After that, Caerus left me curled on the bed without another word. I tried concentrating on my breathing instead of the dull ache on my backside. My teeth ground together as I attempted to gather the strength to return to the kitchen. If I had a good assumption of him then I knew he'd make me finish those dishes until it was past midnight.

Damn him.

In a few minutes, I finally rose to my feet and winced as I took my first step. The only thing that I regretted was that I would most definitely do it again. Caerus wouldn't turn me into an obedient lap dog.

I inhaled through my nose and exhaled through my back before straightening my posture and marching out of the room. The door slammed especially hard hoping he'd hear. Despite how the pain rippled up my spine and through my thighs I kept my face stoic and went back to the kitchen. The others pretended not to notice me but I noticed how they made way for me when I walked by.

"What'd he do?" Floss popped up beside me, I grimaced and looked to her.

"You don't want to know," I groaned and let out a heavy sigh.

"Uhm well, I hate to say it, but he came in here after..." she chuckled nervously and clasped her hands in front of her, "and now you have a new job."

"Gods, I bet it's impossible," I hissed and she gave me a quick nod.

--------------------

It was. Trust me.

I was tasked with weeding the gardens. Which might not sound too hard. But they were huge, and he hadn't had a gardener in twenty years, apparently. Not to mention that physical labor would definitely not soothe how sore I was. If anything, it would make it worse.

Sadistic jackass.

Nevertheless, it was nice to be in the open air. The gardens, I realized, had the potential to be very beautiful with some work. A lot of work.

So I began.

In one hand I held an iron bucket and with the other, I started pulling weeds.

The first patch wasn't so hard, it was small and all the flowers appeared to be dead, so it was just weeds. It was hot in the blazing sun but better than freezing.

Which begged the question, where was I?

In the village, it was the dead of winter, but here it felt like spring already. Perhaps it was magic, how else had he transported us here? The fae had magic, I knew, but he didn't look or act like one. They were meant to have pointed ears and sharp teeth. Both of which he didn't appear to have.

And then there were the iron dishes and such, I was always told it burned the fae, but it never affected him. Maybe he was something else, if he were only half fae it might not affect him as much.

But then there was the magic.

I shook the thoughts away, there was no point thinking about it when I'd only confuse myself more.

Through the rest of the day, I finished seven more patches and filled up the bucket more times than I could count. The soreness barely bothered me now, if he wanted me to submit he'd have to be a little more creative. Or at least learn a little bit more about me.

Like the fact that I'd rather be outside pulling weeds than cooped up inside doing the dishes.

I grinned and jerked out a clump of dandelion weeds, then tossed it in my bucket. As far as I could tell the forest around this place stretched for miles. I looked through the trees and I could see the sunlight shining through the canopy and casting a green-gold light off the leaves and grass.

An indescribable urge rushed through me. I wanted to run through the trees and feel the wind whipping at my face, flowing between my fingers. I wanted to feel that impossible sensation of freedom.

My tired limbs tingled at the thought, but Caerus would probably think I was trying to run away and drag me back. I wasn't that stupid though, it would be better to form a plan instead of just winging it. Maybe someday soon I'd be permitted to enter the mysterious woods to explore.

I couldn't let him know that I liked the forest, though. It would just be another thing to hold over my head. Something else to take from me.

I refocused on my task at hand and let the sounds of nature overcome my senses. The sun began to set, but like a twitch in the back of my mind, a constant peacefulness, I knew there'd be nothing harm me when the moon rose. I'd even be comfortable with sleeping on the grass, it was always much softer than the hard floor of our shack in the Mouryll Wood.

I released a heavy sigh and stretched my back.

What were my sisters doing?

Were they mourning me? Or trying to get along without me.

I sincerely hoped it was the latter. I volunteered to take Callista's place. I was prepared to do whatever it took.

But there was an incessant, gnawing fear that he'd grow bored of me and claim Callista instead. She was only thirteen seasons and even if Caerus only put her to work in the kitchens I didn't want her anywhere near him.

He wouldn't dare.

