Sabine

The afternoon sun cast shadows across my floor. Slowly, they crept through the room, elongating, expanding, and devouring the light. Another day swept away in the shadows.

Prince Cole hadn't summoned me in two days. He wasn't away or he would have left a note.

Since I made the comment about my collar, he hadn't contacted me at all. I went to clean his rooms and he was never there. When my work was done, I rested in my room, my body still aching in some places.

The rest was appreciated but if he no longer thought I was useful, how long would I be around?

In the cellar with Cara, a part of me thought I would die. I didn't want to die. What would happen to a slave the crowned prince no longer needed?

I heard the prince's door open and close, his heavy boot steps echoed down the adjoining hall between our rooms.

Well, if he thought I outlived my usefulness, I'd have to show him he was wrong.

I closed my book and tossed it on the bed, dusted off my skirts, and headed to his parlor. My ears tingled as muffled voices floated from the bedroom. One of them was feminine.

"You're a prince! You need better than a slave girl." The woman said, her voice rising enough for me to hear.

My heart froze in my chest. I knew I shouldn't listen but I was the topic of conversation. If the prince was going to get rid of me, I wanted advanced notice.

I held my breath and inched across the room toward his bedroom door. It was partially open and if I pressed myself against the smooth wood, I could see inside without them seeing me.

Prince Cole sat in a sage green and gold upholstered chair. His shirt was untied, revealing the sculpted shape of his muscles down to his naval.

What was I doing? I pried my eyes away, blood rushing to my cheeks.

The rest of his outfit was casual, loose-fitting. His face was expressionless but his eyes kept darting around.

A curvy woman stood in front of him. Her lips were painted red, the color of Talon's scales, and her hair pinned up with fresh flowers in it. When she leaned forward, her breasts almost fell out of her dress.

It'd been so long since I'd seen her that I barely recognized Dulcey.

"Don't you think your attentions would be better spent on someone with more... status?" She flipped the ends of her hair over her shoulder.

A crease formed between the prince's eyes. "Are you offering to be my personal attendant?"

Dulcey stamped her foot and balled her hands into shaking fists. "I know you haven't taken a new concubine."

"That's no secret," Prince Cole drawled. He rubbed his stubbly chin.

"Then why do you refuse to see me again? If there's no one new, there has to be a reason." Dulcey licked her lips slowly and dropped to her knees. She slid her hands up the prince's thighs.

I averted my eyes, my cheeks burning. What had I walked in on?

"You're not the reason," the prince shot back.

I heard Dulcey gasp and chanced a glance. She was on her feet again, rubbing her hand. "Look, I'm not saying we should pick up where we left off, but I know you."

She smiled silkily and swayed her hips as she walked behind the prince. She leaned over and put her lips near his ear and splayed her hands on his chest.

"I know what you're like when you don't get any for a while. And I'm here now..." She ran her hands down his chest, dipping them into his shirt.

The prince didn't move. I noticed his eyes tilted toward the ceiling. If he really didn't want her there, he could push her away. Then again, I hadn't seen any women coming or going and men had... needs.

I bowed my head and took a step back.

"What is wrong with you!?" Dulcey's shrill voice pierced my ears like a needle. "If you're this placid, then I'm guessing that slave girl has been working overtime for you."

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A lump formed in my throat. It was definitely time for me to leave but she was talking about me again. I willed my feet to move but they remained planted to the floor.

"Now, that is ridiculous," Prince Cole countered.

"Are you so sure?" Dulcey batted her eyelashes. "Because the prince I know would be wound very tight and looking for release if he didn't already have it. Isn't that why you're resisting?"

"I don't need a reason not to take you to my bed. If I did, I wouldn't use a slave as an excuse."

"Really? Then why am I hearing that you've given her the 'royal treatment,' letting her ride Talon."

I bit the inside of my cheek and forced my gasp back down. In my haze, I put that memory out of my mind. Regardless of the reasons, I never should have been on Talon's back. I could barely remember it and told myself it was a dream, clearly, that was a lie I told myself.

Prince Cole stood up, his chair sliding back across the floor. "You're not spreading rumors through the palace are you?"

Dulcey smirked and shrugged one shoulder. "So, what if I am? Are you going to punish me?" She bit her lower lip.

This woman was bordering on insane. Rosalie said the prince was always dealing with women desperate for his favor. Dulcey took it a whole level further.

