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The older uncoiled the whip, letting its strange, shimmering length play across the wooden platform. In the growing light of dawn, I could see it wasn’t material at all, but something like Hquid light, shuting and changing
The crowd grow impossibly quieter as the older moved into position chind Kaius. The only sound was the strange humming emanation from the whip itself–a sound that seemed to bypass my cars and vibrate directly in my bones.
The whip descended, and when it connected with Kalus’s back, the world seemed to hold its breath.
No sound came from Kaius–not a grunt, not a gasp, not the slightest indication of pain.
Only then did I understand why it was called a soul whip. The punishment wasn’t just meant to break the body–it was meant to reach deeper, to touch something far more vital. And judging by the collective intake of breath from the crowd, it was worse than any physical pain could ever he
The second lash of the whip made a different sound than the first etter, heavier. I flinched despite myself, even though I wasn’t the one being struck,
I glanced at Frost, noticing the sheen of sweat on his brow, the tension in his jaw. He was feeling it too, I realized–feeling Kalus’s pain through their strange bond.
bear your punishment, and the others will learn from your mistake,” the elder intoned, voice hollow
“Alpha Kaius, you will b
ancient.
and
The whip descended again, and again. I counted silently in my head, expecting it to end after some symbolic number–ten, perhaps, or twelve. But when the count reached twenty and the elder showed to signs of stopping, I began to tremble.
Across the training ground, I caught sight of Alaric watching from the shadows, his expression shifting from satisfaction to something like unease as Kaius remained silent despite the escalating punishment.
The soul whip would be burning through his system, attacking him from within. And still he stood till, chains holding his arms above his head, his back to the crowd, refusing to give anyone the satisfaction of seeing him break.
“I… I can’t…” The words caught in my throat as the whip descended for the thirtieth time. It wasn’t just the violence of the act–it was knowing Kalus was suffering in my place. He’d taken responsibility for my interference with Alaric and Ophelia, and now he was. paying the price.
I turned to Frost, grabbing his arm. “Frost, do something.”
His face had gone pale, a sheen o of sweat
glistening on b
is the law.”
on his forehead. “There’s nothing I can do,” he said through gritted teeth. “This
Law or not, I couldn’t bear it anymore. As the elder raised the whip for what seemed like the hundredth time, something in me snapped. I broke free from Frost’s grip and pushed through the crowd running toward the platform.
“Please stop… please end this,” I cried out, positioning myself between Kalus and the elder. “He hadn’t been the one guilty. I had interfered with the Alpha King and his Mate, not him. Let him go.”
ly, white hood turning toward me with an empty,
A collective gasp rippled through the assembly. The elder lowered the whip slowly, Infinite darkness where a face should have been.
“Elowen.” Kalus’s voice was rough but steady behind me. “You shouldn’t be here. I told him to keep you away,”
1 didn’t turn around. I couldn’t bear to see what they d done to him. This is wrong,” I insisted, speaking to the elder, to the crowd. to anyone who would listen. “Punish me instead. I’m the one who interfered
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Chapter 50
The elder made no response, but I felt a cold pressure bullding in the air around usanmething ancient and immovable.
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