Page 44 of Losing My Siren Luna

Cherum shrugs, “You are a big girl now, Lass. I would never tell my Luna she couldn’t enjoy a bit of liquor infused cream in her coffee if she wished for it.”

I don’t get drunk. I tried in the past to help numb the betrayal pains, but was never able to. I doubt this will do the trick now, and if I’m to spend the day with Lachlan, maybe being a little loose thanks to a bit of alcohol will help, so I don’t have another panicked episode like last night might be needed.

I was about to try it, pressing the mug to my lips, when I heard a lovely voice behind me.

“Good morning, Delta. Good morning, Luna,” a pretty girl with blonde hair and a sweet expression is smiling warmly at us as she slowly walks by. She seems familiar somehow, but I can’t place her.

She stops, bowing her head respectfully to us, and that’s when I realize that she is one of the women from last night. One of the girls from the brothel that Lachlan invited to our reception.

Now that I’m paying attention, I can tell by her scent that she is a werewolf. Val growls in my head, not liking her invading on our pleasant morning, but I don’t think we should condemn her just yet for ourhusband’smisdeeds.

“Good morning,” I smiled back, trying to be as friendly as possible.

Her cheeks redden, making her faint freckles stand out, and even Val’s guard dropped at her shy expression. Her eyes are kind, unlike that other woman’s from last night. I don’t see any malice or ill-intent in her expression or body language.

She isn’t even dressed as a bar-maiden right now. She is in a simple tunic that covers even her throat and a heavy skirt, leaving no impression of her profession.

“Yasmin, I thought we made it clear that you all would not be permitted in the castle any longer?”

Her expression drops, her eyes going wide as she looks embarrassingly from the delta, to his warriors, and then momentarily resting on me before turning her eyes to the floor.

“I’m sorry, Delta. I was told to leave the, uh, brothel this morning and didn’t know I couldn’t come here. I thought that order was for Leona only. I’ll leave.”

“Wait,” I reached out and stopped her before she could turn to the door.

On closer inspection, with her head bowed more and her shirt hanging a bit lower on her throat, I could see bruising that looked much like hand prints. I pull her toward me, wanting to see if my suspicions are right, and pull her sleeves up, noticing bruising around her wrists as well.

She gasped slightly, pulling her hand free from mine with a worried expression.

The men who were all sitting awkwardly, waiting for her to leave, stood from their chairs to see what I was looking at, one of them even growling when his eyes landed on the bruises. Cherum looks worried, holding his hand out for hers, which she hesitantly gives him after a few nervous seconds debating what to do.

He pushes her sleeve up again, and then sighs heavily at the bruises. They are a nasty purple, with claw marks and silvery veins spotting them.

She was restrained by wolfsbane not long ago. That’s why the bruising isn’t being healed by her wolf.

“What happened, lass? Who did this?” Cherum asks, pulling her sleeve back down.

She shrugs, “It doesn’t matter. They left town early this morning.”

My heart contracts for her. I saw the panic in her face, and know she fears telling the truth, and would rather leave now than do so. I know her pain all too well.

“Sit with us, Yasmin,” I told her, cutting off whatever question Cherum was about to ask.

A man will never be able to understand that kind of pain, and I know his constant questioning may hurt her more than help her, especially if she can not get justice for what was done to her.

“And do not go back to that place again. I will need more handmaidens, correct?” I looked at Cherum, raising my eyebrows, challenging him to tell me otherwise.

“Uh, that would be up to Alpha,” he says nervously, rubbing the back of his head.

I don’t care what kind of bribe or promise I have to make with Lachlan this time, I won’t subject this woman to more pain by sending her back to a place where she is being abused.

“Then I will deal with my husband later,” I say with full confidence, even though I don’t necessarily feel it when it comes to Lachlan.

Cherum laughs dryly, shaking his head with a big smile on his face. Maurice and Percy part, and Percy pats the seat beside him on the bench.

“Come sit, Yasmin, and we will get you some breakfast and some of my special coffee.”

Chapter 15