"I'd like all of you to meet your new scullery maid, Kellen," he had dragged me into the kitchen immediately after he'd finished. I gaped up at him and fought back the urge to tell him I was a man. He'd probably just make fun of me again anyway. "And if I find out any of you fed him, you'll have me to answer to."

Another small gasp from me. His cruelty truly knew no bounds.

"Kellen," he turned to me, "when you think you're ready to play nice, I'll be around."

With that, he left me in the kitchen. I stood with my mouth open and looked at the door where he had exited before turning to the staff. A large round man was the first to speak.

"Floss, get him situated," his voice was worn and gruff, similar to his appearance. With a scraggly beard and a foreboding stature. The others got back to work and a small woman approached me. Her red hair was tied back in a bun and despite how tired she looked, a bright smile was displayed on her face. I decided she could be no older than fifteen seasons.

"Hello! Kellen, was it? I'm Floss, it's a pleasure to meet you," she chirped and stretched out her hand. I took it and felt the rough calluses on her dainty hands.

"The pleasure is mine," I answered and tucked my hands behind my back.

"Master Caerus can be overwhelming sometimes, but I'm sure you'll get used to him," Floss promised in an effort to comfort me.

So his name was Caerus.

Interesting.

"I'm guessing he's never tried to bed you then," I retorted flatly even though I knew I shouldn't be snippy with her. But I was flustered, angry, and exhausted and those did not make a nice Kellen.

"Well, no, not really. He tends to favor men, even though I've seen him bring home a few women before," Floss didn't even seem fazed by the comment and chattered on, "he says they're too squishy and fragile for his liking."

I would not like to see the day that someone called Callista 'squishy and fragile'.

It was like a blow to the chest, why did I keep thinking about them?

It-it was over now. I'd probably never see my sisters again.

Maybe I'd just have to accept that.

"Anyways, you can start on the dishes," she told me and pointed to the rising stack of dirty plates and utensils. I blinked and wondered how long that would take. Hopefully not the whole day.

Someone bumped into Floss on their way past and she fell into me. I began to steady her when she slipped something warm into my hand. I knew better than to look and quickly shoved it into my pocket.

"Are you alright?" I asked as she righted herself and brushed off her apron.

"Oh yeah, people bump into me all the time," she quickly waved it off, "you get used to it."

We didn't speak after that and so I began my task.

--------------------

It took forever.

I had only just finished scrubbing the last food crusted pan when the staff began filing out of the room for lunch. I quietly cursed Caerus, he didn't even eat half of the food.

A moment later Floss came up to me with what looked like a plate of rolls.

"Come on, Master Caerus is eating lunch," she raised her ginger brows at me and I let out a groan.

"I still have dishes to do," I grumbled and began to wash out the basin.

"Master Caerus specifically requested you," Floss explained. Of course he did.

"Well Master Caerus can come in here and do them himself," I frowned but followed her out nonetheless.

We walked into the dining room, Floss sat the plate down and I faded into the shadows against the wall with the other servants. Caerus grinned at me as Floss took a place beside me, I glared at him and crossed my arms.

"Kellen," he called in a sing-song voice. Insufferable. I walked over as slowly as possible, dragging my feet along the floor. I stood beside him as he leaned back in his chair and looked up at me.

"What," I answered weakly and clenched my jaw.

"Why don't you take a seat?" He said and I knew why he was pushed away from the table, why his body was turned to me slightly. If I wanted I could plop down in his lap and eat all I wanted.

I was not going to give him the satisfaction.

Instead, I pulled out a chair two down from him and sat there. He seemed to find this amusing.

"Still mad, Kell?" He asked and a wave of rage settled in my bones. No one but my sisters called me Kell. He would not take that from me too.

"Still so desperate, Master Caerus?" I retorted and watched triumphantly as his nostrils flared in irritation.

"Word gets around, hmm?" He spoke calmly and cut into whatever it was he was eating.

Jackass.

"Much like you," I returned in the same annoyingly calm tone as him and crossed my legs over each other.

