A/N: TRIGGER WARNING (there's a lot so just be careful ig)

Fulke pushed Zephrine onto the bed. "There is one more part of the contract to get your dragon back. You don't actually get to go back to Yna. If you want her back, you'll stay here, and do exactly as I say, no questions asked."

"I am not comfortable with that." Zephrine tried to push Fulke away, tried to escape, but he pinned her down and began kissing her, sliding her out of her dress, despite her screaming her refusals.

"Well, you don't get to be comfortable with anything. I'll own you, which means that you don't get to express feelings anymore. Now, I don't know about you, but I feel like producing an heir. Right here, right now."

"Please, please, stop! I'm begging you to please stop!" Zephrine struggled under Fulke's weight. Fear like she had never felt it before spread all across her naked body. She was cold and hot at the same time, sweat freezing to her skin.

"Be quiet!" Fulke grabbed a dagger from the bedside table and held it to Zephrine's throat, silencing her.

Xavier barged into the room. Fulke was so startled by it, that Zephrine took the opportunity to wrench the dagger from his grip. "She told you to stop!" Beyond enraged, Xavier took Fulke by the collar and tossed him across the room. "WHEN A LADY TELLS YOU TO STOP, YOU STOP!"

The two began to throw punches at each other, Xavier missing drastically. Zephrine could only watch from her spot on the bed, sobbing uncontrollably, using her knees to hide her body. In the confusion, she saw Fulke reach into his pocket and pulled out a vial of clear liquid, uncorking it and launching it toward Zephrine.

She wailed as it hit the right side of her torso, feeling like fire was spreading across the area. She brought her hand up to where the liquid landed, only to feel nothing but boils and blisters.

"ZEPHRINE!" Xavier lost focus, running to her. "Are you okay?"

She didn't respond, just slid the dagger to him. "Behind- behind you!"

Xavier wheeled around just in time to see Fulke running toward him. The dagger buried itself in Fulke's neck, squirting blood everywhere. Zephrine found it hard to breathe, hard to stay awake. Blinding, searing pain danced along Zephrine's chest.

"Hey, hey, hey, I'm here." She felt Xavier wrap her up like a baby in his cloak and lift her up, holding her close to his chest, taking great care to avoid touching her right side. "Let's go home."

Zephrine stopped being able to see about halfway down the stairs. She could only imagine what Xavier felt on their way back from North Pyi, and if it was somehow worse than hers.

"I love you." Was all she heard Xavier say before she could no longer bear the pain, and fell unconscious.