Warning: This chapter is a little intense and has some very adult content in it.
The wedding ceremony passed in a blur for Cassia. One moment, she and Corvus were holding hands in front of a burnt sacrifice, the next the guests had poured into the main hall for the wedding feast. It was a long day, and she had trouble focusing on the present events as she calculated the best potion to add to Corvus' wine. She managed to whisper the ingredients to Helena, who disappeared into the crowd.
They had a chance to mix the concoction that evening, since tradition dictated that the bride prepare with her maidservant before her new husband entered the bedchamber. Cassia was sure Corvus was only too happy to stay with his soldier comrades and celebrate his good fortune. He'd probably be drunk by the time he stumbled into the bed chamber, which would make Cassia's job even easier. He'd never refuse a drink from his smiling new bride.
As the night grew darker, Helena helped Cassia into her nightgown, a thin slip of satin that made her feel very exposed but that, she hoped, would help distract Corvus and make him easier to manipulate.
The women had just set up two golden goblets when Corvus pushed through the doors—but he seemed very sober.
"Ah, here's my beautiful bride," he said, running his eyes down Cassia's frame hungrily. "I could barely control myself during the ceremony, you looked so ravishing."
"Thank you," Cassia said, trying to sound sincere and warm. She had to get him to trust her.
"You can leave us now, maidservant," Corvus called over her shoulder to Helena. "And take that wine with you."
Cassia couldn't help but startle. "But, husband," she forced out, "I know how you enjoy spirits, and I assumed you'd want to celebrate our union…"
"Oh, we'll celebrate," Corvus replied, taking her in his arms, "but I want to remain sharp for this extra special night."
Before Cassia could protest, his lips claimed hers. She fought the urge to resist, remembering his threats and her vulnerable position. Struggling would do no good now—he would still take what he wanted, and it would be weeks before he would trust her enough to take anything she offered.
She could only watch in silent despair as Helena slipped out of the room, taking the wine with her.
"Mmm, alone at last," Corvus purred against her ear as the door clicked shut. One of his handed started to slide up her nightgown, eagerly exploring her body. Despite her mental resolve, she pulled back instinctively. "Are you still so shy?" Corvus chuckled, voice dripping with mockery, but there was a dangerous undercurrent underneath. "What happened to your promised gratitude?"
Fear for Helena, for the other slaves filled Cassia's mind. "I'm sorry," she said quickly, trying to look like a blushing bride. "I am unschooled in the ways of pleasing a man, but I will try."
"Such innocence," Corvus said with a dark smile, brushing his thumb across her lips. "But you're a clever girl—you'll learn quickly."
He took her hand and led her to the bed. Cassia's stomach twisted and she felt sick, but she kept the despair from flashing across her face.
"Soon enough, you'll be impatient for me to visit your bed," Corvus said behind her, his hands running down her hips and encircling her front as he kissed her neck. He pulled at one of her straps, kissing the exposed skin of her shoulder. "You'll beg me to make love to you."
Cassia bit her lip to cut off any protests. Just go through with it, and he'll trust you, she told herself. You can poison his drink tomorrow night.
Corvus turned her around so her back was to the bed and kissed her hard, pulling her so hard against him she could feel every part of his body. He pushed her onto the bed, pushing her legs apart impatiently. The closer he came to his goal, the less controlled he was.
"I've wanted you ever since I first saw you," he breathed, pushing her nightgown up and running rough hands along her legs. He wrapped his fingers under her knees and pulled suddenly, pulling her tightly against him.
Cassia winced as she felt him through the thin material of his tunic. Imagine Milo, she ordered herself, trying desperately to conjure her true love's face. Imagine it's Milo.
But Corvus saw her unfocused gaze and guessed her strategy. "You women are all the same," he chuckled, digging his fingers into Cassia' upper leg and tearing her legs wider apart, so roughly that she gasped and snapped out of her daydream. He cupped her chin with one hand, pulling her back to look at him. "Don't daydream now, darling," he added with terrible menace. "I want you to remember this."
He kissed her again, his full weight hard against her. As he started kissing his way along her jawline, she felt like she was suffocating under him. She tried to suck in a breath, but he slipped his thumb into her mouth instead. Her first startled instinct was to bite down, but she knew what he wanted, and what would happen if she didn't do it, so she sucked dutifully.
"Good girl," Corvus whispered in her ear, voice husky with lust. "Before long, I'll give you something more substantial to satisfy that pretty mouth."
He licked around her ear, nipping it hard enough for her to gasp, which only made him chuckle again. She was relieved when he pulled his thumb out of her mouth, but it was no better when he dropped his hand to her hip and pulled her nightgown the rest of the way up, leaving her legs bare and exposed around him.
Cassia felt him start to hike up his own tunic, and she couldn't hide the fear in her eyes. Corvus noticed it with relish.
"Are you ready, little wife?" he asked, pushing against her harder.
Cassia kept her gaze on Corvus, but her mind was somewhere else entirely. Think of Milo think of Milo think of Milo think of Milo oh please let it be quick think of Milo…
Suddenly the chamber doors banged open, and in rushed Milo.