In front of Weston.
I silently plead for him to leave, so I can have a moment to sit in my humiliation before having to go out onto the deck and be demeaned by the rest of the crew, scrubbing the boards by hand so everyone can gawk at me.
He doesn’t leave.
The clink of his belt buckle is the only sound, and I wonder why he needs to wear an empty scabbard all day. I don’t actually care what he does with it. I just need him to get out of this room.
Right now.
“Most men who have a woman in their bed aren’t exactly happy if she calls out another man’s name.”
“Oh gods,” I groan and drop my face in my hands. “Please stop talking,” I beg, a growl lighting on the last syllable. His boots pound on the wooden floor as he heads toward the door.
“Sounds like you need to work out some frustration,” he says, the words harsh, almost threatening. “Get dressed and meet me on deck. You have two minutes.”
He steps out the door, leaving it open for me to follow behind him, and I listen as his boots stomp down the hall. There’s pounding on a door, some muffled voices, then another door closes.
It is only moments before Sig’s voice calls out repeatedly, as she moves through the belly of the ship. “All hands on deck!”
Now that I’m alone, I pull the damp shirt off and slide mine over my head before Sig’s head peeks into the room. “Hurry and head up to the main deck.”
“Yeah, I know,” I huff, bending down to lace my boots.
She steps in closer and leans against the doorjamb, crossing her arms over her chest.
“What’s up with you?” Her eye trail over me and land on my face, and a single eyebrow raises as she takes in my flustered appearance.
“Nothing.” My foot slams into the other boot.
She tries to hide a smile with pursed lips and nods. “You better move faster than that.” She disappears back down the hallway just as I stand and straighten my clothes before following her to the main deck, unsure of what I am going to find when I get there.
Weston is right. I do have a lot of frustration I need to work out, but now most of it is directed at him. He’s humiliated me repeatedly, both publicly and privately, and he will not get away with it. I may be just anyone here in Dawnlin, but I’m still a fucking princess, and I will not tolerate him treating me like I’m deserving of indignity.
I just hope he keeps his mouth shut. I don’t need anyone else’s judgment, and I definitely don’t need Weston telling anyone what happened in that room.
Breathing out some of the anger in prolonged exhales, I step out onto the deck, standing with the rest of the crew already assembled there.
Something tells me this morning is only going to keep getting better.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Energy hums through everyone gathered on the main deck as we wait for word of what is happening. Weston and Sig aren’t on deck, having disappeared somewhere below. I stand alone off to the side, as the Castaways nearest me chatter amongst themselves. After the morning I’ve had, I don’t feel like interacting with anyone.
“Lennox! Lennox!” Fin’s call catches my attention, and I look up to find him bouncing toward me, a small bow and quiver in his hands. He is the only exception to my current mood. There’s nothing that could keep me from wanting to be around Fin.
“Look what mister Weston gave me!” He waves it up at my face and grins.
“Wow, Fin. That’s even better than the one you had before.” The bow is the right size for his body, probably the right tension too. It won't be as difficult to handle, unlike when he tried to shoot mine.
“Yeah, but that one was yours. This one ismine.” His face lights up and his eyes sparkle as he brings it closer to his chest. “I wish I could show Roley. He would want one too.” A brief glimpse of sadness flashes over his face, before he is right back to happy Fin.
I tousle his hair with a smile. “I’m sure he would.”
“I asked mister Weston if he had one for you too, but he said you can’t have one yet. He said he can’t trust you.” He looks up at me, confused. “Why can’t mister Weston trust you, Lennox? I trust you. You always take care of me.”
I crouch down to his level. “He probably doesn’t trust me because I’ve tried to get out of here too many times,” I say.
“But you said you’d be good!” he whines.
