She had fainted.

Lifting her from the ground, he stopped anyone who tried to offer their help in carrying her. Taking her bridal stlyle back to his chambers, eyes glued to her face, he started noticing things he didn't see before. She was still as beautiful as ever but she wad a lot thinner now so she weighed almost nothing. His hands tightened around her midriff as he strode to his chambers, barking out orders from the side to have Rosa, the headmaid in his chambers.

He arrived at his chambers and placed her on the bed, Opening the windows so he could let fresh air in, He went back to her side to help undress her but found it confusing so he gave up. Just then, a knock came on the doors and after giving approval, the person behind walked in. It was Rosa.

She walked closer. "You called on me, Your Majesty." Rosa announced, her head bowed.

He took a step away from Maya, her gaze still on her face. " Get her out of this clothes."

"What happened?"

"She fainted." He said, his voice cool. Rosa immediately swung to action, undoing the ropes and buttons of the clothes. Before long, the dress came undlme and she was left in just her chemise. Rosa proceeded to remove her jewelries before placing her properly on the bed.

" How is she?" He asked, an edge to his voice.

" She's fine, Your Majesty. She's just unconscious. She'll be awake soon. " Rosa explained.

He started to nod but paused when he caught a look at her legs. His brows scrunched, he couldn't help but ask. "What are those?"

Rosa flinched but she had no choice but to answer anyway. " I believe those are whip marks, Your Majesty." She let out solemnly.

Dexter stiffened, then lowered himself to have a closer look. Indeed they were whip marks all over her legs and they ran up to her thighs! A muscle in his jaw twitched but he pulled back, not saying anything. Rosa managed to peek a look at him and froze. His face was an inscrutable mask but his light-grey eyes had gone several shades darker.

" You can leave now. " He murmured, his voice thick. Rosa promptly bowed.

" Yes, Your majesty. Is there anything else you would need?"

" I'll summon you if I need anything else."

" Yes, your majesty. Excuse me." She muttered and the next thing Dexter heard was her receeding footsteps, followed by the gentle close of the door. Then, silence.

Dexter remained standing, waiting for her to wake up.

.

.

.

Maya took the first few steps to consciousness, her head pounding. Her eyes fluttered open, her gaze landing on the dark, silvery design of the walls. She sighed, the sight weirdly familiar.

What happened? She wondered as she sat up. Grabbing her throbbing head with her hands, she groaned. She froze when she saw someone at the edge for the bed, staring at her. It was Dexter.

" What happened?" She voiced out, her voice hoarse.

" You fainted." He stated. Maya blanked at his words before it cleared in understanding. That's strange, I usually wait till I'm alone before my body gives up on me. But then, she's no longer in her palace.

Coughing a little, she ran her hands through her hair, disheveling it. Dexter stood up from the edge of the bed, getting her a glass of water. Stretching it towards her, he nudged her to take it. Maya collected it from him, nodding her thanks. She took a few gulps from it before passing the cup back to him. He placed it on the bedside table before drawing a chair closer to seat. Staring at her with those silvery orbs of his, Maya held her breath.

" Are you okay now?" He asked, startling her. She nodded hurriedly, playing with her fingers. " Would you like to eat now?"

Maya nodded again, lost for words. Dexter ran the bell, calling the maids. Before long, one of the maids arrived at the room, keeping her head bowed.

" Bring lunch for the Queen." He ordered, not looking at them.

" Yes, Your Majesty." She replied before rushing out of the chambers. The silence made her nervous and she bit her lips.

" What time is it?" Maya asked. Dexter glanced at the windows.

" Probably early evening. You've been out for quite a while." He replied.

" Oh...." Maya trailed off, looking down at her clothes. She'd been changed.

The meal was brought in and Maya began eating. As mouthwatering as the food was, Maya could only take a few spoonfuls before announcing she was full. Dexter who had been observing her silently, raised a brow.

" You've barely touched your food. Try to eat a little more." Maya did as she was told. Four more spoonfuls and she gave up this time.

" I really am full this time." She hurriedly said when she saw Dexter was about to force her to eat more. He let out a sigh before calling on the maids to clear out the plates. They arrived immediately, taking away plates of half-finished meals away from the room.

Now alone again, Maya began to grow nervous. She inadvertently remembered her outburst as the courtroom earlier. She snapped her head up to look at him, alarmed.

" Your council! They must hate me now! I didn't mean to do that, I was just so tired of their complaining!..." She rambled on but he shook his head, cutting her short.

" I do not care about them." He said instead. Shrugging, he added, " Honestly, I was rather impressed. You did handle the antagonism well."

Maya felt a glow of pride at his words. " Thanks, I wasn't expecting that." She muttered, her cheeks growing hot.

Dexter's lips twitched but didn't quite form a smile as he stared at her, his eyes warm.

" That aside..." He began, inching closer. " I wanted to ask you some questions and I need you to answer me honestly." His gaze had turned serious.

" What is it?" She asked, her voice soft. An indescribable look crossed his face as he stood to his feet, pulling the sheets over her legs. Wearing only a chemise, her scarred legs where there for him to see. Maya resisted the urge to pull the legs to herself, hiding it from view. He sat on the edge of the bed, placing her legs over his thighs. When he glanced at her, his eyes had grown dark. Maya's heart began pounding.

" What is this?" He asked. His voice had dropped, an emotion she hadn't felt in a while running underneath. Concern. She smiled bitterly even as eyes watered, her heart aching.

" What do you think it is?" She whispered back. He ran his fingers down her legs, tensing all over.

" They did this to you?" He gritted out, anger dripping into his words. A vein had begun popping out from his neck.

" My half-sister did. She hated my guts a lot. So she made it a point of duty to always punish me even when I did nothing wrong." She chuckled. It wasn't funny. " She couldn't beat me anywhere visible so she focused on my legs."

