Page 66 of The Crowned Queen

“Get your fucking hands off me,” she snarled, planting both palms against his chest and shoving him as hard as she could.

Jaxon swore, stumbling back a step. But he didn’t let go of her arm. ”You’re making this harder than it has to be,” he warned. “If you just—fuck!”

Araya lashed out again blindly, her heel striking something solid. His fingers bit into her flesh as she twisted against his grip, tearing herself half-free—but he was stronger than her. He always had been. He put his whole weight against her, crushing her into the sheets as he pinned her arms behind her back with one hand.

“You fucking bitch,” he hissed. “How dare you strike me?”

His other hand closed on the back of her dress, yanking. Fabric tore, stinging her skin. Araya shuddered as his fingers trailed down her back, bumping over the knobs of her spine as he gathered her skirts with his other hand.

“You’re acting like I’m some kind of monster,” he said, his breath hot against her skin. “But you’re the one who sold yourself to me. First for an apprenticeship and then again for a warm bed in a nice building. You took everything I gave you and begged for more.”

Araya shook her head. Tears blinded her, the room turning into nothing but blurry shapes and vanilla-scented sheets. This was going to happen. She couldn’t stop it.

“Please,” she begged. “Please don’t. If you ever cared about me⁠—”

“Shut up you stupid bitch,” he hissed, his weight settling against her. “And stop fucking crying.”

The order choked her sobs in her throat, her breath hitching in small, broken gasps. The humiliating tears dried in streaks on her cheeks, the taste of salt and blood flooding her mouth as he crushed her face into the mattress. His hand gripped her hip so hard she was sure there would be bruises tomorrow, the cot shifting under them as he fumbled with the laces of his breeches.

“Damn it—” Jaxon grunted. “Gods above, why do you have to make everything so fucking difficult?”

Araya stifled a gasp as the cot shifted again, the weight of Jaxon’s body vanishing. She didn’t stop to second-guess it, scrambling across the cot to put as much space between them as she could. Her ruined dress bunched around her waist, slipping precariously as she snatched the blanket, clutching it to her chest like it could shield her from him.

“You stupid whore.” Jaxon’s chest heaved, his face flushed red with fury and something darker—humiliation curdling into rage. “You didn’t have any problem spreading your legs for him, did you?”

Araya flinched, expecting him to lunge across the cot and drag her back. But before he could so much as take a step, conversation rose outside the tent, one familiar voice rising over the guards as they tried to rebuff him.

“Jaxon!” Kai shouted. “Stop! This hasn’t been sanctioned—no, get off me!”

“Fuck,” Jaxon muttered. He bent down, pulling up his trousers. “Cover yourself up,” he ordered. “Kai has delicate sensibilities.”

Araya huddled under her blanket, every breath thin and shallow as she watched Jaxon cross the tent and throw open the flap so fast that Kai practically fell into the tent.

“Gods—” Kai gaped at her for a moment before seeming to remember himself. He looked away, his cheeks flushing. “Tell me you didn’t, Jaxon.”

“What do you care?” Jaxon yanked his shirt straight, shoving it back into his pants before lacing them with angry, tight movements.

“Why don’t you?” Kai demanded. “She’s a person.”

“She’s fae.” Jaxon poured two glasses of amber liquor from a decanter on the desk, shoving one toward Kai. “What do you want?”

“Caylin is looking for you,” Kai said.

“Gods save me.” Jaxon tossed his glass back and reached for the second when Kai made no move to take it. “I have no idea how you tolerated that woman for so long. I already told her she was done here. She should be packing to go back to Aetheris.”

“You can’t just send her away,” Kai said. “Her father is High Inquisitor. He could ruin your career if you send her back angry.”

“It was my father’s decision,” Jaxon grumbled. “She can be angry at him.”

“Have you met her?” Kai asked. “She’ll still do everything in her power to sink your career over it.”

Jaxon groaned, glancing back at Araya. She shrank back at what she saw in his eyes, making herself as small as possible.

“Better safe than sorry,” Kai warned. “Caylin can and will make your life hell.” He glanced at Araya too, his laugh strained. “Besides, it’s not like she’s going anywhere.”

“Fine.” Air rushed back into Araya’s lungs as Jaxon turned away. He set his glass down on the desk too hard, grabbing his coat from the chair. “But you have to be the one to tell my father why it’s not done.”

He strode for the tent flap without looking back, irritation radiating off him in waves. Kai followed a step behind, pausing only long enough to cast one last glance in her direction before the tent flap fell shut behind them.