by Kali Argent
Charli’s heart climbed into her constricting throat, making it difficult for her to breathe. Her head started to spin, and she prayed she’d misinterpreted the elder’s meaning.
The elder nodded. “Your sentencing will commence immediately then.” He held his hands out to his sides, motioning to the guards standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling, ivory columns that bracketed the dais. “Please escort Lieutenant Schiva to the gardens.”
Strong hands gripped her by the upper arms, guiding her out of her seat and back into the lobby. “Time to go.”
Charli felt dazed as she tilted her head back to look into Xavian’s eyes. “They’re not really going to whip him are they?” It was the thirtieth century for pity’s sake. Civilized nations just didn’t do those kinds of things. “Tell me they’re not really going to fucking whip him,” she demanded, refusing to budge until he answered her.
“Yes,” Xavian answered deadpan. “They are, and it’s not something you need to see. Now, come on. I’m taking you home.”
He could try. “I’m not going anywhere. He did this for me,” she argued. “This is all because of me, and I’m not going to just leave him here to face this alone.”
“Charli listen to me.” Grabbing her shoulders, Xavian held her immobile and loomed over her. “They are going to take Vane into the gardens, cut his shirt off, and tie him to a column in the middle of the snow. Then a guard, likely one of his friends, is going to have to lay open his back nine fucking times with a fire whip. Is that really something you want to see?”
Paling at the description, Charli swayed on her feet while her knees threatened to buckle. No, she really didn’t want to witness the carnage, didn’t want to see her strong, capable soldier reduced to a withering mess of pain and agony.
“I can’t,” she whispered. “I can’t let him go through that alone.” If Xavian couldn’t watch, she wouldn’t judge him for it, but Charli couldn’t forgive herself if she walked away when Vane needed her most.
“You being there is only going to make it worse for him.”
Charli shook her head, a sad smile curving her lips. “You’re wrong.” Her heart filled with conviction, giving her strength and purpose. “I’ll find the gardens on my own.”
She turned to leave, but Xavian’s arms locked around her waist like steel bands, dragging her back against his broad chest. “I’m sorry, Charli. I promised I’d keep you safe, and I can’t let you do this.”
Knowing she couldn’t win, even if she tried, Charli didn’t fight him. Surprisingly, she couldn’t even find it in herself to be angry with him. “It’s okay, Xavian.” She kept her voice quiet, soothing. “I’m scared, too. He needs us, though.”
“I’m not afraid.”
These damn men and their pride. “Well, I am.” Twisting as much as his hold would allow, she craned her neck to look up at him. “I can’t do anything to stop this.” She stopped, hoping maybe Xavian would offer a suggestion. When he didn’t, she sighed and continued. “Do you really want to just slink away and hide like none of this ever happened?”
The seconds ticked by, and little by little, Xavian’s arms loosened from around her midsection. “I’m going to regret this.”
Nothing she could say would make the situation any easier, so Charli kept her mouth closed while she followed Xavian through the lobby. They stopped near the sliding doors that led to the sky bridge to retrieve their coats, and then continued past several offices to the elevators. Neither of them spoke on the ride down to the bottom floor. The quiet continued while Xavian led her through a narrow corridor and out into oblong-shaped courtyard.
Several people had already gathered, forming a haphazard circle around a faded-gray, stone column embedded in the center of the gardens. Though the previous snows had been cleared away, a fresh layer blanketed the ground, covering Charli’s boots and leeching away the minimal warmth her slacks provided.
Only a single light at the top of the column illuminated the gardens, shining down to create a circular amber glow around the base. Bound to the stones with his arms stretched over his head, Vane held his chin up and his spine straight. Except for the occasional shiver from the cold, he looked to be the picture of ease.
The elders stood to the right of the column, their hands hidden within the sleeves of their robes, while the wide hoods shadowed their faces. A loud crack cut through the air, drawing Charli’s attention to the guard standing several feet back from Vane. The long-tailed whip in his hand coiled and unfurled, slithering like a living thing while a host of blue flames danced down the length from handle to tip.
Pushing through the growing crowd, Charli didn’t stop until she’d reached the walkway directly to Vane’s left. “Do you know the guard?” she asked when Xavian slid into the open space beside her. She couldn’t see much of him in the dim light, just his wide shoulders and shorn head.
“That’s Captain Eryx Roth. He’s Commander Schiva’s second-in-command.”
“Schiva? Vane’s father?”
Xavian nodded.
“Impressive family.” She wanted to ask more about the captain, and she had a ton of questions related to Pandora, but a hush fell over the gardens when Captain Roth stepped forward. “It’s starting,” she whispered.