"Kellen, you're pushing it," he warned but didn't sound the least bit angry, the only placed it showed was the tight grip on his cutlery. "I suggest you stop before someone gets punished."

"How do you know I don't like it?" I narrowed my eyes and flicked my hair out of my face. If he wanted to play this game then he had best be ready for me to play too. I could be defiant just as well as I could be submissive.

Caerus lost concentration for a moment and the knife scraped against the plate. He went still before setting down his utensils and looking towards me with a fake smile.

"I'd be more than happy to sink my teeth into a few other places," he, I now realized, was very good at this game we played. I straightened my back and mirrored his expression, leaning my chin against the palm of my hand.

"Do tell," I hummed and watched as a muscle feathered in his jaw. I was so going to pay for this.

His voice dropped a few octaves in a way that made my knees tremble and my body ache, "come here and I'll show you."

Dammit, I'd backed myself into a corner.

Oblige and then I'd be doing exactly what Caerus wanted. He'd play me right into his lap.

But refuse and I'd lose this battle, which could turn the tide of the game.

"It wouldn't be as fun if I were compliant," I finally breathed, I could've done better, but at least it was something.

"Then maybe I should bend you over my knee right here instead of waiting until after lunch," Caerus ran his tongue over his bottom lip as I rose from my seat and strode up to him.

"In that case," my heart beat faster and faster as I leaned in close to his ear. He could so easily force me over his lap as he had said, and yet he didn't. "You know where I'll be, Master Caerus."

With that, I swaggered out of the dining room without turning back.

I had won.

--------------------

Fifteen minutes later I was back to washing dishes without a care in the world. Just a grin on my face and pep in my step. It felt good to hold a victory over Caerus. So far he hadn't come in, which was a relief, I was afraid that he really was going to punish me. I wasn't sure if the risk was worth it yet.

Deep in my thoughts, I jumped when someone barreled into me.

Oh, good, it was just Floss.

"That. Was. Fantastic." She gasped with wide eyes and a bright smile. I grinned and nodded my head. "You are so dead."

"It was worth it," I answered and began scrubbing down a silver pot, "someone needed to knock him down a few pegs."

"You should have seen him after you left, he was furious," Floss jumped excitedly and I enjoyed the mental image it gave me. She began to speak again when she ducked behind me and peeked across the room. I followed her gaze to a silently fuming Caerus walking through the door. "Well, gotta go, it was nice knowing you, Kellen."

And then she scurried off to avoid dealing with him. I mean, I couldn't blame her. He was intolerable.

So I pretended to not know he was there and continued with the dishes. Caerus placed his hand on my shoulder and let his lips hover close to my ear.

"Come with me," a simple command, one easily followed. So I did. I walked out of there with my head high and my hands on my hips.

He wasn't going to take away what little pride I had left.

--------------------

Only when he locked the door behind us did my pulse race faster. We were in the same room where he'd cut my hair.

I stood rigid in the center and clenched my fists at my sides. Caerus unbuttoned his jacket and tossed it over the back of the vanity chair. I watched anxiously as he rolled up his sleeves and placed a hand on the bedpost.

"I hope you know I was serious about bending you over my knee," he smirked and sat on the edge of the bed. My face was white with horror, but at least he wasn't doing it in front of people. He crooked a finger at me and I hesitantly obeyed. "Take a seat."

I fidgeted and chewed on my lip before laying across his lap as he'd requested. My heart threatened to beat out of my chest as he ran a finger down my back.

"You're such a good boy when it's just the two of us," Caerus mused and I felt my cheeks darken in color, "now be quiet," he whispered and I stifled a cry when he brought his hand down on my back side.

It wasn't as much the pain as it was the humiliation that made me lower my head.

Another smack. Another quiet whimper.

Again.

Again. It hurt.

Again. He was far stronger than a human, and it appeared he wasn't holding back.

Again. This time I couldn't help but cry out in pain.

And again. My eyes burned.

A few more that felt like an eternity of embarrassment.

"Next time, Kellen, it will be much worse," he murmured and ran his fingers over the sore place. I hated to admit that it helped. "So for your sake, learn to hold your tongue."