"What?"
Nyx's face was twisted in confusion, his eyes laid on her face in waiting. Theia swallowed roughly, crossing her arms. It felt degrading being on her knees beneath him. Her head tilted back as she met his eyes more clearly, afraid to stand as though he may take it as another attack.
"You told the trainees that I am spoken for. They all assume that you and I have some type of relationship. Why would you tell them that, Nyx?" His face softened when he realized what she had meant.
"That male assaulted you, Theia. I wanted to make my point and show him that you have someone to protect you. I didn't want it to happen again," he argued. His words had Theia flinching, and then her glare hardened.
"Protect me? I don't need protection, Nyx. I would've accepted whatever he had planned for me and would've grown stronger from it. That shit happens to females all over these mountains, it's not uncommon. At this point, it's merely the question of when it will happen, not if. I fought back and I would've fought back until I couldn't anymore," she spat. Nyx laughed- laughed.
"He had you against the wall. Yes, you bit his tongue but is that going to stop him? No, Theia, it wouldn't have. You refuse to train, so I'll be there to tear the Gods damned monsters off of you. You begged for my help, for my father's help, so just accept what we give you," he sneered back, crossing his arms. Theia felt a growl deep in her throat that brought her to her feet. She stepped forward, craning her neck as she glared up at the heir.
"I asked for your help for everyone who suffers with poverty and abuse from the warriors here. Not just me." Nyx rolled his eyes, a hand falling to motion at her.
"You were being abused by a male, and I helped. Baby steps, isn't that the saying? I did my part, and now you're scolding me for it." Theia had to curl her nails into her palms to stop herself from launching at him again.
"Well, with the way you helped, now the warriors are under the assumption that I belong to you. For once in my life, I am not responsible for putting food on the table or ensuring my mother is bathed. I want to live the life I had yet to have, and that includes the single nights with random strangers! I can't have that now, thanks to you," she shouted, unable to stop herself from shoving his chest again. Nyx caught her wrists again, bending down so that his face was nearly level with hers.
"You want to fuck a stranger? Go ahead, these bastards don't care about infidelity. You flaunt those pretty eyes of yours and half the fucking war camp will be on their knees for you-"
"They won't, Nyx! They're terrified of you and your father, so they won't touch me. I am just as alone as I was two months ago." Nyx scoffed at her words, his thumbs pressing against her pulse in her wrist. Theia pulled her arms from him, shoving his chest again before taking a step back. "Do not touch me, Nyx."
"Why are you so adamant on fucking these males? You've seen first hand what they are like. None of them will be adequate partners, so why waste your time? You want someone good? Let me take you back to Velaris and you can parole the taverns there. This is a small village, you aren't bound to only its residents," Nyx suggested, his eyes blinking into an exasperated look. Theia's nostrils flared and she forced her eyes around the room so she didn't have to look at his face longer than necessary.
"This is my home, Nyx. If I want to find a partner, why wouldn't I search here? And now I cannot, because you have branded me your whore when I have never touched you. What about your females? What about the ones you bring into this house? What will they think?"
"Cauldron, Theia. You truly are naive. Nobody cares about loyalty with a partner as much as you assume that they do. I could be married to you and go find someone for the night and they wouldn't bat an eye. I only told them that you're spoken for so that they'd think twice about hurting you, not fucking you."
Something about the way he was speaking to her ached far more than the bruises his fingertips had placed on her wrists. He was right; Theia had no experience in anything more than providing for herself and her mother. She didn't even know how to kiss, why would she know anything about how relationships are? Her throat felt tight as she shoved past him toward the door.
"I'm finished with this conversation. Goodnight, Nyx."
"Are you running away because you know you're wrong? Here's a challenge, Theia. Go beg someone at the tavern to fuck you, see if I'm right."
She ignored him and slammed the door to his bedroom. Theia didn't say anything to Maia or Madja as she grabbed her sleeping gown and left the room, and she didn't so much as glance at the mirror when she submerged herself in the tub. Nyx was the bane of her existence since she met him, even with his and his father's empty promises. He offered her few moments of what she thought could be friendship, but every other moment, she wanted to rip his head off.
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Winter Solstice morning was gut-wrenching for Theia. She had avoided Nyx during the week, only seeing him when she would take her plate of supper and sit alone on the couch. Now, she had to join him in Velaris. Theia wanted to confront the High Lord about the lack of repairs done to her home, otherwise she would refuse to join him.
The bakery was closing early and the tavern would not be open tonight. Theia tapped her fingers on the counter, waiting for the final moment of her shift so that she could go to the market. Calliope had given her a pouch of a month's pay extra as her bonus. It weighed heavily in her coat pocket, and she wished to buy her mother a new dress.