Even so, I had to play him just right to make sure he wouldn't think of it either. A combination of compliance and rebellion, but for that, I'd have to watch him closely. When he was in the mood and when he wasn't, because while he acted like a pompous ass, everyone got angry every once in a while.

I shivered at the thought of getting Caerus angry, especially if it were directed at me. I still wasn't certain what he was capable of.

I chewed on my lip and continued working, maybe I could test his boundaries. He obviously didn't like my comment about how he 'gets around'.

My hand slipped as I thought it and blushed in shame. That was cruel of me, even if he was an ass, I had no right to say something like that. But I couldn't apologize either, it would just throw everything off.

I huffed as the moon began to rise, but as long as I could still see I'd keep working. Being inside felt restraining, like a prison cell. I would've liked to remain pulling weeds, tedious as it was, as long as I could.

The sounds of dusk made way for those of the night time.

Crickets chirped and the cool breeze washed over my sweaty body. It was calming.

For a moment I just stood and stared up at the stars. Above me was Draco, one of the few constellations I learned from my mother. It stuck with me because I always thought dragons were fierce and powerful as I wanted to be one day.

"That one is Draco, the dragon," whispered a soft voice, Caerus. Surprisingly, I didn't jump, my entire being was calm and serene like the surface of a flat pond.

"I know that," I snapped it as one if the few I could recognize. I turned and glared at him, only to inhale sharply at his handsome features.

"There are dangerous things in those woods," he warned and slipped behind me, a few good paces away. But I could still feel the heat from his body, "things that would love to tear you to pieces."

"The wouldn't try to hurt me," I said and we both stilled. I jerked out of my trance and looked over at him, my fingers clamped over my mouth, "I-I, um, I don't know why I said that."

Caerus looked like he'd been slapped in the face. Surely I hadn't said something wrong?

He said nothing and began dragging me inside by the wrist. I furrowed my brows and tried to tug back.

"I want to stay," I muttered and tried to pry his fingers off, he only tightened his grip and jerked me forward. Caerus wouldn't listen so I silently let him pull me along.

"Caerus? ...master?" I whispered and gulped nervously, "did I upset you?"

"No," he answered curtly, but I must have done something. This would be harder than I thought, I had no idea what had set him off.

We turned down a corridor that was unfamiliar to me

"I'm sorry, for earlier today, master" my voice was as soft as I could get it, this was my best attempt at calming him, "I shouldn't have made that comment."

"Stop talking," he ordered and his grip tightened on my wrist. I winced as we came to a row of doors.

"I'm serious, I was angry and tired and I should've just shut my mouth," I admitted and began to speak again, but he pushed me against the wall more forcefully than necessary.

"Stop talking," he hissed as I pressed my palms against his chest. I should've stopped talking. I should've stopped talking.

"Caerus-" he pushed harder and I let out a low whine, "master, please."

He clenched his jaw and inhaled deeply before shoving me inside one of the rooms. I toppled to the hard stone floor and listened as he stalked away, boots clicking against the floor. I gaped in shock and terror before shutting the door and scanning the room that was barely large enough for a cot.

My body ached as I shut the door and took the single pillow from off the bed. The mattress appeared to be soiled in more places than one, with what I wasn't sure. But the pillow looked marginally clean.

I let my thoughts wash over me as I imagined the entire day.

Then I remembered what Floss had handed me in the kitchen and dug my hand into my pocket.

It was a roll.

I could've wept with joy if I weren't so exhausted. She risked a lot giving this to me. Caerus had specifically said not to feed me, and yet she had.

The small roll was gone in a few seconds and while I was grateful it only made me hungrier. Eventually, I'd have to sit in his lap and I was not looking forward to that.

With a mental note to thank her tomorrow, I curled up in the corner of the room on the cold ground. My back pressed against the wall and I hugged the pillow to my chest.

To be honest, this was more comfortable than any bed. It was like I was huddled up with my sisters again. Shivering under the blanket and holding each other close for warmth.

Except I was not with my sisters. And there was no warmth to comfort me.

I felt my eyes burn as I tried to tell myself not to cry. But it was hopeless in the end.

My lip trembled as I finally let the tears flow, and I cried myself into a restless sleep.