The Gauntlet Thrown
Page 61
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
RAKYN
Shevyn awoke, not gently climbing her way from sleep, but all at once in a heart-pounding rush, as if torn from slumber by a nightmare only to discover the real horror upon waking. She blinked in the dimly lit room and tried to move. Pain shot through her from a variety of places and she remembered that Reed had tied her securely. Her hands were completely numb and the slight movement she had made felt like a heated blade traveling up her arms and into her shoulders. She froze and the pain retreated back into numbness. A figure lay next to her on the bed. Reed. She shuddered and then cringed when the brush of movement awakened him.
He raised his head and sleepily smiled at her. Another woman might have found him handsome, but Shevyn would sooner lie within a nest of vipers.
“Good morning, my dear,” he said. “Did you sleep well? It’s a pity my duties kept me so late. I can hardly wait to introduce you to our marital pleasures. There is not much sense in waiting until the actual wedding, now is there?” His hand reached out to caress her stomach. “If you birthed a child a few weeks early, no one would be the wiser. It happens.” The motion of his hand grew more ardent, moving upward to cup one of her breasts. Shevyn wanted to vomit, but she forced herself to remain still, made easier when every movement she made caused shooting pains in her arms and legs.
Reed pulled back, disappointment evident on his features.
“Is your spirit broken already? I had expected more from you.” Her eyes narrowed in disgust.
The bastard obviously wanted her to fight him every step of the way, therefore it would behoove her to lie still and placid. Too bad she could barely tolerate the touch of his hands. She felt his fingers upon her bare ankle, slowly moving up to her knee. This time she did pull away, unable to stop herself. A new cramp bloomed near her hip. She twisted and opened her mouth to scream, but no sound emerged. Through half-lidded eyes, she watched Reed stare at her, perplexed. He checked her bonds; she was quite sure her hands were blue from lack of circulation.
“If your bonds hurt why do you say nothing?” Reed snarled. He pulled a slender dagger from a sheath that sat on the bedside table. He fingered it thoughtfully for a moment, gazing at her. “I should make you beg me to free you,” he continued and then sneered. “But likely you would rather suffer nobly and will yourself into death. Well, you shall not escape me that easily, princess. I have plans for you.”
He walked around the bed and severed her bonds, drawing blood on one of her wrists. She curled into a fetal position, overcome by the exquisite pain of returning circulation. For a moment, she felt she might pass out and longed for even that momentary escape from Reed.
She dimly heard him across the room as he poured water from the pitcher into a basin. A knock sounded on the outer door and he said, “That will be our morning repast.” She heard him open the intervening doors before admitting the servant, who either handed him a tray or placed it on a nearby table. A moment later the doors closed again. Shevyn watched through the corner of her eye as Reed returned to the bedchamber and placed the covered silver tray upon the table.
Shevyn thought her hands and feet would feel less tormented if they rested in buckets full of bees. She lay as still as possible as every slight movement increased the intensity of the sensation. Reed returned to the basin and she heard the sound of a sharp blade applied to a strop. She closed her eyes as he lathered his chin, praying heartily that he would slip while shaving and cut his own throat.
Such did not occur, however, and by the time he finished Shevyn was able to move her hands once more. The feeling of pins and needles slowly dissipated. Reed shrugged out of his shirt and chose another from the wardrobe. He had placed only one arm into the sleeve when Shevyn bolted.
She sprang from the bed and raced into the antechamber where she wrenched open the doors. As expected, no guards were in evidence. Why post guards when her master was there to watch her? She ran for the staircase, wishing suddenly that she could scream; loud, hysterical screams that would bring the entire castle running. Not that anyone would help her, unless she could find Kerryn.
Her foot had barely touched the first step of the marble staircase when she felt Reed’s hand snag in her hair. Panicked, she twisted away, only realizing her danger at the last instant. She felt a wrenching pain as her hair was torn out by Reed’s grip. She flailed for a moment and snatched at the railing that was just out of reach as she tilted. She heard Reed swear loudly as she fell.
Sharp pain jolted her shoulder as she went end over end down the stairs. Her head cracked sharply upon one marble step and merciful blackness took her from Reed at last.