By the time Ashlynn returned to the kitchen, she felt like her stomach had been hollowed out and her entire body had gone numb. Otis said something when she entered but Ashlynn didn't hear a word of it as she headed deeper into the kitchens.
The food had all been served and much of the excess had been taken to the soldiers and guardsmen that protected the villa. Since that was the case, Ashlynn grabbed one of the heavier cauldrons and a bucket of water to start scrubbing.
She wished she could scrub the words Samira had said from her ears but no matter what she did, they echoed in her mind again and again. Owain called the imposter 'Ashlynn' when he made love to her.
Hot tears fell from her eyes as she scrubbed as if she had to wring out the last of her feelings for Owain out of her flesh like water from a rag.
