Devastation: A Beauty and the Beast Novel (24 page)

My lips thinned as I recalled how many times
she had sent me to the baker to try to trade.

“His solution is that I keep toiling in your
kitchen. He knows that won’t work once the babe comes. What happens
when we run out of coin? His father plans to remarry so we can’t go
back,” she said as we walked through the gates.

I had a moment’s unease leaving the safety
of the estate, but remained silent.

“Edmund keeps telling me we need to give it
time and refuses to discuss other options. When I press him, he
only becomes upset with me.”

Empathizing with Edmund’s strained patience,
I continued to walk and wait for her to arrive at her point. We
cleared the dense trees that surrounded the estate and moved
through the outer woods along the road.

“You can imagine my relief when Lord Ruhall
announced your engagement last night.”

My insides chilled. She meant to use me
again. But how?

“Blye had hoped it would be her; but as long
as he chose one of my sisters, I don’t mind.”

“How does our marriage ease your mind?”

“As you’ve said, you’ll be with child soon
enough, and with our mother gone, you will need my help with the
birth. Certainly, you’ll want me closer once your time comes. And,
Edmund’s talents are wasted in the village. I’ve heard many estates
in the South pay handsomely for a private baker. Working for Lord
Ruhall would be his dream come true.”

Edmund’s dream? I doubted that.

“With such a large, vacant manor, we could
even have our own suite of rooms. I don’t expect you to pay Edmund
the annual forty gold he would earn in the South. Thirty-five would
do well.”

She meant to live at the manor and have Lord
Ruhall pay Edmund an exorbitant amount of money the estate couldn’t
afford. And why? Because she was worried the business at the bakery
wouldn’t pick up. I could understand her concern to a point and
might have been moved to grant a reasonable request. But not
this.

“No.”

She stopped walking and turned toward me. We
stood just on the edge of the tree line. In the distance, I could
see the village.

“What do you mean no? It’s a fair wage.”

“Does Edmund know you are discussing this
with me?”

She grimaced and a flush colored her
cheeks.

“I thought not. Go home, Bryn. Spend time
with Edmund. Show him you love him, and stop scheming.”

“I should stop scheming? You had better look
at yourself. According to what Mrs. Wimbly said, you’ve been
playing the Lady since you arrived there. Your plan to ingratiate
yourself may seem to have worked for now, but Lord Ruhall will see
through you eventually and know you’re no better than the rest of
us. I wish it would have been Blye. She’s not nearly as
selfish.”

My mouth popped open as she whirled and
stomped away from me.

“Selfish,” I said, following her. “I went to
the very baker who tried to rape me because you asked it. I’ve
walked the estate and set traps for meat, so you could hoard the
coin that Father gave you to purchase food. I’ve been called a
whore, though we both know it’s not me who deserves the title.” Her
face flushed scarlet. “And still, I spoke up on your behalf when
you needed employment. I’ve done much and more for you, Bryn. What
have you ever done for me?”

I stopped following and stared after her as
she hurried away from me. We’d almost reached the village. From the
shadow of the smithy, I saw movement. Bryn didn’t notice it as she
passed but then Bryn didn’t notice much unless it benefited
her.

Splane stepped further into the light and
watched Bryn walk by. I backed into the shadows of the trees, then
pivoted on my heel. Where was Tennen?

Chapter 11

A healthy dose of self-preservation had me
picking up my skirts and running. Tennen’s words from the night
before rang in my ears, and I cursed myself for a fool. I should
have asked Tam to follow me. Better yet, I should have stopped at
the gate and told Bryn I wouldn’t walk further.

Busy with my self-recrimination, I wasn’t
prepared for Tennen when he stepped from behind a tree. I ran right
into his extended arm, and the impact sent me flying backward. I
landed so hard, it knocked the breath from me; and my lungs refused
to inhale.

My mouth opened and closed like a fish out
of water as he dragged me by the arm further into the trees. My
vision danced from lack of air, and my heart pounded fiercely in my
chest. I finally managed a weak inhale just as he dropped my
arm.

Tennen fell upon me, his expression twisted
with hate. The impact robbed me of my hard won breath, and I weakly
struggled to get out from under him. He caught my hands and held
them tight within one of his.