"Enough moping, Theia. Head out for the holiday. Happy Solstice," Calliope called from the kitchen where she was washing dishes.
"Thank you, Calli! Happy Solstice!" She called, swapping her apron for her coat and rushing out the door. The market also closed early on the holiday. Theia hurried down the street and turned onto the one that held many storefronts. Her eyes fell to the shop that always had the cheaper fabrics, though were suitable as a gift for Maia.
When Theia walked in, the shopkeeper was rushing to clean before closing. She gave them an apologetic smile and glanced at the few dresses hung on the racks. A blue dyed wool caught her eye. Theia pulled it from the hanger, studying the fabric. It was long sleeved and would more than likely be too large on Maia, but most things were.
The dyed fabric was far more expensive than regular spun wool, but the fact that Theia didn't need to ration this year, she figured it would be the perfect gift. Maia was a fan of more feminine clothing, but Theia found pants and shirts more practical. Nonetheless, Theia quickly purchased the dress and left the shop as the shopkeeper locked the door behind her.
Maia normally didn't have a reaction to her gifts, but she was more lively this year than she ever had been. Theia was almost giddy to hand it to her. She practically skipped to the house, heart racing at the thought of her mother being grateful for her attempts for once. She pushed the door open, sighing at the warmth.
The main floor was empty, which made Theia even more relaxed as she pulled her boots off and climbed the stairs. Another first in a long while: Theia opened Maia's door in hopes to speak with her mother. There she was, sat atop her bed and Madja poked and prodded at her back.
"Happy Solstice, mama," Theia murmured, lifting her arm with the dress. Maia's slow eyes lifted and narrowed on the dress.
"What is that, child?" Theia's smile dropped slightly as she took the dress with both hands and held it up.
"A dress, mama. I get you one every year," Theia responded. Maia's mouth twisted when Madja touched a sore along her spine.
"This is the first of your gifts, child. I do not remember receiving anything from you for Solstices in the past."
Theia's smile was wiped from her face. She blinked at Maia, hands dropping down. Maia didn't remember the gifts that Theia gave her each year, what else did she forget?
"Well, I get you one every year with my bonus from the bakery. Here," Theia mumbled, dropping the dress onto the foot of the bed. Maia looked displeased as she studied it in a heap. "Will you be joining us at the High Lord and High Lady's home tonight?"
Theia couldn't help but feel disgust as she watched Maia suck her teeth before responding. Her mother seemed to care even less about her now that she was conscious and vivid.
"No. It is a difficulty to reach the bathing chamber on my own, I will not travel to the High Lord and Lady's home. That reminds me, the heir left a gown for you in the wardrobe to wear tonight. It is fitting, and perhaps you will find a husband tonight, my child. A male would be good for our family."
Theia shoved away her anger when she turned away from Maia and faced the wardrobe. She had expected to wear the same clothes she had worn at the bakery, not dress in a gown. Her jaw was clenched hard enough that her ears rang as she pulled the wardrobe open. Sure enough, a large gown was shoved inside. It looked like something the High Lady would wear, not a poverty-stricken female in a war camp. Theia cringed as she pulled it from the rack.
It was a smooth fabric, too soft beneath her rough fingers. She felt as though if she touched it too long, it would disintegrate. With a huff, she left the bedroom with the dress in tow. She aimed for the bathing chamber, but her feet brought her to Nyx's door. She pounded her fist against it, not stopping until the door swung open.
"What?" He snapped, glaring down at her. Theia ignored his bare torso and thrusted the dress toward him.
"What is this?" Nyx rose a brow, then they furrowed.
"A dress?"
"I mean, why was it in my wardrobe?" Theia groaned, struggling to keep her fist from his jaw.
"My mother brought it here this morning. She said that the females dress nice for supper and she wanted you to have something fine to wear. If you don't want to wear it, then don't." He began closing the door and Theia let him. She glared at the door for a moment before turning and marching into the bathing chamber.
She couldn't help but feel like this family was trying to tame her and Maia. Her mother would happily be domesticated by way of wealth, but Theia wasn't fond of big homes or too-fine clothing that would make you afraid to eat a meal in it.
Still, Theia bathed and primed herself to be presentable in the eyes of those far too proper than her. Her hair washed and smelling of flowers, skin smooth and buttered, she slipped the dress on. Her lip began to bleed as she gnawed on it, debating to look in the mirror or not. Her chest rose and fell before she turned and took a step to the full length mirror.