Chapter 51: Chapter 51

Raven

“What tears?” she asked, rubbing the tender spot on her head.

King Soi-Ji gently wiped her cheeks. “I must be imagining things. You didn’t come when I called for you last night. That’s not like you.”

“I went to bed as soon as I could,” she replied, brushing his hand away.

He continued to wipe away the phantom tears. “I was hoping you would.”

“Why are you here?” she asked, pushing his hand away once more.

“You didn’t show up, and then you were scheduled to see the doctor today. I was worried.”

“Why should you care? You have a hundred other women at your beck and call.”

“Actually, it’s a hundred and fifty. But you always seem to interrupt my time with them. I checked your room after my meeting, and you weren’t there. So, where were you?” he asked.

Raven had taken a detour to stash the blades in an old, dusty room. She had lifted a floor tile and buried them after a bit of digging.

Her slightly dirty clothes didn’t raise any suspicions, given her habit of passing out in the oddest places.

“I don’t remember much when I’ve been drinking. Did you check under the bed? The bath?”

He sighed, leaning against the examination table. “Are you playing games with me? I don’t find it funny.”

Raven massaged the bridge of her nose. “I don’t know what—”

His nostrils flared. “I won’t stand for these games. If you won’t tell me, I can always ask the man whose scent is all over you.”

He walked past her, and panic surged through her. “What makes you think it’s a man?”

“Just a hunch.”

Raven scrambled for an excuse, any excuse.

“Don’t blame him for being kind. He saw me upset and tried to comfort me. I warned him I’d sic you on him if he told anyone,” she said. “Last night, I wandered around looking for more booze. Captain Oito cut me off.”

She prayed Arenk wouldn’t be outside when she left.

“Already taking advantage of your position?” he asked, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips.

“What exactly is my position? I didn’t get the handbook,” she said, trying to steer the conversation away.

“You did. I suggest you read it before tonight. You don’t want to add to your punishment.”

Raven frowned, studying his expression and body language. He was serious. His body was slightly tense, and his brows were furrowed.

“I shouldn’t have to come looking for you. You only have one client, and it’s me, in case you haven’t figured it out.”

“You don’t say,” Raven said, feigning surprise.

The door creaked open, and an older man shuffled in, wearing a dark blue outfit with glasses perched on his head.

“Is your brand bothering you?” he asked, patting his shirt for something. “Darn glasses always disappearing on me.”

King Soi-Ji tapped the glasses lightly, and they slid into place.

“Ah, there they are.” The doctor clapped his hands together. “Now, let’s find that ointment and get you on your way.”

“I requested a few tests,” King Soi-Ji said.

The doctor pulled out a tablet from a drawer and began typing. “Fertility and VD. Hop onto the table, miss.”

Raven’s heart pounded in her chest. She had hidden the vials and packets of needles in the waistband of her skirt and top. The doctor might not notice, but the king surely would.

Raven stood there for a moment, weighing her options. Refusing would raise their suspicions, but getting on the table could ruin everything.

“I wasn’t told about any tests. I’ll take the ointment now, and we can do the tests another—”

“No, you’re doing them now,” King Soi-Ji said.

“I’m not. What the hell is VD anyway?”

“Venereal diseases. They’re from—”

“I know where they come from,” she cut off the doctor, turning to the king. “What are you implying?”

“That you were out in the world for a time I can't account for. It's standard procedure for all the women here.”

“I can't account for where you've been, so unless—”

“Can you pull up my tests from yesterday?” King Soi-Ji asked.

The doctor handed her the tablet, and it was recent. He was clean.

“I wouldn’t ask you to do anything I wouldn’t do myself.”

Raven gritted her teeth. His arrogance was infuriating.

“Well, I don't see why it's necessary. I haven't agreed to anything, and I don't plan to.”

He laughed. “Your memory when you drink is unreliable. I remember a different story from when you were in my bed a few nights ago and the nights before that.”

Raven gasped. “I always wake up in my own bed. Maybe your memory is failing with age.”

“I have Captain Oito carry you back with a bottle of liquor from my collection, which you help yourself to. So, get on the table and let the doctor do his job. If you behave, I might give you what you've been asking for,” he said, smirking.

“No,” she said, heading for the door.

The king blocked her path. “Something to hide?”

She huffed. “No.”

“Then get on the table now, or I'll help you,” he said.

If he touched her, he would know. As she tried to climb onto the table, the doctor stopped her.

“Clothes off,” he said.

Her eyes widened. “All of them?”

“Just the bottoms will do.”

Raven counted her small blessings, slipped her hand under her skirt, and removed her panties before climbing onto the table. The doctor settled into a rolling chair, waiting patiently.

“Is this not a common practice where you come from?” King Soi-Ji asked.

“It’s something people in committed relationships do, or those who plan to have sex. It’s not usually forced like this.”

Her voice sounded so small, so timid. She hadn’t realized until she heard herself speak. The king moved to her side, and she instinctively flinched, bracing for something worse. Instead, he took her hand.

“All those things apply to us. I gave you my symbol for a reason,” he said.

She jerked her hand away. “Your reasons are always the same. Don’t act like it’s something special.”

“I have many women. Why would I bother with such a charade? Why would I take the time to check up on you?”

“I’ve been asking myself the same thing. But I’ve learned not to take anything you or the others say or do seriously.”

“Well, you’ll soon find out that my word is law, both within these walls and beyond. And my actions come from the heart.”

Raven shot him a glare, but it faded quickly. His look was too much like the ones Arenk, Dhol, and Laro had given her. Genuine. Heartfelt. She knew all too well how that usually ended.