"You should know not to believe palace gossip." The prince hooked his foot around the chair leg and pulled it under him. He plopped down with a heavy sigh. "And if I find you're perpetrating any rumors, you'll be punished like any spreader of hearsay."

I nodded to myself. Of course, the prince couldn't confirm that he'd allowed me, a slave, on Talon's back. It would upset the delicate balance of class and social order within the palace. But it happened and I didn't want to forget it happened.

I held my hands over my hammering heart.

"You know what will convince me that it's all hearsay?" Dulcey had that look again. One I imagined she thought was seductive.

It probably was to a lot of people.

She dropped to her knees again and reached for the tie on the prince's pants.

I ducked my head and pulled away from the door. It was well past time for me to leave.

"Sabine, why don't you come here?"

The prince's voice hit me like a blow to the face. My fingers instinctively tightened on the door handle and I stood frozen, like a bug in a spider web.

My hands trembled as I pushed my way into the room. Dulcey's burning glare followed me as I approached the prince. I kept my head bowed and my hands clasped behind my back.

Whatever punishment the prince chose would be fitting. I never should have listened.

The prince grabbed my arm and pulled me into his lap. He looped his arm around my waist. A firm weight that was a silent reminder for me not to struggle.

A squeak burst from my mouth and I quickly muffled it with my hands.

"What the hell is this!?" Dulcey put her hands on her hips.

The prince's fingers traveled up my spine. The tips were almost light but his strength came through. A shudder followed his touch. I bit the inside of my cheek. My blood rushed under my skin.

"How are you feeling?" he purred, moving his hand to my arm and running his finger up and down my forearm.

My throat tightened just like the rest of my body. Wherever his finger went, warm tingles spread across my skin, dancing like sparks that ignited something deep inside.

I bowed my head. "I-" My voice cracked. I swallowed. "I'm feeling better."

"That's what I wanted to hear." His voice remained deep and soothing. The prince brushed my hair over my shoulder, his fingertips grazing my neck.

Another squeak rose to my lips and I swallowed it back down. My bones were rigid as tree branches but the heat inside me intensified. My cheeks warmed. I kept my eyes down and my hands still, even as they twitched restlessly.

"Disgusting. I'm not going to watch you degrade yourself!" Dulcey threw her arms up and stormed off.

The door clicked shut behind her and I immediately stood up. The prince's arm slid languidly off my waist, lingering a moment too long. I kept my back to the prince and brushed myself off.

My face burned hot. I couldn't tell if I was angered or humiliated or somewhere in between. I fixed my hair and balled my hands into fists. If only my breathing would calm down.

What was he thinking? I wanted to smack him for that performance.

I rubbed my arms up and down and took several deep breaths. The trembling in my bones and hands didn't let up.

"Are you sure you're alright? You seem... perturbed." The prince's voice grated in my ears.

I spun around to face him. He sat in his chair casually, his eyes shimmering as he regarded me.

"I..." I let out a deep breath. "May I speak freely, Sire?" My lips were so tight the words barely made it out.

"By all means." He held a lazy hand out to me and sunk down a little more in the chair.

"I thought you didn't want rumors to spread."

He grinned and shrugged one shoulder. "Sometimes, they are necessary. If nothing else, it will keep her away for a while."

My nostrils flared and I narrowed my eyes. "As your property, I am required to... be compliant."

Prince Cole straightened. He sucked air in through his teeth.

"I do not appreciate being used to toy with someone else's emotions!" I threw my arm toward the door. "I've never been so degraded and humiliated!"

"Really? I thought your life was nothing but degradation and humiliation."

"Not this kind. At least, my former master appreciated my talents and may have even respected them. He knew my value and treated me accordingly. Not like some doll."

Sighing, Prince Cole relaxed again. "I do respect your talents."

"Then why subject me to that... sideshow? You of all people should know what it's like to have their emotions manipulated."

"What was that!?" He rose to his feet, towering over me.

"If you hate it so much, why do it to someone else!?" I pointed a finger at him.

The prince snarled and advanced on me. He threw his hand to the base of my throat and shoved me into the nearest wall. The air rushed out of my lungs. I gasped, my heart pounding away.

His eyes brightened and his face contorted. He leaned in closer, his warm breath on my face, his partially bare chest another wall pinning me in place. My heart pounded against his hand and in my ears.

His fingers tightened around my throat and his eyes darted over my face. "No one ever talks to me like that," his voice dropped several octaves, "Especially a slave."

Suddenly, his mouth covered mine.