Page 209 of The Gods Veiling
“Don’t even try, Mellcom. I’ve let your sister’s mouth and actions slide far too many times. Creed gave his word he’d punish her each time she stepped out of line, and we see how much good that’s done for her. She will learn today.”
He what? He’s never.
Shit…every time he dramatically scolded me or carried me out of here…He was putting on a show.
Fuck.
“Get her on the post.”
Gladian slings me into Jeremiah’s chest with the force of a thousand stars. I’m met with a grip so painful I crumble into him more.
“Ah, it’s so sweet to have you back in my arms, sweet T. Where’s your little Valtrue now?”
I wish I knew. Why is Creed not here today of all days?
His mocking laugh makes my chest tighten, but I force myself to refrain from saying or doing anything. I know if I play into him, he’ll unleash on me more of whatever this painful ability is he has.
The tears are already welling in my eyes. It’d please him to no end to see them fall.
I wordlessly fall to my knees when he shoves me down and latches my wrist one at a time to the cuffs. I jerk my face away from him when he caresses my cheek softly. The movement makes me fall into a mournful abyss of green, but his stone-cold features say it all.
“I’ll carry you to the healing villas when this is all over, Thay.”
“I’d rather die right here in the dirt, thank you.”
Mellcom closes his eyes briefly. He doesn’t open them to look at me again as he pushes himself to stand and disappears from sight. I can’t help but peer over my shoulder, though, and watch as he walks past Gladian without saying a word.
My glare moves to him next. In his hand, he’s gently flicking a black whip at his feet. He raises it higher and sends it flying through the air. I stare in horror as power sizzles down its length, turning it gold as it goes. The cracking sound it makes has my body trembling.
“Open her shirt.”
No.
My heavy breaths fall fast as someone I don’t know steps up behind me and rips the back of my shirt open. The tattered material fans around me and the breeze that hits my skin chills the sweat dripping down my spine.
“Thayla Godrun. You will be punished before the gods and the Defenders for using your power against me, a Domain God, in the Court. Five lashes.”
His voice booms as far as the sun in the sky. The power radiating from it has me clenching the chains in a death grip. I squeeze my lids shut as panic sets in.
Don’t count the seconds. Don’t listen for the crack.
Don’t scream. Don’t cry. Don’t make a sound.
I gasp as there’s no avoiding the noise. I’ve never heard a crack so loud in my life. It’s louder than the madness in my mind.
First, it’s the sound. Then the ice. Then the heat. Then the realization.
All in sub-seconds.
My mind and body react at the same time. My back bows as a ground-quaking scream breaks free, loud and unrestrained. Tears that burn as much as the lashing spring from my eyes no matter how much I didn’t want them to.
My breasts become heavy and unsupported as the fabric of my bra snaps. With nothing standing in its way, the hot flow of my blood is immediate. It slithers down my spine and drenches my pants.
I don’t even get to take a breath before the second hit comes.
I fall against the pole for support as my stomach hollows out. My vision doubles as the pain is too much to bear. The memories, the reminders, everything bubbles to the surface. I sob as my body becomes heavy and slumps against the wood.
My chest jerks so hard in so many directions, it nearly forces everything in my stomach to follow.
