Mare's head snapped forward at the weight of the collar. Dazed and confused yet she didn't miss the line of chains that was attached to the back of the metal collar and when he pulled, her head snapped back until she was looking into his cruel face. His eyes were cruel icy blue slits, his nose broad and though the lower half of his face was half hidden by his light brown beard she could see the mean slit of his lips, lips that turned up at the corners into a cruel smile as he tugged at the chains.
Rows of blunt ridges lined the inside of the collar, pressing against the delicate flesh of her neck.
She coughed and choked. The metal collar was so tight she could barely breathe.
Vallezarii's hot breath fell heavily on her face as his eyes took in the sudden fear in her eyes. No matter how much she tried she couldn't conceal the fear. She had not expected that he was going to put her in chains.
He laughed. "You did not think for a moment that I would not consider your hotheadedness? These chains will keep you in line should you choose to disobey me." A change came upon his face as his eyes dropped to take in the beauty of her face. "Beauty is the only gift the gods left your kind."
Without looking back at the nobles who had risen on their feet when he arose he snapped in their direction, "Council is dismissed."
"But my lord we were discussing the strength of our borders…"
"And we would have more time to discuss that when Dymas arrives from the North. Now leave."
As they gathered their things to leave Vallezarii handed her chains to Hegi who hurried to clasp it in his hands. "Bring her to my chambers."
He barely took a step when someone banged a fist on the table. It was Lord Angrip and his face was contorted in rage.
"My king you will dismiss the Council to lay between the legs of a slave?!"
When the look of pleasure on Vallezarii's face dropped, tension so heavy it made the air thick hung like a wet blanket in the room.
The force of Vallezarii's feet as he approached Angrip to snatch up the lapels of his robe shook the ground. Fear was etched in the eyes of everyone in the throne room but a hint of defiance remained in Angrip's eyes as he stared into his king's eyes.
"You will remember your place, Sefer," he said the word with venom. "The only reason you sit on this table is because you betrayed your kind. You are no less worthless than they are. This," he flicked at the emblem on Angrip's chest, "does not make you less worthless."
He pushed Angrip away from him and faced the rest of the room. "Council is dismissed."
He whirled around and walked out of the room and Hegi, his eyes holding a hint of pity for her, dragged Mare with him.
She couldn't cry.
Not that she was trying to protect her pride because if anything her pride was in shambles. But every time she tried to swallow the movement of her throat caused the blunt ridges to press even more heavily on her neck. Gone was the smug defiant look she had as she made her way to the throne room mere moments ago, now all she had were eyes full of tears and a broken ego.
The chains clinked in Hegi's hand as he pulled. Servants going about their chores paused in the halls to bow at the king's approach and when she passed the looks she got were of amusement and hate.
"You were born for greatness," she heard her father say.
No father, she thought to herself, I was born for ridicule.
She didn't know true fear until they got to the king's chambers. The last time she was here she had deluded herself of the ability to end his life and begin a new era. Ironic, the hands of Fate.
Hegi didn't go further than the threshold before Vallezarii snatched the chains out of his hands and dismissed him. A yank on the chains brought her forward so hard she feared her neck was on the verge of snapping.
She choked on a sob.
"I see your tongue has now deserted you." He tugged the chain and she took involuntary steps toward the wide bed pushed up against the wall, with hand-carved posts holding up the wooden canopy covered with scarlet clothes covered with innate designs. The bed was draped in scarlet covers, even darker than those that covered the windows.
Before she could think he pushed her on the bed and she scrambled to get away from him knowing what was to come but her efforts were futile when his large hands held the chains, wrapping them around one of the posts to secure her like a dog.
"This is the treatment befitting of your kind."
She found her tongue. "Your heart is full of bitterness against a people whose only offense is living, Vallezarii."
He suddenly paused.
His eyes widened as those words sank in, words he had heard before but from a different woman. A woman fair and beautiful, a woman whose only memory was the royal portrait in the hall.
The whistle of air was the only warning Mare had before his large hand dealt her a heavy blow. Her head lolled to the side pulled by the chains and the collar around her neck. The side of her face hit the hardwood of the bedpost. Her head swarm.
"You do not speak such words to me. One more word from you and I'll have your tongue fed to the dogs."
Mare laughed despite her pain. "Does it give you power?" she goaded, her eyes rolling back to his face. Her actions were beyond common sense but she didn't care. "To chain up a woman you know is defenseless against you, does it feed your pride?"
Vallezarii growled, his blue eyes flashing with warning as he grabbed a handful of her hair and jerked her head back painfully. "I see you have no better use for your mouth."
Mare opened her mouth but before she could suck in enough air, he parted his robe and in a flash jammed his thick cock into her mouth.
She choked, her eyes bulging at the intrusion. She couldn't breathe as with sudden force he pulled out and rammed in again. Her throat stretched pressing even more painfully against the collar. Her eyes watered and tears rolled down her cheeks and she could do nothing to stop them just as she couldn't do anything to stop the gagging that racked her body as his cock nudged the back of her throat over and over again.
Pain seared her throat. She tasted blood in her mouth but more than anything she tasted the saltiness of his flesh.
His face was contorted in sweet furious anger as he continued to assault her pulling her head even further back to gain access into her mouth. He was like an animal, growling and grunting. Sweat beaded on his forehead, running down his face to the mean twisted smile on his lips.
"Have you now lost your tongue?" he jeered over and over as he jammed into her again and again. "Speak, slave girl. Speak. Or better yet pick up your dagger and aim for my throat again."
The bed shook with the intensity of his movements. Mare's arms came up to fight, to push him off her so that she could breathe. Suddenly he withdrew from her mouth leaving a trail of blood and spittle. She did not get the chance to enjoy that moment of reprieve before he tore the kirtle off her body and parted her legs with his strong, hairy ones to ram his cock into her.