Chapter 195
Magnus Hale
“I tried to be patient with you. I treated you with love, and what did I
get? Rebellion. So, since you want to challenge me, I will be even
worse. Like a demon–cruel. No warm baths. The same rations they
give the other prisoners, you will eat. You will stay here until you
apologize to me for your insolence.”
I try to pull away, out of instinct and out of pride, and the palm of his
hand explodes against my left buttock; the pain tears a moan from
- me.
“Quiet,” he lets out through his teeth, and the order weighs like a
sentence. “I tried… I wanted to treat you like a king. But since you
prefer to play the rebel, fine. Count.”
For a moment I don’t understand, but then the answer comes. His
palm explodes against my left buttock again; the sound echoes in the
room. I bite my lips hard–they’re already wounded–feeling the
metallic taste of blood as they split even further.
Another slap.
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Another.
Another.
Another.
I lose count.
“How many slaps was that, Magnus?” he asks, his voice so cold it
makes my skin crawl; he had never spoken to me like that.
One more slap, even harder, tears through the silence.
“How many slaps?” he insists.
“I… I don’t know…” My speech comes out hesitant, trembling, and
barely audible.
He lets out a guttural sound of dissatisfaction, his throat vibrating
like a warning.
“Then we will start again… until you learn to count the exact
number.”
“Don’t do-” My voice dies in the air as a sharp slap explodes against
my right buttock.
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The sting is immediate, burning like fire.
“Sto-” Another blow comes before I can finish the sentence.
I try to focus on counting, but the pain sidetracks me and jumbles
everything. I force my mind, trying to cling to every number, but his
palm gives no quarter.
Another slap.
One more.
Another.
Another.
Hot tears stream down my cheeks. Every blow tears into me in
silence, reducing me even further.
“How many slaps has it been?” he asks, and his hand slides slowly
over my stinging buttocks, as if the gesture were more cruel than the
blows.
“Fi… fifty–five,” I answer, my voice low and trembling.
“Very well. Now, stand up.”
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I gather my last bit of strength and manage to stand before him. The burning only increases, throbbing, as if my skin were on fire.
“From today on, you will be the one to clean this cell. Winter is
coming, Magnus. It’s already cold here, but when it arrives… it becomes unbearable.” His eyes glint with cruelty. “And you won’t have
winter clothes until you learn to apologize to me.”
I can’t hold back the tears anymore; they run hot down my face.
“Why do you hate me so much?” I ask, and his eyes widen. “My life was perfect before you. I had power, an empire. And you arrive and
destroy everything I conquered.”
My crying turns to rage, harsh and dry.
“I’m sorry I had the misfortune of being chosen as your toy.” My voice shakes. “You killed my two best soldiers. You say you treat me well, but you don’t. You want to control me, and because you can’t, you
resort to violence.”
He laughs out loud, throwing his head back as if I’d told a joke.
“Don’t be a hypocrite, Magnus. You were always like this. When someone didn’t obey you, you killed them. And I’ve already told you never to doubt my love for you.”
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Rage boils inside me.
“Love? What kind of love is this that humiliates me? The whole
fucking prison is laughing at me because I lost to you. They ridicule
me.”
“Who?” His face changes; his gaze narrows, sharp.
“What?” I step back, surprised.
He stands up and takes a step toward me, so close that if he took one more, our lips would touch.
“Who mocks you? Who dares to humiliate you? Tell me their names so I can make them pay myself. Is it Navarro? If it is, I’ll kill them. I’ve said it, and I’ll say it again: I kill and die for you. No one is to
laugh at you.”
I clench my fist until my fingers turn white.
“This was your fault! You exposed me in the hallway like I was a trophy. What did you expect would happen? Everywhere I go I feel the stares, the whispers, the laughter–everyone laughing at my face.”
“It might even be my fault,” he replies, more contained yet firm. “I showed you to everyone: I showed them that you lost and that you
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now belong to me. But that doesn’t give me the right to let them play
with your dignity.”
He speaks while looking deep into my eyes; unfortunately, I can see
there is sincerity in every word.
“I will not accept them humiliating you. I love you, and I will do
whatever is necessary to protect you. If I have to, I’ll end everyone in
this prison, leaving only the two of us.”
I take a step back, feeling the weight of his words and the certainty
that he is not joking.
