never unleash the horrors within it.”
He sighed, shaking his head before lowering it. Within seconds, the guards from before gripped me on my arms and pulled
me backwards, dragging me into the darkness of the trees.
Norok’s body shape disappeared as I screamed, kicked, and begged for them to stop. My shoes fell off in the dirt as a guard
threw me over his shoulders and marched me deeper into the woods.
There I was left, my cuffs looped and tied to a rope around a tree, unable to fight or do anything when Dorian appeared
from the darkness.
I could only scream and keep my eyes closed as the torment began, bringing back all those memories of helplessness
before. No, I would not allow this to happen again. No, he wasn’t going to lay one single finger on me.
As I continued to scream, to buck, and fight, the two guards tried to hold my legs down as Dorian pulled out a dagger.
“This will be over as soon as you tell me what I want to know.” His voice filled with sinister intent as he sat atop me with
the dagger pressed against my throat, his belt already unbuckled.
“I will never tell you.”
“I’m pleased to know that’s your answer. I have looked forward to doing this since you returned.”
He pinched my cheeks together with his other hand as his lips landed against mine. More thrusting and kicking. I tried
desperately to get him off me, get the guards off me. They were not my brother's guards. These were Dorian’s. Once he let go of
me, he sat up right and began to lower his trousers and lift up my dress with his other hand.
I wasn’t sure what happened or how it happened, but the sound of steel flew through the air and one of the guards began to
gargle as blood spilled from his mouth, falling backwards seconds later. Another noise and the other guard was taken down.
Nicholas, had he arrived?
Dorian got off me quickly, his dagger ready and waiting to strike but seconds went by, and nothing happened. Taking a few
steps forward away from me, he looked around the dark woods. Not suspecting me of going anywhere he stepped away, hunting
for the attackers.
“We got you, princess.”
I tried not to scream as a hand was placed firmly over my mouth and my hands were untied. Lifting me up off the ground
and into their arms, Karim and a masked man ran as fast as they could through the tree line, saving me.
All I could hear next was the shouting and running of feet behind us as Dorian and his men searched for me. Grateful for my
saviours, I let out a sob from adrenaline and fear as we continued to run through the forest, away from danger.
Chapter 62
ORNELLA