Suddenly Fated (Wolves of Riverton #1)

20 . Esyn

20. Esyn

“Why? Why do this? You don’t need us. You don’t need that land. You just take some kind of odd joy in making everyone around you miserable!”

“Shut up!” a man exclaimed, and I heard the sound of a slap followed by Avelin’s cry. “Don’t you talk to me like that, Little Girl, or you’ll get much worse than a smack. You think you’re better than me now after living all hoity-toity over there for so long? Well you’re not. You’re still the same worthless little bitch that you always have been.”

From the sound of their voices, they were just outside the room. My head pounded horribly, and when I lifted it, I felt the room spinning, so I lay back down. I felt frozen, still wearing the tank top and shorts that I slept in when I was attacked, but I didn’t dare move again or open my eyes and let anyone know that I was awake. I didn’t know if anyone else was in here. I’d been placed on a bed, but I wasn’t bound or gagged. They likely thought I’d be unconscious for a long time.

“Please, Father. Have your war, but just let us go! Esyn did nothing to you! Why did you let your men hurt her?”

“Because you couldn’t be counted on to do what you promised me!” Blackwell bellowed.

What? What had Avelin promised to do?

“Agreeing to that was a mistake, Father. I shouldn’t have done it and I won’t be manipulated that way again.”

“Uh huh. You say that now, Little Girl, but let’s see what happens when that curly haired Beta gets here to save your day. You’ll sing a different tune then, I bet.”

“Don’t you dare lay a hand on him!”

“Or what? You gonna read me to death?” Blackwell guffawed. “Now get your ass back in there.”

I heard Avelin fall to the ground with another cry, and then the door slammed, a bolt sliding home.

Avelin quietly cried as she walked to the bedside and turned on a lamp. The light hitting the slit in my eyes felt like a knife and I moaned. “Please, off” I managed through gritted teeth.

“Esyn! Oh my goddess. I’m so glad you’re awake. I was so afraid!”

I opened my eyes again in the darkened room. Avelin gathered supplies next to me. She dipped a cloth into a basin of water and began wiping my face and neck.

“You have dried blood all over you,” she told me quietly. “How does your head feel?”

“Hurts.”

“Oh, honey, I’m so so sorry for this. He is a monster. I’ve got some pain killers here.” She helped me to sit up enough to take the pills. I drank the entire glass of cold water. Suddenly I felt a stab of fear, putting my hands to my stomach.

“The baby?”

“The baby is fine. That was the first thing I checked when they brought us here. You’ve got a lump and a gash on your head, but I don’t think it needs stitches. I want you to know, I’m not going to let him hurt you anymore. No matter what happens.”

“What did you promise him?” I whispered to her.

She didn’t say anything for a few long moments.

“Esyn, let’s not talk about it right now, ok? I need to explain and I want to do it when you don’t feel so awful.”

It didn’t matter anyway, because I was asleep again in seconds.

I woke up sometime later to silence. Daylight filled the room, the sun streaming in through a large window. When I lifted my head, the room no longer spun, but I still had quite a headache. I felt cold and ravenous with hunger. The baby kicked, probably in protest at my empty stomach. I felt relief at the movements.

Avelin lay on her side in the bed next to me, still asleep. I sat up and observed a fairly large bedroom, with quality furnishings but barren of rugs, curtains, or art. The bed felt soft, but the bedding was utilitarian, just a simple sheet, a green wool blanket, and two pillows in cases. A desk pushed up against the wall, but the straight-backed wooden desk chair stood by the window. A shelf next to the desk held lots of books, the only luxury or color in the room. The large fireplace yawned cold and empty.

“Welcome to my room,” Avelin said next to me. I turned to find her eyes open and on me.

“We’re at Blackwell’s house?

“Unfortunately, yes we are.”

“This is where you grew up? Did you take all of your things with you when you married Ari?”

“No, I took nothing but a quilt made by my mother and the clothes on my back. When it was time to officially sign the marriage contract, Father didn’t give me time to pack.”

I looked around, shivering. “It’s so austere.”

“It is, isn’t it. I never realized until I went to Riverton.”

“So, um. We’re locked in here?”

“We are.”

“Now what?”