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“The Hollows or death? We will give you the choice, prisoner,” the king replies.

My throat burns as bile rises, and my heart races, my fingers trembling uncontrollably. The answer is simple, crystal clear. “Death,” I say, because I refuse to return to the Hollows.

“Reign!” Kylo yells, his voice rings out as a warning. He shakes his head at me, while Lilyana has fresh tears running down her cheeks.

“Death is too easy, prisoner. If you hate the Hollows so much, let’s give you a taste of it here and see how motivated we can make you. You still might be of use yet, but first you will learn that failure is never an option.” She smiles cruelly.

“Raymon!” Vanna calls out, looking at her henchman.

“Yes, Princess.” He bows slightly, his brown eyes are so dark they look black, like a demon. The torch’s light reflects like the surroundings of the hells on his shaved head.

“Take the prisoner to the dungeon. Give her a few lashes of the whip and get a few guards together. Let them have some fun with her.”

My legs begin to shake, but my voice never wavers as I say, “I will not beg. I will not cry. I will not yield. So do your worst… because you willnotbreak me!” I notice Kylo’s eyes pleading with me to shut my mouth.

Vanna laughs menacingly. “We will see about that.” She looks at Raymon, nodding in my direction, and he strides toward me.

“Vanna, this is barbaric!” Lilyana screams.

Kylo grabs Raymon’s arm. “If you touch her, you already know what will happen.” Raymon snatches his arm back.

“I am not afraid of the prince.” He smiles, then walks over to me.

“If any of you try to interfere in the kingdom’s work, Elm will also suffer. Maybe we should send him back to the Hollows. What do you think father?” She turns to him, straightening his crown for him, slightly brushing his cheek.

“Yes, he should go back to the Hollows if anyone interferes. Or we could just execute him.”

“No! I will go. I won’t fight it. I will take my punishment.” I harden my heart, pushing my fear aside. I have been through six years of hell in the Hollows. I can survive whatever they do to me until Prince Lukene finds me.

Raymon grips my arm as he starts to pull me along.

“Wait!” Vanna’s voice cuts through the air, halting us. We turn back to face her. “Whip her here. Kylo and Lilyana, go grab a healer so she is all healed up for the men in the dungeon.”

Kylo stands frozen, his expression a storm of emotions. I sense his conflict, but I urge him silently to go. He grasps Lilyana’s hand, pulling her out of the room.

“Turn around and bare your back,” the king says after Vanna tucks his hair behind his ear.

I comply, slowly unbuttoning my tunic. As I remove it, I hold it to my chest to cover myself, feeling Raymon press his hand flat against my back, rubbing over my scars. The sensation sends nervous jolts down my spine as I hear him inhale sharply, like he’s enjoying this.

He takes a few steps back, and I hear the familiar sound of a whip being pulled back. I suck in a deep, shaky breath and hold it, bracing for the first blow.

Slash.

Pain, red hot and searing, slices through my back. Biting my bottom lip to hold in a scream, I begin to taste my own blood. Balling my fists that are holding my shirt, I try to steady my legs.I will not beg. I will not cry. I will not yield. I will not break.I chant this mantra in my mind as the lashes continue.

By the eighth blow, I am spent. The pain is blinding, overwhelming, and I find myself on my hands and knees, unable to comprehend how I even fell. The metallic tang of blood hangs in the air, mixing with the sweat trickling down my brow.

Sounds begin to return to me, and I realize I haven’t been hearing my surroundings. I hear Lilyana’s muffled cries, then see footsteps approaching.

Dola drops down beside me, her face a mask of concern. “Oh, child.” She shakes her head. “So, this is the path we take.” She swipes some of my blood from the ground, mixing it in a chalice. Then she pulls out a dagger and slices her palm, allowing her blood to drip into it. Handing it to me, I down the entire concoction without hesitation, feeling its potency swirl within me.

“Take her to the dungeons,” Vanna snaps.

“Father! If you do this, I will never forgive you! Never… What would mother think?” Lilyana screams, her voice echoing in the grand throne room.

Raymon bends down and yanks me up by my arms, and I bite back a scream as my back feels like the wounds are pulling open with the movement.

“Halt!” the king demands, his voice booming. “My youngest daughter has a point. The prisoner seems to have learned her lesson. Take her to her room. Blood wielder… heal her completely.”