Chapter 6
My heart pounded as I watched him walk to the door where four ropes dangled from the ceiling, their purpose unclear. He reached up, pulling on one of the ropes with a deliberate, practiced motion. I didn’t know what he was doing, but dread settled in my stomach as he turned back to me.
He returned to my side, his gaze never leaving mine. His face was calm, but there was something dangerous lurking just beneath the surface.
" You think you’re still in control," he said, his voice low, almost a whisper. “But you’re not.”
I swallowed hard, trying to keep the fear from showing on my face. His words sent a shiver down my spine, and I realized with a sickening clarity that whatever he had planned, it wouldn’t end with me simply tied to this bed.
I tensed, ready to fight back, but the dizziness still lingered, making my limbs feel heavy and slow. He noticed my struggle, and a slight smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, as if he enjoyed watching me try.
“ Just relax,” he said, his tone softening again, though it did nothing to ease my panic. “ You’re only making this harder on yourself.”
I glared at him, refusing to give in, even as my body betrayed me. “ I’ll never relax around you.”
He chuckled softly, a sound that sent another wave of fear through me. “ We’ll see about that,” he replied, reaching for the rope he had just pulled down.
The tension between us was thick, neither of us willing to back down. After what felt like an eternity of staring each other down, a knock came from the door, breaking the standoff. The Barbarian’s gaze flicked to the door as he reached into his trousers, retrieving the key. He unlocked the door, and a young girl with fiery red hair entered, carrying a tray of food.
“ Thank you, just place the food on the table,” he ordered, his voice curt. The girl obeyed, setting the tray down without a word. She gave a small bow before quickly exiting the room. The Barbarian locked the door again, the sound of the key turning echoing in the silent room.
He walked over to the table, picked up the tray, and brought it to the bed, setting it down beside me. The scent of the food was tempting, but I was too wary to trust it.
“ Eat,” he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.
I looked at the tray, then back at him, suspicion clear in my eyes. “ How do I know it isn’t poisoned?”
His expression shifted, darkening as if my question had offended him. “ If I wanted to kill you, I would have left you in the dungeon,” he replied firmly, standing tall with his hands clasped behind his back, exuding an air of authority that was hard to challenge.
I held his gaze, trying to keep my voice steady. “ I’m not hungry.”
His eyes narrowed slightly, and I could sense his patience wearing thin. “ Either you eat, little one, or I’ll feed you myself,” he said, his voice laced with a quiet threat.
I knew he wasn’t bluffing. My stubbornness flared up again, but I was too drained to keep fighting him. With a sigh, I picked up a piece of bread from the tray and took a reluctant bite. He watched me closely, satisfaction evident in his eyes as I chewed.
“ There. That wasn’t so hard, was it?” he murmured, almost as if speaking to a child. The condescension in his tone grated on my nerves, but I stayed silent, focusing on the food instead.
As I continued to eat, my mind raced with thoughts of escape. But for now, I had to conserve my strength. One thing was clear—I had to find a way out of here, and soon.
After I finished eating, the Barbarian removed the tray and placed it back on the table. I could feel his eyes on me as I wiped my mouth, trying to avoid his gaze.
" Now, sleep," he ordered, his tone firm but not harsh. He turned away from me and walked over to a large couch opposite the bed. With a casual grace that seemed at odds with his size, he slumped down onto it, spreading his arms along the back of the couch as if he owned the place—which, I realized, he probably did.
I stared at him, my mind racing. The idea of sleeping in the same room as him was unsettling. " Don’t you have your own sleeping chambers?” I asked, the unease clear in my voice. He looked at me with a hint of amusement in his eyes.
“ This is my sleeping chambers,” he replied simply, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
I frowned, my mind racing. “ And you expect me to sleep in here… with you?”
His eyes held mine, steady and unyielding. “ I expect you to sleep. Whether you do that peacefully or with my help is up to you.” His words were calm, but there was an underlying edge to them that made it clear he wasn’t making an idle threat.
I didn’t know what to say. The bed suddenly felt too large, too soft, and far too close to where he was sitting. I hesitated, torn between my need for rest and the fear of being vulnerable around him.
“ Sleep, little one,” he repeated, his voice softer this time, but no less commanding. “ I won’t harm you, not unless you give me a reason to.”
There was something in his tone that almost made me believe him. Almost. But exhaustion was winning the battle over my instincts. I crawled under the covers, keeping a wary eye on him as I settled into the bed.
He watched me for a moment longer before leaning back on the couch, closing his eyes as if this were a routine he was well accustomed to. I lay there, tense and alert, waiting for him to make a move, but he didn’t.
Minutes passed, and his breathing slowed, deepening into the steady rhythm of sleep. I forced myself to relax, knowing that I needed rest if I was going to figure out a way out of this.
But as I closed my eyes, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the Barbarian was still watching me, even in his dreams.
The next morning, I woke to the warm sunlight streaming through the glass doors of the balcony. I wanted to stay in bed a bit longer, but then I remembered the Barbarian. I jumped up, scanning the room—if you could even call it a room, since it was bigger than my whole house back at the farm.
I sighed in relief when I saw the couch on the other side of the room was empty. No Barbarian in sight. I took a moment to really look around the room. The gold trimmings on the curtains, the bedding, everywhere—it was all so luxurious.
“ Knock! Knock! “
Merilla's voice suddenly echoed in my head.
" Meara, open the door, please," she called out through the mind link. I hurried out of bed and rushed to the door. I hesitated for a second before pulling on the handle. What if it was still locked? Slowly, I pulled, and relief washed over me when the door opened easily.
Merilla dashed into the room and headed straight for the bed.
" Why on earth are you sleeping in the King's chambers?" Her words made my blood run cold.
" K-king?" I stammered.
" Yes, King Kaden. Tall, dark hair, built like a god. Looks like he could kill you with his death stare, but is actually the kindest person you'll ever meet," she said with a huff.
I glared at her. " Your so-called King kissed me without my permission yesterday. Then I got accused of being a thief and locked up in the dungeon all day, only to be manhandled by him and locked up in his chambers while he watched me sleep."
Merilla looked shocked for a moment. I didn't even know foxes could have expressions, but she actually looked unsure.
" Meara, I'm so sorry this happened to you," she said sincerely, pacing up and down. " If the King did all that, there must be a logical explanation."
" Logical explanation? The only excuse is that this so-called King thinks he can do whatever he wants. He even had the audacity to kiss me while I was asleep yesterday, and when I confronted him, he said he had every right to."
" He kissed you?" Merilla asked, confused.