“You lie!”, Eloive shouted.
“Quiet!”, Thjis barks. “Go on son.”
“I have my standards when it comes to women and since Cecilia didn’t meet those standards, I turned blind to the suggestive stares she sent my way. The pressure was strong and I caved. I don’t regret keeping my word. What I regret are the circumstances that came with keeping my word.”
“You knew a bond would have been formed but you still slept with her,” an elder pointed out.
“I was keeping my word,” Massa defends.
“Keeping your word my fangs! Take a look at the girl Massa. She’s not even eighteen! And by humane law, you ought to be arrested!” Rifera yells.
Massa flashes her his pearly whites. “Well, it’s a good thing none of us are humans is it not?”
Thjis turned to Cecilia. “Is it true?”
“Yes, my Lord.”
Eloive looks flabbergasted and I don’t blame him. He laughs bitterly.
“So, you lie against my uncle, pretend to be some kind of victim, and rope me into defending your lie?”, Eloive yells at her.
She looked away.
“I knew you were cheap but this is the height of it! How could you! I fucking trusted you! I supported you! And this is how you repay me back? By stabbing me in the back? What the fuck did I ever do to you, Cecilia? What?”
She remains unmoving, Eloive’s face is red with anger. He takes a shaky step back, only to ram his fist into her belly. She lets out a sharp cry.
“Eloive stop!”, Sia yells.
He doesn’t listen, delivering a blow to her head. Cecilia fell to the ground, and before anyone could speak, he stomped on her head, sending Cecilia to her early grave. I am shocked to the bone, staring at the pool of blood underneath her.
Eloive stooped low and snatched something off her neck. It’s a small necklace. Slowly, he turned to the council.
In a small voice, he murmured. “How many lashes will I be taking?”
“Eloive,” Sia whispers. Ruarc looks bored.
“How many lashes will I be taking? Answer me dammit!”, he yells.
“For unlawfully killing, fifty lashes. For yelling, another fifty. That’s a hundred in total.”
My eyes widen. How could Rifera say such a thing without any feeling of emotion? I have dished out punishments before when I was alpha, but this… this is madness.
Eloive tore off his shirt and knelt down. “Hurry up with it.”
I look at Massa, tugging on his shirt. “He won’t survive it. Please do something,” I whisper.
Massa looks pained. “I can’t do anything Stormie.”
“Refas how about one of those whips you made a long time ago? I think they’re suitable for the prince,” Farouk suggests.
Massa’s face drained of color. The Refas guy grinned. and he just appears to be the one who was beefing me about greeting.
“Sure, Rifera”, he said and bounded happily out of the hall.
“Why isn’t Ruarc doing anything?”, I ask Massa.
“He can’t, okay? It’s suicide to interfere in the council’s decision. Only the elders have the power and as you can see, they are not complaining.”
“Massa, anything you’d like to share with us?”
“No,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Actually, there is something,” I say.
“Really?”, Lord Farouk asked. “What might that be wolf?”
Thelia glares. “You shouldn’t be encouraging her Farouk. The lass should have been killed a long time ago.”
“Same here”, one man said. His fangs glistened as he spoke. Definitely vampire. “She smells awfully sweet. Might taste sweet too.”
Massa draws me to his side.
“While Refas is busy with the whip, how about we figure out what we’re going to do with the wolf?”, Lord Farouk asks.
“I suggest we eat her…” the vampire said, smiling. He’s starting to give me the creeps.
“Luwid, we’re not eating anyone,” another man said. Turns out the acne girl didn’t have acne and is actually a man. He has dreadlocks, his lips are chapped and tribal markings are on his face. His ears are slightly pointed. Another Fae.
Luwid pouted. “You’re no fun. How about we kill her and eat her meat?”
“I don’t get why you’re so excited,” Thelia replies.
“I haven’t seen a wolf in six hundred years Rifera, so don’t shush me. She looks interesting. Where did you find her Massa?”
“She found me. And with your permission, I would like to make her my royal concubine.”
Gasps from the princes and the elders could be heard. I roll my eyes. Were they actually expecting me to be his whore forever?
“I’m amazed if not shocked. Now that you’ve decided to get a concubine after our numerous pleas, it’s a wolf? Don’t be ridiculous Massa.” It’s Dolan.
“I’m not being ridiculous.”
“We won’t allow it,” the elders spoke in unison.
“I don’t give a damn. With or without your permission, I’m going to make her mine.”
“Surely this boy is mad. That wolf might not even live to see the next sunrise,” the Fae man says.
“She will,” Massa defends. “Stormie is here to stay and I won’t hesitate to put an end to whoever that thinks otherwise.”
“Thjis can you hear your son?”, Thelia screeched.
“I’m not deaf Thelia. If Massa wants to keep the wolf, he would and there’s nothing I will do to interfere with his decision.”
Massa smiled. “Thank you, father.”
“Despicable!”, the elders roared. It’s annoying how weird they sound together. “You were here years ago when we swore to kill every wolf that dared to step foot in our lands. Or have you forgotten?”
“My memory is still as great as time. I’ve met this wolf and interacted with her. She’s not like the others.”
“She is still a wolf nonetheless,” Rifera argued.
“If you want to punish her for trespassing then go ahead. She dies and I’ll release the hound.” Thjis. I can’t believe he’s actually defending me. What the hell is he up to?
Luwid jerked upright on the bench. “Is that a threat Thjis?”
“You can call it whatever you want. She lives.”
“Fine.”
Refas slithered into the hall with a whip. It has a lot of spikes. Eloive doesn’t look bothered at all.
“Used all my ore for this one,” Refas said, proudly showing it off.
“Just give Stormie the whip Refas,” Farouk said dryly.
“What?” Why would I give her my whip?”, Refas asked confused.
“Because she would be the one whipping the prince,” Thelia replied.
It was when the whip was pushed into my hands that I understood what they were playing at. If I hurt Eloive, the people’s hate will be directed at me and my life would be constantly threatened throughout my stay in the palace. In that way, they readied their bow without pulling a finger. Bastards.
“She’s a whore, not an enforcer,” Massa spat out.
“Well, she is now. Start whipping Stormie. Massa you will be doing the counting.”
The expression on Thjis face confirmed my fears. There’s no escaping this.
Sighing, I take a shaky step towards Eloive.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered as the whip came down hard and fast on his naked back.