“Where are you going?” I called out weakly, my stomach aching with hunger.

“I’m leaving to teach you a lesson. We’ll do this every single day until you do what you’re told. If you want to survive, you’ll do what you have to do.”

“You’re going to starve me?” I demanded, getting to my feet, my body trembling with rage.

He stomped back to me, making me take a frightened step back.

I winced as he reached out and gripped my chin tightly. “I’m going toteachyou. You said you were my good girl. This isn’t what a good girl would do. When you’re ready to be mine, you’ll submit. And until you realize I’m your god here, you’ll starve.”

He released me and walked away, leaving me to stare after him. I didn’t move until the door locked behind him, then I threw myself onto the hard bed, tears rushing from my eyes.

I wouldn’t last long without food or water.

I couldn’t submit though.

I just couldn’t. . .

* * *

Time moved fast. Too fast. I didn’t know how long I’d been without food or water, but my heart wouldn’t stop racing. Each day Tate visited, I’d get on my knees for him and refuse to give in. He’d wordlessly leave me after each time.

I’d started counting his visits. By day four, based on his fourth visit, I knew I was going to die if I didn’t act.

I kneeled in front of the toilet, my breathing fast and my heart hammering so hard and fast it made me dizzy.

With shaky hands, I reached into the toilet and scooped out a handful of water.

It was a disgusting thing to do, but I had no choice. I needed water.

The moment the toilet water hit my lips, my stomach turned, but I drank deeply and did it again and again until my belly was filled with the coolness.

Had the toilet had a back instead of just a pipe through the wall, I’d have drank from the back, but a girl had to do what a girl had to do.

But I was breaking. I could feel it.

Tate was reducing me to a quivering rack of bones with nothing to live for but a desire to keep doing it anyway.

And that was a problem.

CHAPTER41

Bianca

Icouldn’t take it anymore. I felt like I was losing my mind.

I scooped my drink from the toilet into my mouth, weeping with each gulp. Tate had visited. I couldn’t judge how time passed in my windowless cell, so I had no idea how long I’d been gone. Too long. Felt like forever. But it was probably just my imagination. I’d been here at least a week or two. Maybe more.

And my kings hadn’t come for me.

Which only meant one thing.

Tate was telling me the truth.

They really were gone.

I was quickly fading and knew it.

The door to my room opened, and I fell to my ass and wiped at my mouth as Tate came into the room.