“I heard what you said to Bryn. I think it
will be my babe that grows in your belly. Just like with your
sister’s.”

His other hand started pulling at my skirt.
As it hitched higher, baring my legs to the air, I mouthed my
denial. I had no air to speak it. Thrashing beneath him caused his
grip to tighten painfully on my wrists. Heedlessly, I tugged
harder, trying to free them.

He leaned on me to pin me with his weight,
then set his mouth near my ear.

“I’m not like the baker. I won’t fail.
You’ll bleed on my shaft.” He laughed. “If you haven’t already bled
on someone else’s.”

I panted with fear.

His grasping hand found my bared thigh and
gripped it tight. He pulled it to the side to settle his hips
firmly between my legs. His coarse pants abraded my tender skin.
When he let go of my thigh, he pulled back just enough to fumble
with his pants. His harsh breaths filled my ear as I continued to
buck and tried to free my hands. Twice our hips connected, and I
felt the bulge of his desire. Nausea and terror filled me.

Desperate, I turned my head, looking for
something, anything, to help me. No branch lay nearby. No beast,
either. I wailed, a keening sound thick with my despair, before the
sight of his ear cut the sound short. I opened my mouth, bared my
teeth, and darted forward. Clamping down on his ear, I held tight
as he grunted then yelled.

He stopped fumbling with his pants and
forgot my hands in his desperation to pull me from his ear. The
moment my hands were free, I released my hold and shoved at him
with all my might.

He flew from me, drifting up and away. I
blinked, confused by my strength and disoriented in my fear and
desperation. But, I wasn’t the cause of his removal.

Alec stood behind Tennen, lifting him from
me by the back of his shirt. Tam hurried to my side and said
something I didn’t hear. I stared as Tennen flailed for a moment
then found his feet. A disconnected part of me registered Tam
discreetly lowering my skirt. Mostly, Alec’s rage-twisted face held
my attention.

Before Tennen could stand, Alec changed his
hold to the front of Tennen’s shirt and drove his fist into
Tennen’s stomach. Tennen’s drawn moan of pain didn’t stop Alec,
though. His next punch broke Tennen’s nose.

Tam gently assisted me to a sitting
position, which helped clear my head.

“Lord Ruhall,” Tam said. “You’ll kill the
boy.”

Alec didn’t seem to hear as he drew back
once more.

“Alec.”

I didn’t know why I spoke his name, but he
stopped and turned his head to look at me.

“I want to go home.”

It wasn’t until I said it that I realized
just how desperately I wanted not to return to the manor, but to
Alec. The one who’d always made me feel safe whether beast or man.
Tears welled in my eyes, and a soft sob escaped me.

Alec thrust Tennen to the ground and came to
my side. He squatted beside me and gently smoothed my hair from my
face. In his gaze, I saw the love and worry he held for me.

He carefully lifted me into his arms then
set out toward the estate. I didn’t look over his shoulder at Tam,
who had Tennen by the arm. Instead, I rested my cheek against
Alec’s chest and closed my eyes.

When we neared the estate, he started
issuing commands.

“Take Tennen to the Head. Get Egrit. Benella
needs her help to wash and change.”

He mounted the stairs as he spoke, and I was
certain he left Tam and Mr. Crow scurrying in his wake.

We’d barely entered my room when Egrit
arrived. Alec carefully set me on my feet. I trembled but stood on
my own. My mind was blank as I watched him walk out the door.

Egrit didn’t speak as she helped me from my
dress. I shook too badly to do it on my own. When I stood in my
underthings, she wet a cloth and washed my face, arms, and hands.
Then she knelt and wiped the backs of my calves. It was the part of
me that had touched the ground when Tennen had yanked up my skirt.
I trembled harder.

“Did he...?”

I shook my head and closed my eyes. He
hadn’t, but I could still feel the press of his hips against mine.
Tears started anew.

When no dirt remained, Egret pulled a
nightgown from my wardrobe and helped me into it.

Once she got me in bed and under my thick
covers, she left. The door remained closed for no more than a
moment before it opened again. Alec strode across the room and sat
on the bed beside me. He pulled me into his arms and just held me
as I continued to cry.

