Page 23 of A Fate of Ice and Lies (Fated #1)

“What of your parents?” I asked, scanning the crowd. “Are they here to speak on your behalf?”

If anyone should be beaten, it was them for allowing this child to take on the responsibility of his sisters .

He bit down on his bottom lip, the grip on his arm tightening. “They’re dead.”

A fierce wave of anguish swarmed me, but it was nothing compared to the storms brewing behind this male’s eyes.

“I can’t let my sisters die too.”

Nor would I let them. “You can’t take more than your rations, either. Are you the eldest of your siblings?”

He nodded.

“You are a brave warrior, young Javier,” I told him. “I am sorry for the loss of your parents. If you need more food, then you will work for it.”

“Elias,” my uncle growled.

The strength of his menacing presence pushed down on me, and I had to fight my body from cowering.

While he was the commander and leader of the human realm, he did not hold authority over me.

Regardless of the fact that my title as prince was stripped from me, I remained the sole child of the king and queen of Niev.

Muscles straining from the desire to submit, I turned my head to glare at my uncle.

His eyes darkened in challenge until nothing remained but a pair of black orbs.

Not wanting to frighten Javier, I suppressed my primal instincts and fought my body so my eyes wouldn’t change, nor would my canines lengthen.

Once I was in control of myself, I faced Javier. Speaking low so only his human ears could hear me, I said, “I will assess the rations you already receive, and you will work for whatever extra I deem necessary. Do you agree?”

“Yes, sir,” he replied, chancing a quick look at Uncle Hudson, who I was sure was glowering at us.

Javier seemed to shrink further into himself, so I shifted my body enough to block my uncle from his view .

“There are consequences to stealing,” I continued. “Do you understand?”

He blinked a few times, and although his eyes continued to shimmer, he didn’t release a single teardrop again. “Lashings.” He nodded. “I’ll take my punishment.”

“Brave, indeed.” I paused, putting a hand on his shoulder and squeezing in reassurance. “How did your parents die?”

He sucked in a sharp breath, and when he spoke again, his voice wobbled. “My mom was sick for a long time. Cancer.” He chewed on his bottom lip. “My dad. . .” He coughed to clear his throat. “He was killed at the food bank the night the endless winter came.”

While I kept my features neutral, I turned to Nalari, who remained beside Uncle Hudson’s Guardian.

“Nalari, can you please relay a message to Sama to tell my uncle?” I asked.

She blinked. “Very well.”

“The man who I had killed at Teddy’s store was this boy’s father.” I paused. “I killed him. His mother is dead, and this boy is left to fend for himself and his sisters.”

I waited while Nalari and Uncle Hudson’s Guardian exchanged words.

“Commander Hudson would like to know what you plan to do about it,” she said after a few moments of silence.

“I’d like the boy to help us tend to our livestock and vegetation for extra food,” I said.

With my heart hammering behind my chest, I waited. After my small show of disrespect, I expected my uncle to deny me this request. Expected to have to argue with him.

“He agrees. What else, Elias?”

I let out an inaudible sigh of relief. “I will take his lashings.” I squared my shoulders, ready for whatever argument she had.

Instead, she turned back to Sama. I tried not to squirm when my uncle whipped his head to face me. I watched his expression closely, and when he nodded, I motioned for George and Brenton and sank back to my knees in front of the boy.

“It’s going to be okay,” I whispered low enough so only he could hear me. “Do as I say, understood?”

He blinked twice before dipping his head in a small nod.

“Stand.” I spoke that one word loud so everyone heard the command.

When he did, I stood with him and noticed the way his gaunt body shook hard enough I feared he’d break.

“These are my friends, George and Brenton,” I said gently. “Show them where you live. They will come get you tomorrow morning so that you may start working on our land.”

With another heavy swallow, he nodded.

“Do you have clothes to ward off the cold?” I asked.

He peered down at his tattered clothes, which were littered with holes and dusted with snow and dirt. George clapped him on the shoulder, making him jump in fright.

“We’ll figure something out,” George told him.

With his hand still on his shoulder, he guided him away until Javier stopped to look back at me.

“What about my lashings?” he asked.

George barked out a laugh. “You’re the first to ever ask for your punishment.”

Javier dug the toe of his well-worn shoe in the snow. “I don’t want them, but. . .” Resigned, he shrugged. “I’d rather get it over with than wonder when it’ll happen. ”

“You won’t be receiving any lashings,” I explained. “Go, take him,” I told my friends.

Uncle Hudson sidled next to me as I watched them leave. Once they were out of eyesight, I turned to my uncle and nodded. Taking off my shirt, I stepped toward the fae with the whip.

The cold air whipped around my skin and, bone-tired, each speck of snow that fell atop me was like an ample weight I couldn’t shrug off.

“I am taking the boy’s punishment,” I told the crowd.

The fae warrior dropped the whip and stepped back. “Your Highness.” He shook his head.

“I am not royalty here,” I hissed at him. “I am no longer heir to any throne. Here, I am no one.”

Again, he shook his head, taking another retreating step away from me. “I can’t. I won’t.”

“But you’ll whip a child?” I questioned.

Anger held me still. It was probably the only thing keeping me from falling to my knees.

He gulped loudly. “I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

I grabbed the whip and lashed at the ground, making it echo in the surrounding silence as the snow scattered. The movement cost me, but the warmth of Nalari’s magic filled me before I could stumble. I blinked away the black dots that danced in front of me.

“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, I dropped 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.

My uncle was right, and now she knew.