Luna was yanked from Lukas's side at an incredible speed as soon as she exited the room. Even while she was processing what was happening, a white robe descended over her and covered her up.
She blinked, and refocused to find a short, wiry girl pouting at her.
"What are you doing so close to him dressed like that, huh?" she asked, huffing. "Don't you know that you have to keep his attention for as long as possible? You already got his shirt off and let him strip you? Have some dignity!"
Luna blinked again.
Okay.
So she was crazy.
"Let's not go over this-" Lukas began to say, stepping forward and raising a hand, but the girl spun and glowered at him, then melted into an eager smile in just a moment.
"Please let me fit her, Master Warwick! I promise she'll take your breath away!" she said brightly, then froze in a pose, leaning forward with her hands clasped together just under her chin.
She was an Elf. Luna could tell before she turned around again. No one but an Elf could get so utterly obsessed with something.
A thought hit her, and her mouth dropped open.
No one could get so obsessed...
The bite. The tone.
No, no. How could that be right? We haven't known each other for more than...
Luna froze. She had been unconscious for most of the time they had had together so far, so she couldn't say exactly how long it had been, but it must not have bee any longer than two days, right? How could it be?
She raised her hand to her neck, and the action was instantly greeted by a series of gasps from around the room. Maids she hadn't noted, along with ones she hadn't even seen, were covering their mouths. Whispers crossed the room in moments, and Lukas's shoulders sagged, ever so slightly. Luna narrowed her eyes.
"Master, you marked her already?" the outraged call came from a passing maid in the hallway. She marched into the room, swinging her arms purposefully, and walked over to Luna.
"It's alright, dear," the catkin Beastfolk cooed gently, pulling Luna into an embrace and burying her face in her own chest, completely smothering her.
As soon as she was pressed close, the woman's grip on her shoulders tightened almost painfully, and Luna could feel the implied threat behind it even as she heard the woman's forced cheer from outside.
There was nothing friendly about her. Their relationship was purely transactional. As long as she attracted and delayed Lukas's attentions, they would assist her. But she had no delusions that that assistance would last a second past when he discarded her. Yet another way that she was at his mercy.
And this one he didn't even know of.
Luna was whisked into another room, then the robe was stripped from her and the catkin woman sat on a stool in front of her while someone else, the short, fiery Elf who had spoken to her first and put the robe on her, shoved a stool underneath her, so that she tripped back onto it. Her back was supported by another hand, a moderate size but obviously strong, so that she didn't lean back too far and fall from the stool.
"So, now, let's get to-" the Beastfolk started as the room began to fill up with more maids, but Luna waved a hand dismissively.
"Yeah, yeah. What do you think I am, an idiot?" she asked, huffing.
You don't have to explain it to be like I'm five, bitch.
"I think it would be in your best interest not to insult me, sweetie," the woman said sweetly.
Luna scoffed, "Listen. Like I said, I'm not stupid. I know what you want and what you need. The only question is what you're going to give me."
"This isn't a transaction, sweetheart," the catkin tried again. "This is a threat. Disobey and we'll kill you. Okay?"
"I disagree," Luna responded. "Because you don't have the power to kill me."
"Don't have the power?" the woman laughed. "Do you see where you are? Surrounded by us? We could kill you right now. And we have the tools to do it, too."
"I never said you didn't have the capability," Luna clarified. "I just said you didn't have the power."
The woman narrowed her eyes.
"What's the difference?"