Page 67 of Degradation

He places his hand on my thigh, high on my thigh, and that makes me jolt.

“No.” I state. “My husband said you were off limits.” I don’t know if that’s actually true or not, Gunther may have said that once but the way his behaviour waxes and wanes, he could well have changed his mind.

Guthrie grins at me. “He’s preoccupied right now.” He murmurs. “And from what I’ve heard, everyone in the Palace has had a good go at you, already. What’s one more cock when you’ve already entertained hundreds?”

I jump up, swallowing down the bile. “I’m not, I’m…” My thoughts spiral as the insult lands. “I’m a dutiful wife. I do as my husband bids.” I say, wondering if this is a new trap. Is he here, is Gunther hiding behind a bush, watching this all play out?

Guthrie sneers, getting to his feet, with one hand he starts undoing his belt, and with the other he reaches for me. “Suck my cock, bitch, suck it, or I’ll tell my brother how I found you on the grass, with your legs spread, begging the guards to all come and fuck you.”

I can see it, I can see exactly how that would play out. Gunther wouldn’t need telling twice, he’d be all over it, he’d no doubt be delighted to have an excuse to punish me again.

For a second, I consider just suffering this latest bit of degradation but then a voice in my head screams at me to run and I’m picking up my feet, sprinting away, running as fast as I can. Praying that for once, just one time, I might be spared a beating.

Guthrie follows after me. He’s hot on my tails, and I can hear his feet thundering behind as I race from room to room.

In my panic, I run straight into something hard. Something solid. I step back, bile twisting inside me as I realise it’s the Commander of the Guards.

His expression is one of fury as he grabs hold of me and demands to know what the hell I’m doing in this part of the Palace?

I blink, looking around and realise I have no idea where I am. I was so busy trying to get away I didn’t register where my feet where actually taking me.

He tightens his grip, shaking me for good measure. “Talk bitch.” He says.

“I, I… he was chasing me.” I stammer. “The Chapter Lord’s brother, he was…”

“Which guard was on duty?” The Commander says, dismissing my words as if I’m talking nonsense. “Who was meant to be watching you?”

I don’t think, I don’t register what I’m saying until the words are out of my mouth. “The tall one, the big one, the monster guard.” It’s a desperate attempt to protect myself, to shift the blame onto someone else. I know it’s reckless, but in this moment, it’s either him or me.

He escorts me back to my room, his grip around my arm the entire time like he thinks I’ll turn and run at the first chance. Every step I take feels like I’m walking to my doom, that at any moment, Guthrie will step out, will appear and the Commander will just hand me over and leave me to my fate.

As I’m shoved inside, I see Ada and Kora waiting for me. They’re silent until we’re alone and then they start apologising, insisting that they didn’t know Guthrie would be there, that we can be more careful in future. But I know that’s a lie. I know now that the gardens too are off-limits. I can’t go anywhere, I can’t risk anything beyond hiding in these walls, and even that doesn’t ensure my safety.

I sink onto the couch, wondering what consequences Devin will face.

It’s going to make it worse, make him worse. I know that. I’m aware of that. Is it wrong to hope he might be kicked out? Do I dare hope that that is the outcome?

Devin

Is this a joke? Is this a fucking piss take?

I wasn’t even watching over the bitch. I wasn’t even on duty. I should have gone out, should have left the facility, then they couldn’t have pinned this shit on me.

I narrow my eyes, listening to Commander Malik as he drones on about following orders, about the repercussions of fucking up. Like he’s one to talk, we both know he’s been sneaking off after hours, shacking up with one of the kitchen maids.

“Who says it was me?” I snarl. Whoever it was, I’ll be sure to make them understand the consequences of such lies.

“She did.” Malik replies. “Called you the monster guard.”

I pause, choosing not to react to the name. But that little bitch has clearly pointed her finger at me. Does she think she can outsmart me? Does she think that, what, I’ll be got rid of? I clench my fists, fighting the urge to lash out.

No, there are better ways to deal with this. To deal with her.

“I requested to serve the Chapter Lord.” I grit out. “Not play babysitter to some cheap whore.”

A few of the other officers nod, understanding obvious in their eyes. None of us want to be stuck in this stuffy old Palace all day.

“Gunther will have an absolute fit if he finds out his wife has been free to wander as she likes,” another officer chimes in. “He’ll punish all of us for such a fuck up.”