The Destroyer Book 3 by Michael-Scott Earle Page A

she normally pays him back in some way." He didn't let go of my arm, if anything his grip tightened.
    "I don't have any more gold, Jiure. When my husband returns he will bring some." A cold nausea crept into my stomach.
    “Your husband is not coming back. He probably left you here because you are so useless as a wife.” The man got up but still held onto my arm. He stood as tall as Kaiyer and must have weighed more than two of me put together. Working with cattle and eating well added a lot of muscle to someone's frame. Jiure was almost a mountain standing over me. "But there is one thing I’m sure you are useful for. I've seen the looks you've been giving me at dinner. You want this as much as I do."
    "I love my husband. I haven't been giving you looks."
    "Are you calling me a liar?" His grip tightened on my arm painfully and spittle flew out of his horrid mouth. His breath was rank and his hand on my arm was sweaty and rough.
    "You're hurting me, Jiure. Let me go." My voice cracked and tears came to my eyes. I was paralyzed. This was happening so fast. I was a fool and should have realized what he intended when he found me here.
    He grabbed my shoulder with his other hand and pulled me toward him. I moved my face out of the way of his kiss but I still felt his slimy tongue lap at the corner of my mouth and my cheek. My stomach flipped as if I was falling.
    "No! Stop!" I tried to scream, but it came out as a whimper. I struggled against his grip but I was suddenly on the ground. Jiure's left hand clamped down on my right shoulder and pushed me into the soft moss where Kaiyer and I had spent countless hours together. His right hand tried to force my legs open so he might kneel between them. My legs came to life and I was able to kick and twist them out of his way.
    "Stop squirming, bitch!" he yelled down at me. My world spun when he struck me across the face. Everything went black when he hit me again. I tasted blood and tried to scream, but I couldn't get enough air into my lungs.
    Kaiyer. I need you.
    "You asked for this. Don't forget." He forced my legs open and I felt him pushing up my dress toward my hips. I tried to close my legs again, but his knees were in between them. Then I tried to scoot away, but his grip on my shoulder was too strong. I tried to scream, but nothing came out except for a muffled cry.
    He reached down and pulled at my undergarments. My legs were spread around his knees so they wouldn't come off easily. I tried to push him away but it was pointless. He just ignored my hands and tugged hard at the thin material, ripping it away with a sickening tear and exposing my entrance to him.
    Even when the Ancients had captured me, I had not felt fear like this. I was sure I would be tortured, maybe even raped, but it seemed like such a distant possibility when our destination lay many weeks’ travel to the north. I had a slim hope that because they were using me for political leverage they would need to keep me relatively unharmed, and they had. Aside from being cold and hungry I was not hurt in any way. And I had hope that Kaiyer would come for me, and he did. Just like the stories of the princess being saved by her champion.
    This was different. This was much worse. No one else was going to save me. I should have known Jiure was going to do this. Now there was nothing I could do, he would violate me unless I figured out how to escape. I just didn't want him to hit me again. It hurt so badly and I couldn't stand the pain. I looked around the glade, there was no way anyone would hear me from this distant, sheltered spot, even if I could call out without him striking me again. I did not carry a weapon and I cursed myself for being so naïve as to think I did not need one. I looked nearby for something within arm’s reach I could use to stun him long enough so I could run away. I could run. I was smaller than Jiure and nowhere near as strong, but I could be faster. I had to be. My head hurt, but I was