Chapter 81

The Prey

The belt came down again.

And I cried out. Again. I didn’t know how long or how many strikes it had been.

Only thing I could focus on was his belt and my screams.

Tears spilled from my eyes as my body convulsed under the force of the blow. Despite the desperate will to stay strong, I felt the words slipping out. A plea. Weak. I hated myself for it, but it was as though he was forcing it out of me. He liked this—loved the sound of my voice breaking, of my heart crumbling under his hands.

My vision blurred, darkness pressing in at the edges, and I silently prayed for unconsciousness. But it never came. Instead, I was flipped onto my back, my body trembling against the cold sheets. He hovered over me, his hands braced on either side of my head, his pale blue eyes piercing into mine. One hand moved to my jaw, his fingers gripping hard.

“Will you disobey me again?” Low and deep voice blocked my senses.

Tears spilled down