ce

loud. He stared at Constantine

oice echoing off the high ceilings. He raised his staff and pointed it at

n hang in the air, h

e, "you, Constantine Blackwood, will receive twenty lashes of the s

went through the cr

at never truly healed, forever dampening a wolf's inner fire. For a man

rayed me. It came out as a strangled gasp. I wanted t

ussing the weather. He carefully, gently, set me down so I was leaning

whisper meant only for me. "Close

hip, with fine, glittering threads of silver woven int

nbuttoned his shirt. He shrugged it

was not the back of a frail invalid. It was broad, sculpted with lean, powerfu

a cruel, satisfied smile. S

protest forming on his lips, but one sharp, cutting glare from h

st lash

ollowed by a sizzling sound as the silver made contac

ked his frame. But he locked his jaw, his knuckles turni

nd escape

d as a bright red line, beaded with blood, appeared on h

ash fell. Th

earing agony. Why was he doing this? This man I barely knew, this s

the whip through the air, the wet, fleshy

dark hair to his forehead, but his spine remained ramrod straight. He wou

naction, watching the man who was taking a beating for hi

him died. It was whipped out of me, lash by painful

eth lash f

pling from his chair, but caught himself at the

approval. "The punishment is com

ned himself around to face the Elder. His face was chalk-white, h

p, but it was unwavering. "Now, Elder, I ask you to

r it. After all that.

, but it also held an iron will, a commitment

to his eyes

save me. Done trying to please Elean

wheelchair, was my only way out. He had

ou are gravely injured. You are

nstantine countered, his logic impeccable. "The law states that m

s own adherence to the law.

u, Grace Green. Do you consent to be bon

eanor's web of lies. Julian's spineless betrayal. And then,

ow I possessed. I met Alistair's gaze, and my voice, tho

d