Page 38 of S is for…

The instant his arm came up, Diann called out, “Exhale.”

She hadn’t planned it, hadn’t even known she’d do it until the word left her mouth, but Julen heard her.He released the breath she knew he was holding, just before the cat struck his back.

“Holding your breath makes it worse,” she said, quieter this time, but hoping he would still hear her.

Lihn looked from her to Master Morton and back.

This time, as he raised his arm, he said, “Two.”

Master Morton exhaled just before the cat struck.The third and final strike crossed over the darkest of the (faint) marks from the whip, and Diann heard Julen suck in air.

“Breathe,” she whispered, willing him to hear.

He released the air and sagged in his bonds.

Lihn quickly lowered their arms and unlocked the manacles.Peter casually rolled his shoulders and then stretched his arms out to the side, checking how it felt.

When Master Morton was free, he dropped his arms to his side, his head bowed, but otherwise didn’t move.

It was over.The crowd started to drift away.

It didn’t feel over.Not to Diann.Her heart was in her throat, anticipation riding her.

Peter turned to face them.

“Diann—” he started.

“Heard you before.You’re sorry.”Diann released Joni and Laney’s hands and jumped onto the stage, patting Peter’s bare chest as she passed him.“Got it.I forgive you.”

Diann didn’t stop to worry about why she was doing this, or question whether or not it was Laney who—as Master Morton’s previous partner—should be the first person to talk to him.

Diann slid into place facing Master Morton, who still had his back to the dwindling crowd.

His eyes were closed, his expression stark.She put her hands on his cheeks and felt his jaw muscles flexing.He was barely holding on.

Moving on instinct, and an unfamiliar need, Diann reached down, took Julen’s hand, and pulled him off the stage.

Chapter11

Julen and… Diann?| Lihn, Julen, Peter

The door closedwith the decisive thunk, sealing Julen in an Iron Court playroom with Diann.

The room showed signs of use—an unfolded blanket tossed in a corner, a thick paddle set on a table rather than hanging on the wall or tucked in a drawer.

Julen noted this distantly, assessing the play space out of habit.Most of his attention was focused on this thick feeling in the pit of his stomach, and the ringing in his ears.

And on the woman who’d brought him here.

He’d been fighting, desperately, to keep it together, and then she’d appeared, her hair once more down around her shoulders.Seeing Diann in that moment had felt unexpected and yet exactly right.

Cool fingers touched his bare chest, and his skin rippled in reaction to the contact.Julen forced himself to look to the side, because if he looked at her…

“I know what you need,” she said softly.

She didn’t.She couldn’t.

Because if she did, she’d run screaming out that door.

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