Sabine

I swallowed. My throat ached as the forming lump protested the action. I couldn't pull my eyes from his. Those restless, gray orbs pinned me just as firmly as his hands around my wrists. Stray strands of his red hair wisped in front of his eyes.

My chest rose and fell dramatically with each breath. I couldn't control myself. Each inhale was little more than a gasp. Each exhale a labored sigh. I could barely process the words he spoke to me.

Prince Cole arched a thick eyebrow at me, his youthful features far from innocent now. "Are you going to make me repeat myself?"

I swallowed again, my throat dry and sticky. He really didn't like to repeat himself. At least, he was giving me a chance. Unconsciously, I twisted my wrists in his grasp. His skin was so hot on mine, fingers unyielding.

My stomach flopped back and forth. Was there any way out of this? How many times would he allow me to be disobedient?

I sighed and nodded. "What did I do to deserve the wicked wrath of the War Dragon? Are you so vile, that you must prey on a powerless opponent?" I kept my tone flat and emotionless. Finally, I was able to break from his gaze. I bowed my head.

The prince did nothing. He stood still, his firm grip on my wrists steady.

I waited for him to unleash his anger and finally punish me. Since I came into the palace, I'd been nothing but disobedient. He didn't even want a slave. What use was a disobedient slave to a prince? He had all the people he needed to wait on him. I was disposable.

A soft chuckle caught my ears. I stiffened and lifted my eyes to the prince's face. He smirked and nodded.

"That wasn't so hard, was it?" he released my wrists and stepped away.

As soon as his back was turned, I peeled myself from the wall. I rubbed my wrists, the red imprint of his fingers on my skin. The connection to my magic faded rapidly as the collar activated again.

"I..." I clamped my mouth closed before any more unsolicited words came out of my mouth.

The prince glanced at me over his shoulder. "Did you have more to say?"

I shook my head. I grabbed my lower lip with my teeth and glanced at the floor.

"You seem to have something on your mind." The prince turned fully to face me.

I took a deep breath and kept my head bowed. "Are you going to punish me for speaking out of turn?"

"No." The prince chuckled again. "I did allow you to speak freely."

My jaw slackened and I fought the urge to look at him again. "But that... was about something else."

"I don't make that distinction."

"Wh-why did you do that?" I pointed to the spot on the wall where he pinned me.

"Why indeed." I caught the prince's casual shrug. "I'd like to take a bath. Will you ready it?"

I nodded and hurried out of his rooms. The more distance between us, the better. Once again, I narrowly escaped a harsh punishment from my royal master. Unless... the rumors of his fierceness were exaggerated.

The bathhouse was just through the courtyard in the palace wing opposite Prince Cole's. Servants operated it night and day, always ready to provide the royals and court members with bathwater. The bathhouse was always filled with steam and the creaking and clunking of hot water being forced through copper pipes.

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I didn't understand how the water system worked, only that it did.

"Prince Cole is requesting a bath," I told the older woman running the bathhouse.

"Again? That man must be the cleanest in the palace." She shook her head. "Hot water to the War Dragon's room!" she shouted over her shoulder at the other servants.

I saw several figures moving through the steam to prepare the request. Two men went to a large metal wheel and began turning it. A high-pitched whistle echoed through the bathhouse and more steam clouded the room.

My ears cringed against the sound. I waved my hand in front of my face, clearing the excess steam.

"You're all set, Miss." The woman said, smiling warmly at me.

I flashed a quick smile back and left. Every servant I encountered treated me as though I had more status than them, despite the slave collar around my neck. Was being the prince's personal attendant that elevating?

When I made it back to the prince's quarters, his silhouette moved behind the changing screen. I could see him discarding the heavy fabrics of his robes, piling them in a heap on the floor.

I sucked in a sharp breath and went to the bathtub. There was a single brass knob. I turned it and hot, steaming water gushed into the metal tab, splattering my face with scalding little droplets. I leaned back and wiped them away with my sleeve.

I'd learned the prince liked his bathwater mixed with specific scents. All the glass jars and vials sat on a shelf above the tub. I found the scent he liked. It was a combination of sandalwood and pine, two earthy scents that tickled my nose.

I tilted the jar and counted out the scented drops. As soon as they hit the water, they blended with the steam and filled the bathroom with a rich, natural scent. A wooden paddle rested against the tub. I sat on the edge and stirred the water with the paddle to mix in the scent and ensure even heating.

My mind wandered as I turned the faucet off and continued to stir the water. At this point, the stirring was to cool it enough so the prince wouldn't get burned. The entire bathroom filled with steam until water drops ran down the windows and the changing screen.

"Mmm, that smells perfect."

I gasped and whipped my head around. The prince stood just behind me. I hadn't heard him approach.

He wore a thin, silk robe, tied loosely at his waist. One of the sleeves barely clung to his shoulder and I could see the deep, chiseled grooves of his chest and abs. My eyes widened until I thought they'd pop out of my head.

I couldn't stop staring at his impressive physique. No wonder it was said he could kill someone with his bare hands. My eyes caught a red-inked tattoo of a dragon, just like Talon, on his chest, curling around his body and hiding on his back. I tried to swallow and it stuck in my throat.

The loose robe flaps barely overlapped over his legs. I felt all the blood rush to my face and my cheeks burned hotter than the steaming water.

I stood up and dropped the paddle on the floor. Quickly, I retrieved it and leaned it against the wall.

"Y-your Highness..." I stammered, motioning to the bath. I was still staring at him. The part of my brain that should be telling me not to stare was too busy taking in his gorgeous, and terrifying body.

"My, my, you're positively... blushing," Prince Cole drawled, a smirk tugging at his lips. He reached for the tie of his robe.

"Wait!" I held my hands up, shielding my eyes.

The prince chuckled deeply. "In your line of work, I'm certain mine is not the first naked body you've seen."

I looked at my feet and closed my eyes. My entire face, neck, and bosom burned hot and I could barely catch my breath.

Many women slaves were forced into sexual labor for their masters, to bring in a profit. Too many of them aged quickly and died prematurely from overwork or horrible diseases. I was spared such a fate. My former master wanted to keep me around, healthy and young, for as long as possible. He didn't want me worn out before my magical usefulness was exploited to its fullest.

"I... Your Majesty... I'm not..." What was I even trying to say?

"How unusual." Prince Cole threw in a low laugh. "Then I shall refrain from infringing on your innocence."

His words said one thing but there was a ragged tone to his voice that twisted my stomach. I chewed the inside of my cheek and chanced a glance at him through squinted eyes.

He was still wearing his robe, but it hung just as loosely as before. His eyes glinted through the steamy bathroom and the look on his face... like a salivating hound.

"You're dismissed for the night."

I nodded and bowed. On my way out, I stopped behind the changing screen and picked up the prince's used clothing. The tub water splashed and I froze. I resisted the temptation to look at the screen and see his silhouette lowering into the tub.

Sighing, I clutched his clothing against my body and scurried from the bathroom, keeping my eyes on my shoes.

My heart raced as I closed the adjoining door between our rooms. Up until now, I'd always known I'd be safe from having to perform degrading sexual acts at the hands of my master or anyone else. My magic always made me more valuable in other ways.

Prince Cole made it clear he didn't need my magic. For the first time, I realized it wasn't his strength and bloody reputation I should fear.