Chapter 9: The Enemy's Daughter

Astrid’s POV

I spent the following days confined in that room, enduring the cold, drinking the scarce water that seeped through the walls, and without eating a single bite. I did not see another soul during that time, which made me believe they had forgotten about me.

I felt weaker with each passing day, convinced that I would die there, alone and abandoned. Then, suddenly, the door behind me began to move. The sound alerted me, and within seconds I was on my feet, running toward the far end of the room.

When the door finally opened, it was not that man who appeared, but two young women. They entered without hesitation, looking at me with curiosity for a moment, which was soon replaced by disappointment—and then anger.

It did not surprise me in the least that by now everyone knew who I was, which made me their enemy. The truth was that I understood how they felt. They had probably lost someone they loved in the battle, all because of my father.

All I could do was press my back against the wall, trying to put as much distance between us as possible, afraid of what they might do to me.

How could I not be, when my entire life I had been raised to hate and, above all, to fear what they were? I knew very well how dangerous and savage werewolves could be.

I waited for them to approach, to attack me—but it did not happen.

—They want you to wash—one of the young women said, forcefully placing a bucket of water in the center of the room and tossing a piece of soap at my feet.

—And to wear this—the other continued, throwing a dress beside the bucket, which was quickly soaked by the water spilled across the floor.

—Be quick. He wants to see you as soon as possible, and you cannot look like this—ordered the first, scanning me from head to toe with disdain.

—Don’t make us wait. We can do it for you if necessary—the other warned, just before heading for the door, followed by her companion.

Only once they were gone did I allow myself to move away from the wall, if only a little. I knew that when they referred to “him,” they meant the man with whom I had made the deal, the one I had come to believe was some sort of general—or perhaps a noble.

I knew the last thing I needed was to anger him, so I did exactly as I was told, just as I always had.

I picked up the soap at my feet and slowly approached the dress. I did not expect the water to be warm—I had never known such a luxury. Still, it was so cold that my fingers quickly grew numb and painful. Even so, I washed myself.

As soon as I finished, I put on the dress. It was the most beautiful garment I had ever seen in my life, made of a soft, lustrous pearl-colored fabric, with a red sash at the waist. It fell gently to the floor, its long sleeves wide and elegant.

I had barely finished dressing when the door opened and the two young women returned. Without a word, they approached me. One of them pulled the dress closed with excessive force, tightening the ribbons at my back until it nearly stole my breath. The other yanked harshly at my hair, attempting to smooth it, but it was a complete mess. I could do nothing but endure it as she pulled so hard it felt as though my hair were being torn from my scalp. Finally, she secured it with a metal pin, jamming it in without the slightest care.

—My father…?—I began to ask.

I knew it was not a good idea to ask her of all people, but I needed to know if he was still alive. I needed to be sure that he had kept his word.

—Your father is a true monster, but don’t worry—he’s still alive. At least long enough to suffer for the rest of his miserable life—she whispered in my ear, the same one tightening my dress.

—Now move. There’s no time to waste—she ordered, pushing me forward.

As we left the room, I saw two guards standing watch at the door. They began to walk behind us as we moved down the narrow corridor beyond.

The farther we went, the more uneasy I became. And how could I not be, when everyone we passed looked at me with pure hatred in their eyes? My fate felt more uncertain than ever, and that only made everything worse.

I could not help but notice how vast the place was—enormous. The farther we advanced, the more royal guards I saw. A thought began to form in my mind, though it was not until we stopped that I fully understood where I was.

Before me stood a massive door, its wood carved with an emblem I recognized from one of my father’s maps. It was the emblem of the kingdom of Fangaría: two wolves facing one another, one carved into each door.

In that instant, I knew I was standing inside the palace of Fangaría.

When they had given me that beautiful dress, I had thought it was meant to be my wedding gown. Now I understood it was my shroud. I tried to step back, but the guards did not allow me to move even a single step.

—You won’t escape this, scum—one of them sneered.

Then, suddenly, a woman appeared at the other end of the corridor. She was mature, yet strikingly beautiful, with blonde hair gathered neatly and an imposing, regal bearing. She was undeniably strong.

She walked straight toward me, followed by two women who appeared to be her ladies-in-waiting. I wanted to know who she was, but I did not even have time to ask before everyone around me bowed.

—Your Majesty—they greeted her reverently.

The moment I heard that, it felt as though I had been struck in the chest. She was the queen, and realizing that left me truly shaken.

As soon as she reached me, she slapped me across the face, sending me crashing to the floor. It was not the hardest blow I had ever received—far from it. I had endured countless beatings. But this one carried something else, something beyond pain.

I slowly lifted my face to look at her standing over me.

—Get up—she ordered firmly, without even looking at me.

I did not have the chance to try. The guards grabbed me by the shoulders and hauled me to my feet. Once I was standing before her again, she reached out and seized my chin with crushing force, causing me sharp pain.

Not only did she not care, she seemed to relish it.

—The blood that runs through your veins is a poison that should be eradicated from the face of the earth—she said, staring directly into my eyes.

I thought she was about to kill me right there. After all, I was the daughter of her husband’s murderer, and she had every right to seek revenge. Yet, in that very instant, she simply turned away.

—Open the doors—she ordered.

Moments later, the doors before us began to move slowly, revealing a scene I had never expected to face.