" And nobody tried to stop her?"

" Her mother supported her most of the time and my father didn't care so she got away with it."

Maya's gaze turned inwards, reliving those horrible memories. Clenching her teeth, she glared at her legs. " She was that desperate to see me break; beg her to stop." Her lips twitched then. " Didn't give her satisfaction."

Dexter sucked in air, his body trembling. " For how long?" He tried to sound calm.

Maya shook her head, blinking back the tears. " Long enough for the scars to form and stay. I don't really remember."

The rage in Dexter's eyes was unmistakable. He looked like he wanted to punch something... Someone. " What about your Nanny... Naomi?"

Maya stiffened at the name. The anger in her eyes dimmed a little. " She died... Three years ago." Maya mumbled, her voice breaking. Dexter paled.

" That's impossible. She's a healthy woman. Unless she was..." He trailed off, his eyes widening in understanding.

Maya supplied the rest of the words. " She was poisoned. I found out after she died." Maya scoffed, a tear slipping out from her eyes. " Why did you think I wanted them dead?" She asked, referring to her family.

" Death is not enough..." Dexter growled, venom dripping from his words. He took in a deep breath. " Anything else?"

" Do you want me to tell you everything?" Maya asked, surprised.

" I should not have killed them... If I knew this was the extent of their damage and the fact that there's more, I would have kept them alive for torture."

Call it strange but it was a great feeling watching Dexter get angry for her. It mirrored the exact thoughts she used to have during those times. " Thanks..." She let out softly.

Dexter turned to her, confused. " For what?"

" For getting angry for me. It's been so long since anyone has done anything for me." She added. Some of the anger dissolved from his eyes but he still looked furious. Then she grew worried.

" What about Your council? I'm not sure they would like what happened earlier."

He waved her off. " Forget about them. I'll call in a meeting later and let them know my decision is final. Right now, I'm concerned about you." Dexter stood up from the bed and went to the drawers and brought out a sealed container. Maya wondered what it was but she didn't press. He joined her back on the bed and began to apply the ointment on her legs.

Maya gasped, reveling in the cooling feeling she got from the application of the ointment. " It'll help with the scars." He told her at her questioning gaze. With the concentration she's never seen before, he gently applied the ointment all over her legs, gently massaging them in. The gentle treatment unraveled her more than anything, causing her to feel mushy inside.

Maya's stomach flipped when he went all the way to her thighs where they were marks. She glanced at him, cheeks flushed to see if he was as embarrassed as she was. There was no visible reaction. Her blush deepened. Soon, he was through and he glanced at her through his curls.

He gave her the jar. " Apply this regularly. They'll fade in no time." He instructed. Maya nodded, collecting it from him.

" Thanks." She muttered, smiling appreciatively at him. He nodded, returning her smile. She placed it on the bedside table and watched as he stood, undressing. One by one, he removed his ceremonial wears till he was just left in his tunics—that was framed by his muscles. He disappeared into one of the doors in the chambers that she was beginning to guess was a bathroom.

When he appeared back to the bedroom, water was dripping from his hair and hands and his body was covered with a light robe. Maya's breath caught in her throat as she stared at him, his large muscles glistening from the water on it. He continued to dry himself, oblivious of her stares.

Not as oblivious, she realised when he caught her staring. " What?" He asked, sounding amused. Maya's cheeks burned as she lowered her gaze, her heard racing. " Nothing. You just look... Good."

" Thank you." He muttered. Her blush grew.

When he walked further away, she panicked. " A- Aren't you going to join me in bed?" She rushed out, her face burning. Dexter's paused, raising his brow in confusion. Maya felt like he was teasing her. She clenched her teeth, looking at everywhere but him. "Um... We've barely— we're yet to consummate the marriage." She bit out, so close to hiding her face under the sheets.

She heard a chuckle and her body grew even hotter, tingling in places she hadn't realized. " I was waiting for you." Came his reply, his voice low and husky. Then his foosteps as he approached. The roar in her ears grew louder, her heart thrumming. She sniffed a familiar cologne and her heart skipped a beat. " It was supposed to happen today. But you fainted and I saw... That." He muttered, his voice dropping at the last word.

" I'm fine now..." She replied, feeling breathless. She managed to look at him, trying to appear unfazed. " We should still do it anyway. People will start to ask questions if they find out we're yet to consummate this marriage."

" You're worried about what people will think?"

" Not necessarily..." But it was a great excuse. She didn't say that part out loud. She felt his body heat and her mind grew hazy. He was so close to her now. " Or... Don't you want me?"

He tilted her face to see him. " Don't say that. I've wanted you ever since I saw you." He groaned, his voice laced with desire, eyes stormy.

Somewhere in her most feminine regions began throbbing at the sound of his voice and she swallowed, staring at him. She's slowly starting to regret this. " Then take me." She whispered, her voice barely audible.

Even with her approval, Dexter still looked hesitant. What is he hesitant about? He lowered himself to he was eye-level with her. His eyes has never failed to captivate her and now, in the darkness of this room, they shone even brighter, revealing emotions he didn't try to hide.

" I'm worried." He finally said. " It might not be the way you think it will be."

Maya raised her brow. " Really?" She voiced out. Was it that different? No one has ever told her anything about it. Once again, they didn't care. And her previous memory wasn't anything to judge by. Other than the things she read in books and they were as vague as hell!

He nodded. " But it is what you want, is it not?"

Maya suddenly became unsure. She bit her lips, mulling it over. Did she really want this or did she just go crazy? Dexter leaned, grazing his lips on hers. Resting his head on her shoulders, he took in a deep breath.

" Forget I said that." He murmured. When he raised his head up to look at her, his eyes were glazed with desire. " Can I touch you? Please?"