Page 54 of A Fate of Ice and Lies
“Do not call me that,” I shouted.
Nalari beat her wings and let out a thunderous roar. I expected the crowd to flee, but they remained still, eyes wide and reeking of terror.
“Commander Hudson,” I called out and extended the whip, which he took.
He assessed me as if he knew how close I was to breaking.
“Your region leader will receive ten lashings on behalf of the young Javier,” Uncle Hudson said, his voice booming over the hushed whispers of the onlookers. “This is the only time I will allow him to step in. Moving forward, whoever steals will be punished at his hands.”
Somehow, his threat was far worse than the first lash across my arched back. With the second lash, my back bowed and legs trembled. After the fourth, I fell to my hands and knees while the people around me shouted. Whether it was shouts of joy or despair, I wasn’t sure. Sweat collected on my forehead, and when I yelled through the sixth lash, spit dribbled from my lips to the blood-soaked snow. With the eighth strike, my hands trembled, fighting to keep me upright.
After the last one, I lay on the cold, wet ground, breathing heavily with my limbs trembling.
My uncle’s eyes shone with something unfamiliar, and when he crouched beside me, I scented his pleasure. I attempted to retreat, but my body refused to obey, so I stayed there limp and helpless.
“You will not heal yourself,” Uncle Hudson whispered.
As if I could with my magic depleted.
“That means I cannot heal you either,”Nalari said, her words somber.
“It’s okay,”I reassured her, voice tired even in my own mind.“I know you would if you could, but I’m okay.”
When Uncle Hudson stood, he towered over me as he addressed the nervous crowd. “Your region leader took this punishment for one of your people. I have forbidden him to heal himself. Should any of you decide to help him, that is up to you, but you are under no obligation to do so. Do you understand this, Elias?”
Weak from my drained magic and the brutal beating, Idropped my head forward in a single nod and then rested my forehead on the cold snow.
No one would help me. I knew it, yet I waited to hear someone offer.
Two fae grabbed my arms and helped me up. I hissed out in pain and bared my canines at them until they stepped away. Alone, I wavered on my feet, but I wouldn’t fall. Wouldn’t show any further weakness.
To my surprise, Teddy approached me without looking at Uncle Hudson. Her eyes were wide with worry, lips pulled down in a frown. I wanted to reach for her, but my arms were too heavy to move. I smelled her, though, scented her fear that infiltrated my nostrils.
I shuffled a single step forward, wanting to dispel her fear. Hands shaking, I lifted one to touch her. She watched, her pretty blue eyes trained on the hand she cupped with hers. I squeezed once before dropping it.
It wasn’t much, but my skin still heated at her touch. Vibrated with the need for more.
She nibbled on her bottom lip. “I live outside of town.” She pointed behind her, toward the path that led to her cottage. “I have some medicine that might help with”—she waved a hand in my direction—“if you want?”
If I wanted? I wanted to be anywhere she was.
I nodded and whispered my thanks.
“Do you think you can make it?” she asked, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
“Yes,” I pushed out, my voice hoarse.
Uncle Hudson gripped the back of my neck. I winced and groaned in pain when his hand dug against a fresh wound.
“Remember, young prince,” he said, his eyes trained on Teddy. “This was all your doing.”
Teddy sucked in an audible breath and turned to look at my uncle in question. Her fear was back, along with the scent of confusion.
“This world would’ve been fine if you’d only left the humans alone.”
Teddy’s attention bounced from Uncle Hudson to me. When he slapped my back, I barely felt it as the sting of her taking a retreating step back raked across my raw heart.
“Teddy. . .” But I didn’t know what else to say.
