Raphael squeezed his eyes shut, bracing himself for the inevitable. Muscles tense, breath held, he waited for the Empress to finally lay her hands on him.
Nothing happened.
When he dared to crack his eyes open, Heena was simply staring at him—then she suddenly burst into laughter. She leaned in, patted his cheek almost affectionately, and drawled, "Come on, sweetie, do you really think I'd dirty my hands on a beggar like you when I have so many servants to do it for me?"
His face went bloodless. "Y-you cannot do this," Raphael choked, tugging uselessly at the cuffs.
Heena only smiled wider.
She slid off the bed with unhurried grace, bare feet whispering against the floor, and clapped her hands once.
The door opened almost immediately.
