The rest of Serenah's time in the banquet hall passed quietly. She was so engrossed in cleaning that the guard's arrival to take her to her father startled her. She came to her feet in a rush. The guard simply nodded and led her to her father's office.
She went inside and halted in surprise. Her father wasn't alone. Grand Duke Noward sat on one of the couches, sipping tea. This wasn't good. Serenah's instincts screamed at her that this situation was dangerous. Why was the grand duke even here? He kept appearing in her life, and she didn't like it.
She also didn't like the way his eyes roved over her from head to toe. It made her feel disgusting. She held back from wrapping her arms around herself protectively. She couldn't afford to come off as weak before such a man. He probably didn't think much of her anyway, but what little pride she did have kept her from wanting him to view her as prey.
"Your Majesty." She bowed to her father first before turning to give a slight bow to the grand duke. "Grand Duke."
She quickly turned her attention back to her father, keeping her gaze averted enough that it showed her submission.
"Naywren reported that you arrived on time and have been diligently working. You will continue to serve in the castle for two weeks."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Now, strip."
Serenah's head jerked up, her eyes wide in surprise and confusion. "Your Majesty?"
"Off with your clothes," he said, his tone bored.
She couldn't understand why he was saying this to her. "I don't understand," she stammered, stalling as she tried to process this absurd situation.
"Hmm," her father replied, and then he moved.
His speed was so fast she couldn't react. He was suddenly beside her, his fingers tangling in her hair. She yelped, and he yanked her to him. She froze in his grip, snared by his annoyed, calculated glare. Her scared breathing filled the air.
"I thought deafness only happened to those born with it or the very old. Yet, you seem to have developed it."
"Your Majesty, please, I'm sorry!"
"Not sorry enough." His grip tightened. "Noward," he growled.
Serenah tensed. Why was he calling the grand duke's name?
"Oh? Is it my turn?" drawled Noward.
Serenah tried to twist free from her father's grip to get an eye on Noward's movements. Her father, instead, dragged her to the aide's desk. Keeping his grip in her hair, he forced her to bend over it. Her heart raced in fear. She could hear Noward behind her.
Suddenly, she felt hands on her back. She gasped, freezing in place as the hands stroked her inappropriately. No! She didn't like this! She flinched at the sound of her dress unzipping.
"No, no, no! Stop!" she screamed. Forgetting her father, she bucked and twisted, trying to evade Noward's groping hands.
"Bad girl!" Her father lifted her by her hair and slammed her down hard on the desk, knocking the breath out of her.
"My King, so rough," tsked Noward, though his tone was mocking.
"Not rough enough. She has such high pain tolerance after all," retorted her father.
He released her hair while she wheezed and tried to breathe. In those few seconds, her father and Noward switched places. Noward didn't grab her hair. He chose to snag her wrists and hold them in a bruising grip, preventing her from escaping. She wheezed and struggled, fear rising in her.
Noward was an unknown. She only knew of the man through whispers and her few interactions with him. Her instincts always screamed danger whenever he was nearby. Just like they were doing now. His green eyes focused on her with predatory glee.
Her mouth went dry. Her focus was pulled from him by her father's voice.
"Did you forget the other part of your punishment?"
Confusion, then understanding. "Your Majesty, please, no!"
"This is how you keep order for those you rule. Not that you will ever get the chance, Serenah, to have such power," her father mocked. "Now, I shall add on to your punishment. I detest those who don't take accountability for their actions."
Serenah's soul and heart screamed denial and anguish at his words. Her father's hatred was toxic and consuming. She was drowning in it. Having Noward here witnessing it only added to the humiliation.
"I think fifteen will do," her father said.
She heard the familiar crack of the whip as her father gave it a shake to test it. She tried to steel herself for the blows to come. Defeated, she dropped her head and gaze down. She didn't want to look at Noward's face.
His chuckle made her feel despair. So cruel! They were all so cruel and hateful. Her thoughts screeched to a halt at the first blow.
The blow felt different. The fire of something tearing into her flesh, deeper than before, had changed. It felt as if something else was on the whip. She couldn't stop a pained gasp from escaping her lips.
"What do you think, Serenah? I have a new toy. Thank you for the chance to try it out," her father explained, his tone joyful.
Noward chuckled again at her father's words. His amused laughter continued through the next four blows. The pain was excruciating. Her soul wailed its pain and desperation for someone, anyone, to save her.
Suddenly, her fated mark blazed with heat, and Romeo was in her mind. Startled, Serenah's eyes flew open before she tightly shut her eyes. Her father chose that moment to land the sixth blow near her lower back. She screamed and jerked in Noward's grasp.
"Better," purred her father.
Romeo's worry and anger at her emotions filled her. She couldn't let her human experience this. She slammed up her mental walls and forced the fated mark to close out Romeo. Just for today. She couldn't bear for him to feel her emotions when he wouldn't even be able to comfort her.
Silence in her mind and the bond let her know she had succeeded. Her mind was pulled back to the present as more blows rained down on her from her father's whip. She couldn't take the pain and passed out.
~***~
Coldness pulled Serenah awake. She blinked, her vision swimming before fixing on Noward. Everything came back to her in a rush. Her father whipping her, Romeo in her mind, and this whole messed-up situation.
Noward smiled, his perfect white teeth gleaming. Serenah realized she was still in his grip. The hard edge of the aide's desk dug into her stomach.
"So beautiful," said Noward as he stroked her cheek.
She flinched. His touch made her shiver in dread. It wasn't the touch of her fated. How dare the grand duke take such liberties with her! She would have to tackle this problem another day. Right now, she had to escape.
Her back was soaked in her blood, the smell of it filling the air. Where was her father?
Noward abruptly released her wrists. Surprised, she didn't move. Her hair was grabbed, and she was hauled to her feet. She trembled, blood loss making her dizzy. Her father stuck his face in hers.
"You will get mild healing. I can't have you bleeding all over the place, making extra work for others. After that, you will return to your servant work. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," she whispered.
Serenah's only desire was to escape this office and these men.
Her father stared at her until she dropped her gaze. He released her hair, and she swayed. Noward caught her, his hands roving her again.
She pushed against him, freeing herself. He smirked and held up his hands. She slowly backed away. When he made no more moves toward her, she whirled and fled from the office.