Page 97 of Degradation

Pailtyn

I’m staring out at where I know the window is, when I hear their approach.

My wrists still throb beneath the bandages, only now, the wounds feel like a taunt, like a reminder that I was a failure in this too. That I’ll never escape this life, never be able to leave until my husband is the one to do it.

The partition doors are shut but I can hear them in the room beyond. They’re talking too low for me to make out actual words but when those doors slide back, it feels like the bottom of my stomach falls out.

“Wife.” Gunther says in that expectant tone.

I don’t want to turn, but I feel too weak to fight him. Too weak to fight this.

I keep my face down, focused on the floor and Gunther struts up to me, taking my hand as he pulls me closer to whoever else is stood here.

“See,” Gunther says. “Look at her. Look at her beauty. You expected me to turn this down? To reject her? As if any man would do such a thing.”

“You know why you should have.” The man replies sternly.

Only, it’s not just any man. It’s Antonio.

I don’t know if it’s joy or despair I feel as I lift my head. God, I wish I could see him, I wish I could… but it’s too late for that. Far too fucking late.

I pull my hand free of my husband as a shiver of repulsion creps up my spine. I don’t know whether to be thankful or not that Gunther doesn’t seem to notice, doesn’t seem to react.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Gunther replies. “Even you couldn’t say no to my little Paitlyn.”

God, the way he says my name, the way he lays ownership to it, to me. It’s so hard not to hide the scowl and I swear Antonio can tell.

“Our Grand Master…”

“Fuck the Grand Master.” Gunther suddenly bellows, picking something up, throwing it against the wall, smashing it to pieces as I physically jerk at the sound. “I am in charge. I am Chapter Lord. I am as good as God here and you would do well to remember that.”

“Such talk is blasphemous.”

“Denying my rights is also blasphemous.” Gunther retorts before he’s grabbing me, pulling me back against his chest. “And I have the right to enjoy my wife, to enjoy her body and her cunt, and all of her…”

My legs are trembling, threatening to give way, and I don’t want to collapse, not in front of him, not in front of the man who delights in my pain and my torment.

I can see how this is going to play out, how Gunther is going to prove those very words he’s just spoken.

Only, all that rage in him seems to suddenly fizzle out. “Stay, Antonio, you’ve had a long enough journey.” He says, before shoving me forward, shoving me so that I know I’m right in front of my Guardian and then he undoes the robe, pulls it aside, reveals my body to him. He drags a finger down the side of my breast as I swallow the bile.

“Stay. Enjoy my hospitality. And I’m sure after a few hours of it, you’ll see I was right all along.”

Antoniomustknow what he’s saying, what he’s offering. That I’m being laid out on a silver platter for him to enjoy the way so many have before.

I expect Antonio to argue, to tell Gunther where to shove it, only he doesn’t. His breath seems to change, he steps forward in a way that feels threatening, not soothing.

Disappointment, hate, so many emotions swirl in me as I realise that this man will be just the same as all the others. He won’t help me. He won’t lift a finger, will he? Not when he has the chance to get his dick wet.

Gunther chuckles like he knows he’s won this argument. He gives me one last shove, kicking at my ankles to ensure I can’t keep my footing. Antonio grabs me to stop me from face-planting at his feet and I’m pressed against him now.

One of his hands moves to grab the robe and then Antonio glances at Gunther.

“I like to play alone.” He says pointedly.

No. Nooo. This can’t be happening. This can’t be.

Antonio was my Guardian. He was meant to protect me, to help me… but then all of that changed the day I marriedGunther, didn’t it? By Brethren rules, the day I became a married woman was the day Antonio’s duty was done.