempted to kick him with her free leg. He anticipated that and laughed as he shoved her foot away.
“I watched that night the priest took you,” Amsden said. “I saw all of it. How he couldn’t control himself. And how you didn’t fight. It’s always been fun to watch.”
Fury consumed her. She tried to kick him again and again. He couldn’t dodge them all. The few she landed made her smile, but him managing to crawl over her once more wiped away the satisfaction. Then he backhanded her.
The pain took her breath. Lights flashed behind her eyes. The darkness tried to take her once more, and she struggled against it. It took more effort this go-round, costing her more time. When she came to, Amsden knelt between her legs with his trousers open and his dick in his hand.
Panic shot through her until she realized that he was limp. A laugh bubbled out of her. “What’s wrong? You can’t get hard when someone’s fighting you?”
“Shut your fucking mouth. It’s your job to get me hard. Do it!” he commanded.
She glared at him. “No.”
“Do. It.”
“Never.”
“By the time I’m finished with you, no one will want you,” Amsden threatened.
Something snapped inside Nia. She sat up and quickly jabbed the stiffened fingers of her hand like a blade to his throat. His eyes bugged as he gasped and choked. She shoved him away and scrambled to her feet as she hurried from the room, closing the door behind her.
She glanced around to see if anyone was near. When she didn’t see anyone, she looked down at herself. Her sleeve was torn, and she knew her hair was a mess. She rushed to the servants’ quarters. Nia’s foot slipped on one of the stairs, and she tumbled down the last few of them.
The world went black. She had no idea how long she was out before she opened her eyes. Her head swam with dizziness. She had to use the wall to get to her feet. Everything hurt, and she wasn’t sure how she would get out of the citadel to find Merrill looking as she did. It wouldn’t be long before someone found Amsden, or he found others and ordered everyone to look for her. Nia swiped at the useless tears and straightened from the wall, only to come face-to-face with several servants.
“Stop staring and help,” Corrine said as she descended the stairs to come even with Nia.
Nia looked at the courtesan in confusion.
Corrine smiled. “Come on. Let’s get you changed and your hair fixed.”
“They’ll punish you for helping me.”
“Not if they don’t find out.”
Nia glanced at the servants.
“We’ve all had to deal with Amsden’s attention. You’re the first who fought back.”
Nia glanced back up the stairs, her thoughts on Shaw. Her entire body hurt, but there was no way she could leave the citadel in her current state. Going with Corrine might lead to her death, but what choice did she have?
Corrine’s arm was gentle as it wrapped around her and guided her. It wasn’t long before they were in the courtesan’s room. The beautiful, black-skinned courtesan was gentle as she helped Nia remove her torn clothing and put on new ones. Corrine tossed Nia’s ruined garments into the fire before sitting Nia down to redo her hair.
“There,” Corrine said with a smile, meeting Nia’s gaze in the mirror.
Nia turned to face her and grabbed her arm. “I owe you.”
A calculating grin curved Corrine’s lips. “Yes, you do. Now, go so I can call in my marker later.”
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