NOVEL NEXT chapter 79
“Smack!” A sharp crack snapped me back to awareness. ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) The sting on my cheek followed. I forced my eyes open to a blurry vision of the head page raising his hand for another strike.
“Smack!” This time my other cheek burned. Perhaps it hurt more because my mind was clearer. I tried to push myself up and let out a scream. My back throbbed unbearably, and every part of me ached. I suddenly remembered how violently Asgail had held me before I lost consciousness. I bit down on my lip to stifle a cry—only to feel another blow across my face. The head page continued his assault, raining blow after blow until my mouth bled and I collapsed to the floor. Then, at last, he stopped.
“How dare filthy vermin like you sleep in His Highness’s bed!” He ground out through clenched teeth. At last I understood why he’d struck me so harshly. I weakly lifted myself, and warm seed sloshed down my stomach—evidence of last night’s brutal encounter. I was alone in the chamber; Asgail had vanished. Only the vicious head page and his pages remained. Curled naked, I shivered—until the head page sneered and spat on my face.
“You think you can use your filthy body to tempt His Highness? Do you really believe he’d fall for scum like you? You’ll have, at best, a month to live. And no matter your schemes, nothing will change—you’re only here to take his seed and absorb his ill fate.”
He plucked a cup of bitter medicine and water from a tray offered by another page.
“Now swallow this.”
Fear flared at the unknown drug, but under his furious glare, I dared not refuse. Stiffly, I took the pill and washed it down. He pried my mouth open to ensure I’d swallowed, glancing at my tongue before releasing me with a jerk of his chin.
“His Highness manages his own affairs—but if some vermin like you impregnates him, that would be troublesome. I don’t know your tricks, but you cloud his mind.”
I realized then that he’d drugged me to prevent pregnancy—yet my stomach still held Asgail’s seed from the night before. Worse still, I couldn’t imagine why Asgail would want to father a child with me.
But the page’s cruelties weren’t over. He hauled me up onto the table face-down, then ordered another page to scrape out my womb. Strong hands pinned my arms and spread my legs; I stifled a moan as rough fingers probed inside, scraping away the lingering seed. The pain was agony beyond my sore cheeks; I bit back tears and endured.
“That’s it—nothing more.” The page removed his gloves, and the hands pinning me vanished. I tumbled to the floor.
He didn’t let me rest. As I lay there, he struck my cheek again and barked, “Get out of here!” Crawling, I fled the chamber. Leaning against the wall, I stumbled onward. My womb burned where he’d scraped, and my back throbbed with every step. By the time I reached the sanctuary of my lab, the journey had felt endless.
Last night, he had failed to draw out my pheromones, failed to trigger my heat cycle. Such humiliations would repeat: Asgail would seize me, the pages would drug me, and scrape out his seed.
I finally closed the laboratory door and locked it with trembling hands. The latch was flimsy, but it comforted me. Collapsing to my knees, relief washed over me.
Rikal. I must go to the workshop. Zahara will bring the cat this afternoon.
Could I make it?
I sank into sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
I don’t know how long I lay unconscious. When I came to, a sliver of awareness stirred and I opened my eyes into darkness.
Had I slept through the night?
I tried to sit up—and jolted back as pain coursed through me. My cheeks were still burning and heavy. I recalled the head page’s blows.
What about Rikal….
As I steadied myself, I frowned. It wasn’t night. Light filtered in, and I realized the familiar laboratory surrounded me. My head swam with confusion.
What happened?
Outside it was bright—noon, perhaps—so dazzling I squinted. Why was I blind just moments ago? A flicker of fear rose, then I dismissed it: just dizziness, nothing more. My vision had blurred before—I’d be all right.
Then I remembered I hadn’t eaten for two days. Hunger clawed at me like ice.
My stomach….
My throat burned—tears threatened. I staggered to the sink and filled a cup. My hands trembled so badly I gripped the cup with both hands. Sipping the tepid water eased the dryness. After two cups, my head cleared slightly—but my hunger remained savage. Without food, I couldn’t move. I eased onto the sofa, letting out a hoarse breath.
“Hah… hah…”
My scarred back itched where it had dried—but the tender flesh protested every movement. My cheeks throbbed, my womb hammered with ache. I was trapped between the pain below and the hunger above, my vision spinning. I longed to faint again, but my fragile consciousness would not let me.
“Kamar, I hurt.”
…“It hurts so much.”
I gasped, calling his name. If Kamar were here, he would comfort me, stroke my hair, whisper, “Are you all right, Yohan?”
‘Are you all right, Yohan?’
I whispered, “I’m okay. I’m still okay.”
So please… let me sleep a bit more.
I closed my eyes, picturing Rikal. I’m sorry, Rikal. Tomorrow, I’ll come to see you….
I sank back into darkness—and for a moment, the pain faded.
“Smack!” Someone struck my cheek again, and I slipped off the chair in surprise. I stifled a scream—my body remembered the blows before my mind did. I lay on the floor, and a cold voice cut through me.
“Sleeping so soundly here, are you? Useless omega.”
I forced myself to sit, trembling, as the head page loomed over me.
“Get up. You must attend His Highness.”
He herded me to my feet without pause. His pages followed; when I stumbled after them, the head page sneered.
“Consider yourself fortunate—wouldn’t want to waste you on anything but absorbing his ill fate.”
He strode ahead, pages in tow. I pressed myself against the wall, trying to keep pace. My vision blurred; I leaned against the wall, closed my eyes, and rubbed them. Faint footsteps approached—then a massive hand swung at my head. I hit the floor before I could dodge.
“What are you gawping at, idiot?”
The page cursed, grabbed my hair, and hauled me up. Pain shot through my scalp, sharpening my awareness.
I dared not cry out; another strike would surely come. I struggled to keep up but slipped and rolled across the floor. Fist after fist pounded me until I staggered into the prince’s presence half-conscious.
“Tch. This filth…”
He glanced me over in disgust. He ordered a towel soaked in water. Pages scrubbed the blood and dirt from my face. I bit back a moan as the coarse cloth tore at my wounds. Finally satisfied, the head page tossed me aside.
“Your Highness, the omega is ready.”
He paused, then seized me by the collar and shoved me into the chamber. The door slammed behind me. I lay on the carpet, breath ragged, sweet scent pooling around me.
I must rise.
I willed my limbs to obey but could only breathe. Then I heard his approach: Crown Prince Asgail. I remained motionless. He stopped before me, silent. In my peripheral vision, I saw his foot—the one I’d kissed. A whisper of breath passed between us, and he spoke.
“What a miserable sight.”