Fate's Pawn: First Bite

Clunk, clunk clunk. I watched the scenery slog by and shifted in my seat. That was a mistake. Orion felt the movement and his hand snaked behind me. I forced myself to remain as passive as possible as his questing hand slipped under my shirt and grazed the side of my breast. It wasn’t like I could do anything to stop him. “Willow.” My head snapped up and the usual forced smile came to my lips. “Yes, M’lord?” “Ash,” the prince replied with that annoyed growl to his voice that set my heart fluttering. “Willow, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Ash? We’ve been friends forever, just because you’re a servant doesn’t change that. We are friends.” “Sire, I don’t think it’s wise for our Willow to call you by name around the others when we get there. They’re liable to get the wrong idea.” One full hand had covered one of my breasts now and his thumb flicked my n****e. I shifted further back into the shadows from the carriage and prayed as I always did that Ash didn’t notice. It’s not like he’s ever noticed anything that Orion has done to me, but I couldn’t bear to see the disgust in his eyes if he ever knew the thing I’ve done. “I don’t care what they think.” Ash rolled his eyes but turned his attention to outside again. “I’m not traveling all this way to see what anyone else thinks about my friends. They should be happy enough that we’re going to go help them.” I bit my lip for a moment but I couldn’t let the comment go unchallenged. “If we didn’t meet with the others, we’ll just have these same problems. The monster attacks have been bolder, and not just limited to the night any longer. They’re getting stronger.” I bit back a cry of pain as I felt the nails dig into my soft sensitive flesh. Orion hated when I talked out. “Sire, don’t pay any attention to Willow. What does she know? Let’s just meet with them, and then deny our assistance. They should be honored we’re coming so far to even listen to them. Our home is quite safe from silly wives’ tales like monsters.” The longer he talked the longer he dug in. I know he was trying to teach me a lesson. Not a lesson I’d ever absorb. I had given up much, but he wasn’t ever going to break my spirit. I’d never let someone like him do that to me. As the pain intensified and he gave me that look I knew I would be expected to endure punishment later. It would be worse if I didn’t apologize, but I wasn’t about to betray my convictions. “They will eventually come to our kingdom too, Ash. They’re terrifying. The stories I’ve heard-” “Stories.” Orion nodded. “They’re just that. Legends, myths, folk tales even, none of it is true. If anything they might have a wildlife problem. Please, Willow, be quiet and let the adults talk.” “Orion!” Ash’s voice was a whip as he leveraged a glare at his adviser. The pain faded as he withdrew his hand away from me. Every now and again something would startle him enough that he wouldn’t dare try to control me around the prince, but the times were few. He relished in my pain because he has always known how I’ve felt about Prince Ashwyn the ruler of my home. “Apologies, Sire. I only meant to stop her prattle.” He pointed out of the window of our clunky carriage as the animals pulled it lugged along. “Look, Willow. This kingdom has a far greater variety of flowers and fauna than ours does. A benefit of not having all that coldness around, the things that can bloom.” I ignored him but faked my smile as I nodded along to his words. I was expected to be easily wowed by him. It was one of the reasons that he hated it so much when I spoke my mind. The one great thing about this trip was I was finally going to see some real horses capable of speed. I was bored to death of our strong sturdy horses. They were gorgeous with the fur around their hooves, but I wanted something with even greater speed. I wanted to go so fast that I could forget who I was and the life I led. I just wanted to forget. “Sire,” the voice of the driver drifted through the open window. “The horses are acting strange. They’re slowing down and trying to stop. I don’t know what else I can do to get them to go again.” Orion scowled. I felt a pang of pity for the animals outside. I knew that look too well, and what was to come of it. As he stood up and went for the door, I was faster. I put a stilling hand on his and saw the rage flash in his eyes. I’d pay for this later, oh well. I was already going to have to pay for my smart mouth anyway. What’s another punishment to endure if it meant saving those that didn’t deserve it? “Let me see to them. Maybe something is wrong.” Orion snorted. “You’re being foolish, Willow. You should sit down.” The last two words were stressed but I was not about to let him abuse the animals if I could stop it. “Orion, let her try. Willow has quite the way with animals.” Ash smiled at me and the pang inside intensified. How I loved him. He was so sweet and kind, I was beyond lucky he was my best friend. But I couldn’t stop the desire for us to be more. No matter how much Orion tortured me, I’d endure it for Ash. “Thank you, Ash.” From the hateful glance that Orion shot my way, I knew I would pay for that simple word with my entire body. I would be lucky if I didn’t bleed this time.