Chapter 46: Touch her again!
The first blow caught Astrid across the cheek and sent her stumbling sideways. Her shoulder hit the wall, and the tray she had been carrying clattered to the floor, scattering crumbs across the corridor.
"On your knees."
Astrid did not move fast enough and so Willow’s hand closed around her hair and yanked downward, forcing her to the cold floor. Astrid’s knees hit the ground with a crack that shot pain up her thighs.
"I have been summoning you for days." Willow snapped as she circled Astrid.
"You think you can ignore me? You think because your mistress has been warming the princes’ beds, you are above answering to me?"
Astrid kept her eyes on the floor.
"I have duties to Lady Ayla," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I cannot leave my post whenever I am called."
The slap cut her off mid-sentence.
Astrid’s head snapped to the side, and she tasted copper on her tongue.
"You will speak when I tell you to speak," Willow said. "And you will answer my questions. Now. What is Ayla planning?"
"Nothing." Astrid’s voice trembled. "She plans nothing. She spends her days with the princes and her nights in her chambers. She tells me nothing of importance."
Willow’s hand shot out and grabbed Astrid by the chin, forcing her head up.
"Liar."
"I am not lying."
"If you are not lying then you are useless to me."
She slapped Astrid again. Harder.
"I asked you to do one thing... one thing and that is to keep your eyes and ears open. Report back to me and you cannot even do that?"
"I am not a spy." Astrid’s voice was thick with tears. "I am her friend."
"Friend?" Willow laughed. "You are an Omega. You do not get to have friends. You get to have masters. And I am yours whether you like it or not."
She drew her hand back and struck Astrid across the mouth.
"Do you remember what I promised you?" Willow crouched down, bringing her face level with Astrid’s. "Your little sister. Sweet thing with her pretty blue eyes. The kind of pretty that men pay good coin for. I could have her shipped to the border camps before the week is out. They would use her until there was nothing left. And it would be your fault."
A sob escaped Astrid’s throat.
"Tell me what Ayla is planning," Willow said. "Tell me what she knows about my father and what her mother has with him. Tell me, and I will let your sister live in peace."
Astrid closed her eyes, tears slipped down her cheeks.
"I swear I know nothing," she whispered.
Willow’s face twisted. She grabbed Astrid by the hair again and slammed her head against the wall then she drew her hand back for another blow before a voice froze her mid- swing.
"What do you think you are doing?"
Willow lowered her hand slowly and turned, her lips curling into a smile that did not reach her eyes.
Ayla stood at the end of the corridor with the three princes flanking her.
Willow smoothed her dress and lifted her chin.
"I am merely disciplining a maid who refused to obey and respect her betters." She gestured at Astrid, who knelt on the floor, her face swollen and blood running from her nose and the corner of her mouth. "This silly girl bumped into me and has refused to apologize."
Ayla’s gaze dropped to Astrid.
"Is this true?" Ayla asked.
Astrid looked up.
"No, my lady." Astrid responded. "I did not..."
"Liar." Willow cut her off. "You see how she speaks? With such disrespect. She needs to be taught her place."
Ayla stepped forward, placing herself between Willow and Astrid.
"If Astrid has offended you in any way, I apologize on her behalf. But you cannot keep beating her. She is my lady in waiting, and I will discipline her myself for whatever discourtesy she has shown you."
Willow laughed.
"Ayla, you seem to have such a high opinion of yourself when in truth, you are no better in station than this maid you have chosen to defend. You are both Omegas. The only difference is that the Moon made a mistake and tied you to three powerful men. That does not make you their equal."
Ayla did not flinch at her words.
"Regardless of what you think of me," Ayla said, "Astrid is under my protection. I will handle her discipline myself."
"No." Willow’s smile widened. "I will have her flogged as punishment. Guards!"
Two guards stepped forward from their posts along the wall. Their hands reached for Astrid’s arms.
"You will do no such thing," Ayla said.
Willow’s eyes glittered with malice. "Why? Do you want to be flogged as well in her stead? Do not push me, sister."
She turned to the guards.
"Grab her."
The guards reached for Astrid, but before their hands could close around her...
"Enough." Cassian thundered.
He stepped forward, blue eyes hard as they fixed on Willow.
"You have every right to be angry at whatever the maid has done to you," he said. "But I would like to hear from her what happened."
Willow’s composure flickered. Her eyes darted from Cassian to Damon, who had pushed off the wall and now stood with his arms crossed, his amber eyes watching her with cold amusement.
"My prince, how can you say that?" Willow’s voice rose, taking on a shrill edge. "You would take the word of a lowly Omega slave over mine? I am the daughter of your father’s most trusted advisor. What has this pack become when the word of a servant carries more weight than mine?"
Damon let out a dramatic sigh.
"For goddess’ sake, Willow, the girl will speak, so shut up."
Willow’s head snapped toward Damon, her eyes flashing with fury. "You cannot speak to me that way. I am..."
"I just did." Damon’s voice was flat. "If you want to make something of it, I am right here."
Willow’s jaw tightened. She knew better than to challenge Damon directly. She had seen what he was capable of, had heard the stories of what he had done to those who crossed him. She folded her arms across her chest and pressed her lips into a thin line.
Cassian turned to Astrid, who was still on her knees, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs.
"Astrid," he said, his voice gentler now. "Look at me."
Astrid raised her head slowly. Her left eye was bruising, the skin around it puffing and darkening.
"Tell me what happened." he said.
Astrid looked at Cassian then Damon and finally Ayla.
"Please..." she whispered, tears clogging her words. "Please save my sister."