Chapter 9: "NO."

The male named Cain is........ something.

I don't know how to put my finger on it, but I know he's not the mean self-conceited prick he's making me feel he is.

To begin with, he's given me food. More food than I can carry, and it's all for me.

I hear a sweet chuckle behind me and the most beautiful lady I have ever seen appears in my line of vision. She has brown hair like me, and brown eyes with the most wheaty complexion I have ever seen on anyone. She's beautifully tan and when she smiles at me I feel something like butterflies flutter in my belly.

Her smile is so kind.

"Don't be embarrassed about anything okay? It's nice that you eat so well."

I duck to hide the blush on my cheeks and when I turn my eyes back to her and I can see pity in hers.

"They put you through the whole seven days of starvation stuff didn't they?"

I nod and she sighs.

"Happened to the best of us. I just hope you survive the rest."

I nod and grab a drumstick from the platter on my lap. It's huge and succulent, and it tastes so good. I'm so lost in the delicious tastiness of my drumstick that I miss most of what is happening around me.

I could be shot through the head at this moment and I wouldn't care.

Something odd is what brings me back to the present though. It's the sound of laughter.

More precisely, Cain's laughter.

It's just a small chuckle but still, I blink and stare just to make sure I'm seeing this right.

Fuck, I am.

By the moon goddess, he looks unreal!

Cain clears his throat the next moment and I snap out of it. I'm not sorry to have stared. He looks freaking marvelous when he's happy.

The lady who's attending to me walks over and sits on the other side of the bed. 

"I hear your fingers were broken?"

Her sad tone makes me remember the pain of that moment and I almost burst into tears. The look on my face is one of pain and everything in my mouth turns bitter.

"I haven't been able to feel them at all. I don't think I'll ever use them again."

Cain lets out something like a scoff and I ignore him. I focus on the lady in front of me and she's smiling.

"Are those fingers by any chance part of what you used in carrying that huge platter up?"

My eyes widen until I'm sure they're as wide as saucers. I freaking did.

"Can I see the broken fingers, Miss Adelaide?"

I nod and reluctantly retract them from the side of the wide dish I'm holding. What in the name of the moon goddess happened to all the pain? I felt the bones break.

The lady gently applies pressure on each one, before flexing them both ways and dragging them back a bit. I wince when the pain becomes something I am vaguely aware of and she drops my hand gently. She turns back to Cain and she nods.

"Her fingers are in perfect condition. Nothing's wrong with them."

Cain is silent for a while and he cocks his head to the side. His silver hair and silver eyes have my heart racing as an inquisitive look settles on his face. I notice his mouth is pretty when he says.

"Not even slight finger trauma?"

The lady shakes her head and chuckles softly.

"Nothing at all, like it was never broken."

Cain nods and gestures for them to speak outside. The lady stands up and I panic.

"Um, Miss...." she turns back "Leah, call me Leah."

I nod and gesture to what's in her left hand. She smiles and hands me the spoon. I don't care where they go now. I'm back to eating my food.

They're just behind the door and I can hear them speaking in hushed tones. I stand up to eavesdrop but I can't hear anything.

Something else catches my attention and I bend down to pick it up. It's a lock of hair, silver hair, almost like Cain's, just fuller and sparklier. I tuck it into the pockets of my dress before they come back and go to the bed I was on.

When the door opens again only Miss Leah comes back in. She's smiling again, and I have the feeling it's going to be hard to listen to what she has to say.

"You do know why you're here right Adelaide? I assume Cain has informed you?"

I nod. 

"He said you'd help me get ready," she nods and interrupts me "Do you know what you're getting ready for?"

I shake my head and for the next two and a half hours, I'm educated on the sadistic torture games the Lycan king likes to play before he fucks his victims right out of their senses. 

I'm told to obey when he asks me to obey, cry and whimper when I feel that'll be best.

He likes those sorts of things.

For the rest of the "class", I just sit down on the bed paralyzed. What I will do and how I am supposed to do it sends chills down my bones.

I can't even tell if what she's saying is just meant to scare me or not. She explains it in passing like we're discussing the weather.

When I'm led back to my room, there's a new door installed and I lock it behind me when I go in. I tell myself I can do this.

I can do all of it.

It's a small price to pay for freedom. 

For MY freedom.

I pace the length of my room and apply the oils to my skin.

I can do this. 

When I'm led out again, it's like I'm watching my body from afar.

The Lycan king is waiting in a room when I come in, fully clothed and looking annoyed.

When the door is closed, it's only the two of us. He regards me for a moment then shrugs.

"Lick the dust off my shoes and go wash. You smell filthy."

I can tell he isn't joking and I do the most foolish thing, the one thing I have been told not to do.

"NO."

Lyros opens his eyes slowly and when he looks at me I can see anger brewing just below the surface. 

"Say that again."