Takhi, Queen of the Howlkin, stared down at the kingdom, her eyes glassy. The soft dawn light illuminated the bruising on her shoulders, and she pulled her robe up and shied into the darkness. The room was gloomy, devoid of any light, save for the dawn.
"Takhi." Takhi turned to face the gaze of her mate. "Yes?" she whispered.
"Come here." The cold command came in a whisper-soft voice and Takhi closed her eyes as she bowed her head, hiding her face and did as she was told. Akoto smiled and brought his hand up to brush her cheek, his touch cold on her warm face, "Takhi, Takhi, Takhi…" His voice was soft, teasing, as he spoke, "when will you learn?"
Her reply came in a rasp, "Learn what Akoto?"
Akoto chuckled, "To not sneak out and play games with me, I'm not stupid enough to not understand anything of what you do outside this palace."
Takhi stayed silent and reserved. Her mind screamed for her to run, to hide, and to do anything to escape! But he knew too much, he knew of the man she really loved, of the child she carried. The child not his own…
And as he beat her, new cuts forming next to old, she was ashamed that she didn't fight back, and shivered cowering in the corner of a prison cell, as her body was exposed to the arctic air. She needed to escape.
But how?