Chapter Three

“It was my mistress, sir,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

For a moment, Arrow went silent. His hand, still cupping her face, stiffened.

Without thinking, Lorna stepped back, his hand falling away. Panic rushed through her. What had she done?

His face was unreadable, an unknown expression clouding his features.

“Does she hit you like that all the time? Or the other maids too?” he asked with a slight frown on his face, tugging at his brows.

Arrow stared at the mark on Lorna's face, he'd known Lady Stella had a temper but this was different. It was intentional. Violent.

“I..I did something wrong, sir. I deserve the punishment,” Lorna replied softly, eyes lowered, silently praying he wouldn't mention any of it to her mistress.

“No one deserves to be hit like this. Like a slave.” he said, giving himself a mental note to confront his step mother. What kind of man stands by while this happens?

She had never laid a hand on her own daughter, why was someone else's child treated this way? These women and men worked for her, day and night and this was how she repaid their hard work and loyalty?

Lorna couldn't help but stare at him, mute with surprise. Like a slave?

“But we are slaves…..since she bought us.”

The words slipped out before she could stop them. She gasped, her eyes widening as she clapped a hand over her mouth, terrified.

She hadn't meant to say that aloud, especially not in front of her mistress's son.

Arrow stared at her in disbelief. Bought? In this modern age? Who still sold slaves? Was his step mother involved in illegal transactions?

He had overheard murmurs about it a year ago but he had turned a deaf ear to the rumors, ignoring them as nonsense.

Lady Stella was well known across the country for her farm business and animal rearing. Of course she was meant to have workers, maids and male servants, but buying slaves?

“You can leave.” he said, his voice oddly cold as he moved away from her, back to where he had been sitting down earlier.

Lorna stood baffled and confused.

Why was he sending her away? Had she offended him?

One minute, he was caring and concerned about her wellbeing. The other, he was now being a jerk.

She searched his face for an answer but found none.

After a hesitant pause, she forced herself to speak. “Lady Stella…instructed that I stay here to be of service to you, until tomorrow. So, I cannot leave.”

“Well I'm no longer in need of your services, Lorna. You can leave.” he said, powering down his devices without a second glance.

“No, sir.” she replied firmly, standing her ground. “I'll get into trouble if my mistress hears about this.”

Arrow stared at the young lady who stood before him. She stood her ground, refusing to budge, a nervous twitch betraying her fear but still, she didn't move.

He couldn't quite name the feeling knotting in his chest, but one thing was certain, it unnerved him. Whatever it was, it gnawed at his composure, urging him toward a boundary he wasn't ready to cross.

He needed her gone, now, before he did something he'd regret.

Just then, a loud thunder sound outside the window, making Lorna flinch. Rain.

It was about to rain, if she left now, there was no way she would make it to the maids quarters, she'd be soaked before reaching the quarters.

It was far away from the mansion, and no one dares spend the night inside the mansion except the older maids. She couldn't risk falling ill, drugs were now expensive.

“Very well then,” Arrow said bluntly. “Be my guest and warm my bed.” he needed her out of his quarters at this moment.

Lorna’s eyes widened, startled.

Warm his bed?

What did he mean?

She wasn't a whore.

Maybe she should have declined the offer to come serve him, it wasn't too late either. But her mistress would have punished her if she had dared to speak up.

Her heart pounded as her gaze darted towards the bed, then back to him. His eyes hadn't moved, still locked on her with a burning, unreadable intensity.

“I..I beg your pardon?” Lorna’s voice quivered, she felt offended and hurt.

Arrow smirked and gave a casual shrug. “You said mother asked you to be of service to me, until tomorrow. Isn't that right?”

Lorna gulped hard. She didn't answer. She knew exactly where he was headed to, with this.

“And I can do whatever I want with you. Or was that not what mother said?” He reached for the telephone on the small table beside him. “Maybe I should call her and–”

“No!!” Lorna screamed, rushing forward. She pushed the telephone from his hand in a panic.

Amused by her hasty movement, Arrow stared at her keenly.

Lorna remained frozen, holding her breath, now vividly aware of the little distance between them.

“That was bold of you, princess. Aren't you supposed to be afraid of me?” he murmured, his hand gripping her arm firmly. She struggled to break free, but his grip only tightened, unyielding.

His gaze dropped to her lips, soft, parted, trembling. They looked so tempting, desire battling reason. Whatever thoughts were running through his mind, they were anything but holy.

“Go.” his jaw clenched as he let go of her, the act of doing the opposite of what every nerve in his body screamed for felt far harder than he expected. It felt like self betrayal.

Lorna released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. She should've been relieved but all she felt was a silent ache settling in her chest.

She turned, but her feet moved reluctantly, out of his hold.

“Damn it, Lorna.” Arrow pulled her back with a firm grip on her wrist. Capturing her in his arms, and before she could speak, he claimed her lips with his.