Gina's POV.
The guards backed me still, refusing to behold my nakedness. However, they raised the whips in their hands and began to hit me on my back repeatedly. I shut my eyes as though doing so could shut out the pain but I felt every strip of the whip down to my very bones but I refused to cry. I knew Lady Nydia wanted to hear me scream but I made no noise except to whimper occasionally. The beatings continued until a loud voice shouted, “WHAT IN HADES IS GOING ON HERE.”
The voice belonged to Lord Edvin.
“Oh my! Nydia, you really are something, aren't you?” questioned Lord Edvin.
“This is none of your business, you need to leave and by the way, you shall address me as Lady Nydia,” retorted Lady Nydia.
I still had my eyes shut even though the beatings had stopped. I felt nothing except the warm liquid that trickled down my back which I summed up to be blood.
“The money belongs to Lady Regina, you shall hand it over to her at once,” said Lord Edvin in a firm voice. I could detect anger in his tone but somehow he still managed to sound aristocratic.
“Alpha Dagen made me lady of this house and put me in charge of all its affairs; you cannot tell me what to do about the things under my charge,” voiced Lady Nydia.
“When he married Lady Regina, your right to be the lady of the palace ended. You are nothing more than a servant if that is the case,” came Lord Edvin's voice.
“Lord Edvin, you should leave the palace while I am asking nicely. If it is Alpha Dagen you seek, you know very well that he is not in the palace but away on royal business,” Lady Nydia's voice was almost threatening.
“Diane, take your lady to the infirmary. She needs urgent care,” commanded Lord Edvin.
“YOU WILL NOT MOVE A STEP FORWARD,” boomed Lady Nydia.
“Really? Do you think Alpha Dagen will be pleased with the way you treat the future mother of his child? If you beat her until she's at the brink of death, what will you have to say for yourself?” disappointment was heavy in Lord Edvin's voice.
“You have overstayed your welcome, Edvin,” said Lady Nydia.
“Edvin?” quipped Lord Edvin.
“Since you have no respect for me, I see no reason why I should respect your authority,” replied Lady Nydia.
“I see,” said Lord Edvin.
I opened my eyes now and saw Lord Edvin take a large towel. He bent down to my level and wrapped me with the towel after which he carried me over his shoulders.
“DO NOT LET THEM LEAVE THE ROOM,” commanded Lady Nydia.
“She is a real bitch, isn't she?” quipped Raven, my wolf.
“She is enjoying this,” was my response as I saw the pleasure in her eyes at my anguish.
“How did Dagen fall in love with such a psychopath?” questioned Raven.
I wondered this too but Dagen himself was not normal so it only made sense that he was in love with someone like Lady Nydia.
The guards stood at the door in response to Lady Nydia's order but Lord Edvin was not bothered by this; he simply pushed them to the side with their body.
At some point after that, I fainted due to exhaustion and loss of blood.
When I woke up hours later I realized that I was in my own bed and Diane was by my side holding a towel.
“My lady!” she exclaimed, pressing the towel she held on my forehead.
“What happened?” I asked as my memory was blank.
“You cannot remember?” she asked, holding surprise in her voice.
But it all came back; the field and then my room being turned inside out; the beatings I had suffered naked; Lord Edvin standing up for me…
“Lord Edvin, where is Lord Edvin?” I was alarmed. I believed helping me would have come with some consequences. Had Lady Nydia had him detained? I would not put it past her if she had. It was something she could do.
“Lord Edvin has returned to his home; he said you should not worry about anything. He took the books you borrowed; he said he'll return them to the library,” Diane told me.
“And Lady Nydia?” I quipped.
“Lady Nydia is angry but she is in her room. I believe Alpha Dagen is returning tonight. She has threatened us not to speak about today to him,” said Diane.
“How will she explain the bruises on my body?” I did not think there was a way to avoid Dagen finding out about what she had done to me today. However, I wondered why she cared so much if Dagen found out. It was not like he was going to be angry that she had molested me. He was blind to her faults anyway.
“Perhaps she shall keep him occupied so that he does not… uhm… you know,” she said and I understood what she meant.
Well, that could work. I was in no mood to see Alpha Dagen right now.
“Ah! Lord Edvin said he would send you a novel to occupy your mind while you are in recovery,” said Diane and I smiled. At least that was something to look forward to.
“Lady Nydia did not scold you, did she?” I asked Diane worried that she may have suffered because of me.
“Of course not,” came her response but her tone was somewhat weak.
“Diane?”
“I am fine, my lady. Lady Nydia is always telling the servants off. It is no big deal,” smiled Diane.
“Don't try to protect me if she asks you questions about me, okay?” I told her but she only gave me a weak smile.
“I mean it, Diane. I can stand anything but not seeing the people I care about get hurt for my sake,” I said with a firm tone so she could understand that I was serious.