ed. The demotion hadn'

ked eyes with Alistair, the head bu

exactly what that meant. It was the ancient, brutal method of phys

awled toward Katrina, his bloody face twisted in

out the large window into the pitch-black night. She

rk wooden cane in both hands. The tip was capped with s

oked down at Coleton. "On your k

ack away. Rocco stepped forward, his massive frame casting a s

sob and sank to hi

avy blackwood cane high above his head. Th

WA

med into the cente

entire upper body collapsed forward, his ha

watching. A cruel, satisfie

turned his head away, unable to wa

ely, Katrina! This is how the Meyer family answers an insult! I will keep

racted. The trap was

ercy, she was accepting his apology and staying in the marriage. If sh

spine straightened. She refused to pla

lvet armchair. She smoothed the fabri

ds neatly in her lap. She looked up at A

tly. "Continue until you f

twitched. He stared at her, genuinely s

ly after just a few strikes would make his 'debt of honor' look incredibly

s teeth and swung t

leton rolled onto his side, violently thrashing ag

abric of Coleton's shirt. A thick, angry red

ds over her mouth, her body trembling

t his daughter, searching her face

d her left wrist. She glanced at the d

uch longer is this medieval theater go

ina through his tears. His eyes were filled with the shock of t

knees right at Katrina's feet. "Katrina, please!

was a mask of stone. "Adelbert is hold

ated rage. He raised the cane and brought