Horace wakes me up the next morning. He unwraps the bandage to check how my injured hand is progressing. The wound is a nasty red scab that doesn't like being touched, but at least it's a scab and not a hole. Once the wound is rebandaged, he allows Sera in to bring me a plate of pastries. Then they leave me to enjoy my breakfast in peace.

I skip training with Ayden, opting to run through some exercises in my room instead. I feel foolish practising with the steak knife I stole so long ago rather than the real weapons downstairs, but I highly doubt unsupervised use of weapons has made it onto the list of things I'm allowed to do. I'm surprised even the knife hasn't been taken from me after my runaway attempt.

There's an aching pain as I clench the knife. I'm forced to grip the knife looser than usual to make the pain bearable. I hate feeling weak like this. Whether Iliana knew my dominant hand or just got lucky, I haven't a clue.

My loose grip is a hinderance. I soon give up on the training when I realise I'm not going to make any progress like this.

I want to head to the music room, but I don't know how I'd copy if I discover my injured hand affects my ability to play the instruments. So I head to the library instead. Warren's stoic nature is a welcome relief from Asher's taunting as he silently trails behind me.

I spend a relaxed few days entertaining myself. At first I enjoy the peacefulness. But as time drains away, loneliness seeps in. I find myself missing Selene. Missing the morning training sessions with Ayden. Missing our dinners. I tell myself it's not the people I'm missing, but the company.

On the fifth day, I end up wandering the mansion with Eleanora under the guise of boredom, which is partially true, but I take the opportunity to reassess my surroundings for any potential ways out I may have missed when I was less familiar with this place.

I'm surprised to hear voices coming from the lounge area. Knowing I probably shouldn't, I peak round the door.

"You know better than this." Selene says, handing Ayden a drink. Both their backs are to the door.

He drains the glass. "I really don't."

"You need blood, Ayden. If Kora won't offer you hers, you're going to have to take it from someone else."

"I can wait."

"Your eyes are losing their red pigment and you've started coughing up blood. Your magic is destroying the nutrients in your blood, and you need a top-up before it kills you. I'll force feed you if I have to."

"It won't come to that. Kora is healing well, albeit slower than I'd like because she still insists on wearing iron most of the time."

"How would you know? I thought you were giving her space."

"I am. But I have both Horace and her guards reporting back to me on her progress. Another day or two and she'll be recovered enough for me to safely drink from."

I bite down on my lip to stifle a gasp at Ayden's bold assumption.

"You think she'll allow it?" Selene questions. "If you try anything before she's ready, you'll lose her forever. You've already made a big enough mess imprisoning her here."

"It's not a prison." He insists, exasperated.

"Maybe not to you, but it is to her." She makes a beckoning gesture with one hand. I don't understand at first. But then an elderly woman skulks into view. "Sure you don't want some?" The princess takes a fistful of the woman's hair, pulling her head back to expose her neck.

"You know how I feel about slaves." Ayden says in disgust.

"And you know she's a rightful prisoner. She's more useful serving me than rotting in a cell, so here she is. Last chance?"

"I've no interest in drinking the blood of a slave."

"Suit yourself." Selene's mouth latches onto the woman's neck. The woman lets out a pained cry, and I slowly back away from the door.

I meet Eleanora's gaze. I can't tell how much she heard because she wasn't the one spying through the doorway, but she shakes her head in silent admonishment.

I traipse back upstairs, aiming towards the music room for the first time since Iliana's unwelcome appearance.

It's not until my hand is on the door handle that I realise Eleanora's footsteps have ceased. I turn, wondering how far behind she is.

Asher stands in the way of the stairs I've just come from. I haven't seen him since he received his punishment, and he looks strange wearing plain clothes and an apron instead of his guard's uniform. He also sports a new bald look, but it doesn't look like the shaving was done very carefully. With a mop clutched in one hand and a bucket in the other, he should look harmless. But he wears the snarl of a predator.

"Where's Eleanora?" I ask calmly, despite my frantic heart.

"She's indisposed right now. She'll likely wake up with a headache." He shrugs coldly.

"Why?"

"Because you told on me, Kitten. You shouldn't have done that."

"You abandoned me to be beaten up." I argue accusingly. "What did you expect me to do?"

"You left me to be beaten up too." He spits. "The Lord only let me out of the cell I've been sleeping in this morning. Then he shoved me in front of Zola, who shoved these things into my hands. Well, I won't stand for this treatment." He chucks the mop and bucket to the floor, water sloshing onto the carpet. "And you're going to pay for it." He stalks towards me. "And once I'm done with you, you're going to go beg the Lord to reinstate me as a guard."

My mind spins rapidly. I have no weapons. I curse myself for leaving the steak knife in my room, foolishly thinking I'm safe. At least Asher doesn't appear to have any weapons either, but I wouldn't underestimate him. There's no one around to help unless they come up from behind Asher, and even then, I might be too late if I try to shout for anyone.

Asher approaches.

I run.

But I'm not fast enough. He slams me against the wall, crushing me with his body to keep me in place. I gasp for breath, winded.

"That's right. You're going to be a good little kitten and purr for me." One of his hands squeezes my cheek in a painful imitation of a caress. The other hand reaches down between us scrambling to free the bulge I feel digging into me.

This can't be happening.

I shut my eyes. Take a deep breath in. And out. And I muster all my force to slam my knee between his legs.

He releases me instantly, keeling over and clutching himself.

Before I have a chance to consider what to do next, another force crashes into him from the side.

Ayden tackles Asher to the ground. "How dare you?" He yells. His hands expertly dig into my attacker's neck. "I show you mercy by letting you stay here, and this is how you repay me?" He pauses, letting Asher struggle. "Guards! Take him down to the dungeons and strip him!"

Two guards rush forwards. Ayden releases my attacker, who is too focused on catching his breath to worry about fighting the guards who drag him away.

"Did he hurt you?" Ayden's eyes scrutinise me up and down with daffodil rage.

"N... No." My shaking legs crumple beneath me.

Ayden catches me before I hit the floor. He lowers me down gently, before crossing his legs beside me. "I saw Eleanora unconscious on the stairs. And when I ran over to shake her awake, I heard Asher threatening you and arrived as fast as I could." He gives me a small smile. "Looks like you're learning to handle yourself now, eh?"

"Only because you men have a weakness I can easily exploit." I reply glumly, remembering my feeble attempt at fighting off Iliana.

"Better you fight dirty than suffer." Ayden swears. "Asher is a dead man walking. I tried to show him mercy last time for your sake, but now there's no holding back the monster."

"What are you going to do to him?"

He examines my face, as if unsure I want to hear the truth. "You remember the torture chamber I told you about in the dungeon?" I nod slowly. "We're going to have a little play session in there. I haven't yet decided what I'll do with him after that, but I can assure you of one thing: You'll never have to see him again."

"No." I swallow. "I want... I want you to take me with you."

"Kora." Ayden takes my hands in his. "Are you sure about this?"

A month ago, even a week ago, I wouldn't have been. But maybe since Iliana's attack I've learnt a thing or two about retribution. Whatever Ayden does to hurt Asher is going to be well deserved. I know that now.

"I'm coming to the dungeons." I assert.

"Alright, but we'll let Asher stew in fear a little while before we pay him a visit. And in the meantime, you can tell me every tiny detail of what transpired between you."