I was so angry. At Bryn. At Blye. At Tennen.
At the whole Coalre family, really. And, at Rose. How was the North
any better than it had been before the enchantment?

Alec’s hand ran over my hair again and
again. I knew he meant to soothe me. And, he did. Eventually, the
tears stopped, and my hitched breathing slowed.

Safe, I slept.

Dreams plagued me. In them, I ran through
the trees from a monster toward the beast, neither one gaining or
receding. My heart raced until gentle hands and words pulled me
from my terror-filled world.

“You’re safe. I’m here with you.” Alec
stroked my hair and held me close. The dream faded, and I fell into
a peaceful sleep.

I woke sweat-dampened and alone. Frowning, I
looked around the room for Alec. The sun had passed its zenith, and
a tray waited beside the bed. Sitting up slowly, I winced at my
sore wrists and aching legs. I swallowed hard and refused to think
about why I was sore. Instead, I eased from the bed, ignored the
tray, and put on the remaining clean dress that waited in my
wardrobe. The one I’d worn was gone.

With a steadying breath, I left the room and
walked the familiar hall. Each step anchored me. I belonged here,
with Alec. Not because I thought myself better than anyone else,
but because I wanted to make the North a better place. A safer
place. My home.

When I reached the stairs, I heard raised
voices.

“—harmless prank.”

“Prank?” Alec’s shout echoed through the
halls. I hurried toward the sound. It came from the entry. “He
attacked her, and this wasn’t the first time.”

Alec was speaking of Tennen.

“He’s always liked the girl.”

I recognized the smith’s voice and started
to descend the steps.

“He only went too far trying to get her
attention. I’ll sit him down and speak to him,” Tennen’s father
said.

“It’s too late for paternal talks,” Alec
said just before Mr. Coalre came into view.

When Mr. Coalre saw me, he flushed. Alec
turned and met me at the bottom of the steps. Behind him, Mr.
Coalre took two steps toward us.

“Benella, Tennen isn’t a criminal. Do the
right thing.”

His words struck me like a blow, and my
steps slowed. The right thing? What did he think was right? To let
Tennen go? Of course Mr. Coalre would think that. After all, he had
gotten away with so much. My thoughts collided as Alec scowled over
his shoulder at the man.

“Yes,” I said half to myself, “I will do the
right thing.” I focused on Mr. Coalre.

“Go, get Sara.”

Alec’s shocked gaze flew to meet mine.

“Alec, we need to go to the Water and speak
with the Head.”

Mr. Coalre didn’t even thank me before he
rushed out the door.

Alec held out a hand as I reached the third
step. I wrapped my fingers around his.

“Why, Benella? He deserves to be punished
for what he did.”

Alec looked angry and concerned. It was only
right. He’d saved me from Tennen so many times.

“He does,” I agreed. “But there are truths
you do not know.”

“Then tell me.”

“Patience,” I said softly, alighting from
the last step. I wrapped my arms around his waist and held him
close. He embraced me in return. Behind me, I heard footfalls on
the stairs.

“She is well, Mr. Hovtel,” Alec said without
releasing me. “She wants to go to the Water and speak to the Head
on Tennen’s behalf.”

I didn’t disagree.

* * * *

“Eat,” Alec said, handing me a meat pie
before we cleared the gate.

My stomach twisted with nerves, but I took
the food and nibbled on it. We continued a distance in silence
while Alec watched me closely.

“What are you thinking?” he said softly.

“That I’d rather not go to the Water.”

“We can turn around.”

“No,” I said with a shake of my head. “We
must go.” I needed to make the North safer in order to have a
future here.

Too soon, we stopped before the home of the
Head. Alec opened the door, stepped out, and turned to offer me a
hand. As I descended, the door behind Alec opened. I recognized Mr.
Pactel, the Head, immediately. Alec kept my hand on his arm as he
turned to greet the man.

“Welcome, Lord Ruhall. It’s good to finally
meet you in person. A pity it’s under such poor circumstances.” He
turned to me.

“Miss Hovtel,” he said. Nothing more.

But really, what could one say to a woman
twice almost raped? Any attempt at condolence would sound inane.
However, I found it interesting that he came to greet Alec
personally.