by Jourdan Lane
"I'm not going to give a long, drawn-out speech on actions and consequences. In fact, I'm not going to give a speech at all. We're here, because in accordance with coven law, a person's punishment must be witnessed by his peers."
Lucien walked to stand on the other side of the cross so that he could face both Caleb and the crowd. When Caleb kept his head bowed, Lucien growled.
"Look. At. Me."
Caleb did, eyes filled with tears. It was the first time they'd seen each other since before Lucien was taken. I knew it had to be hard for both of them to stand there and look each other in the eyes.
"Do you understand why you're being punished?"
"Yes, master."
"And you understand I'm not going easy on you out of the kindness of my own heart?"
"I do, master."
"I gave you this life, Caleb. I could so easily take it away." Lucien stared at him, hands curled into fists. "There have been many disappointments in all my years, but you have become my greatest. It is for that reason that you will forever wear the scars of your punishment here tonight."
Lucien shifted his stance and I saw Caleb's face. His expression was full of remorse and regret, a sad acceptance. But there was a whole lot more in his eyes.
I'm sorry, I was wrong… I still love you… please don't hate me.
I had to look away to keep the tears from falling. As I did, my gaze landed on Xander who now sat in the very front row, practically on the edge of his seat. He smiled sadly and looked away, lips pursed tightly together.
It was at that moment, I think, that I realized just how much Xander loved Caleb. Loved him enough to stand beside him when no one else would—or could. Loved him no matter what he'd done. Loved him enough to put the past behind them and hope for a better future.
I wouldn't begrudge him that. I wouldn't make him choose between me or Caleb any more. After all, I was lucky that I had the love of my life. Xander deserved to have his.
Xander shifted and his eyes met mine again. I mouthed the words, "I love you," and when he looked at me as if he couldn't believe I'd said them, I nodded and mouthed them again.
It was as if a giant weight lifted from me. I turned my attention back to Lucien, who was just accepting a nasty looking bull whip from Nikolas. The thing was long and thick and sharp, silver barbs threaded in with the leather. These first ten strikes would be the worst, but not necessarily because of the equipment involved.
Lucien turned his back to the crowd, taking his place behind Caleb.
"Your punishment is one hundred lashes. The first ten are my own, and you will wear the scars of them for the rest of your life."
Lucien struck then, the crack of that first blow loud. Caleb screamed and jerked against the chains. Lucien landed another blow, and another, not giving any pause between each crack of the whip. They quickly came to the tenth blow and Lucien struck, then dropped the whip to the floor.
He quickly skirted Caleb and the cross and walked to the dais to take his seat beside me. As Nikolas took Lucien's place, Lucien reached over and grabbed my hand, lacing our fingers.
Nikolas' strikes began without warning and though I loved seeing Nikolas yield the whip, I was conflicted about it being used on Caleb. I hadn't forgiven him yet, but I knew I would. In time.
Trust, however, was something else.
It was odd, the way things had changed so much in my time here. I'd come to realize that nothing stayed the same for too long. Whether it was the nature of the world in general, or the growth and stagnancy of relationships of the people involved in it—things would always change.
People would always change.
Hell, I'd changed, too.
I'd killed a man out of nothing but pure revenge and hatred. I had bled him and ripped his throat out and dropped him to the floor like a piece of garbage—and I'd felt nothing.
No remorse. No regret.
Just a thrill of satisfaction that I'd terrified the shit out of him before I'd killed him.
I'd gained friends, lovers, and a family here. I loved and was loved in return. Accepted for who and what I was. This was my home, in every sense of the word.
My humanity was a small price to pay to keep it.
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Soul Mates: Sacrifice
Jourdan Lane
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