“It’s starting,” Xavian confirmed. “Be strong.”
His arm came around her shoulders, and Charli leaned against his side, realizing they both needed the support. The first snap of the whip happened so quickly, Charli saw it only as a blue blur of light. Vane tensed and growled as the first drops of blood fell from his back to the white snow surrounding him.
It was far worse than anything Charli had anticipated, and she’d known it would be torture to witness. Watching Vane’s eyes squeeze closed, seeing the way his back muscles bunched with pain, it nearly undid her resolve. Though she’d promised herself she wouldn’t cry, by the time the fourth lash hit its mark, she couldn’t stem the hot tears any longer.
With the seventh crack of the whip, Vane slumped against his bonds, his head hanging between his stretched arms while his hair fell in golden curtains to obscure his face. Charli wanted to turn away, to hide her eyes against Xavian’s chest and let his shirt soak up her tears, but she wouldn’t. Even if Vane didn’t know she was there, she wouldn’t abandon him.
“It’s almost over.” Xavian squeezed her shoulders in comfort, but his voice sounded strained. “Almost.”
When the whip found its mark the eighth time, Vane’s legs gave out, and he crumpled to the ground, held semi-upright only by the ropes around his wrists. “One more,” Charli whispered, her puffy eyes filling with tears again to blur her vision.
Whether he’d heard her or sensed her, Charli didn’t know, but Vane lifted his head, slowly turning his face toward her. His gaze found hers and held as he pulled himself back to his feet with a labored groan. He didn’t look away, didn’t blink. Even when the final lash cut across his flesh, causing him to cry out, he still held her gaze.
“Is it over?” Charli asked from the side of her mouth.
“Yes.”
“Can I…” She took a step forward. “Can I go to him? Or is that not allowed?” As much as she wanted to take him in her arms and comfort him, she didn’t want to do anything to make his punishment worse.
Removing his arm from her shoulders, Xavian gave her light push. “Go.”
Charli didn’t hesitate. She tried to run, but the shin-deep snow slowed her progress. Still, it took her only seconds to reach Vane’s side, just as a pair of guards stepped forward to cut his wrists loose of the ropes. Vane lurched forward and stumbled, but thankfully, the guards caught him under the arms and held him up.
“You must be what all the fuss is about,” one of the guards said as he draped Vane’s arm around his neck.
“What are you doing here?” Freeing himself from the guards, Vane pushed them away, stumbling twice before finally falling to his knees. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Hush.” Kneeling to t
he ground with him, Charli brushed the wet, matted hair back from his face and cupped his jaw in both hands. “I didn’t want you to be alone,” she answered as the tears overflowed again. “I’m so sorry this happened.”
“Come here, female.”
Sniffling, Charli leaned in, brushing her mouth lightly against Vane’s cold lips. “We need to get you inside.”
“Take him to the commander’s residence,” Vane’s mother instructed the guards before coming to crouch down in the snow on Vane’s other side. “Easy,” she said, stroking Vane’s hair. Then she turned her multi-colored eyes—one blue, one purple, just like Vane’s—on Charli and smiled. “He’s going to be okay. He just needs rest.”
“I’m coming with him.” It came out more as a demand than the request she’d meant, but she wouldn’t apologize.
“Of course.” Vane’s mother moved away, pulling Charli with her by the hand as the two guards lifted Vane to his feet again. “I’m Elder Neith Schiva, but you may call me Neith.” She wound one arm around Charli’s shoulders and rested her other hand at the crook of Charli’s elbow. “I admire your bravery.”
Glancing over her shoulder, Charli nodded to Xavian as she allowed the woman to lead her away from the gardens. “I didn’t do anything brave.”
“You came here, didn’t you? You were afraid, but you came to be with him. That sounds very brave to me.”
Charli shook her head. “Thank you, but I didn’t do anything special. I’m sure you would have done the same for your husband…uh, mate? Familiar? Sorry, I guess I don’t really know what to call it. I’m still learning, so I hope I don’t say anything to offend you. I probably will, but I promise I don’t mean it, and I’ll get better.”
Neith laughed, the sound almost musical as it carried on the wind. “I’m sure you will learn quickly. You’re already doing much better than you realize.”
“I don’t feel like it. I feel like I’m stumbling around in the dark.” Tilting her head back, she stared up at the stars and twisted her lips into a grimace. “Literally. I should also warn you that I tend to babble when I’m nervous, and I’ve never done the whole meet-the-parents things, so I’m pretty damn nervous right now.” Charli pursed her lips and winced. “Sorry.”
Neith simply laughed again, a little louder this time. “There’s no need to be nervous. Vane cares for you, Charlotte. That’s all that matters to me.”
“Please, call me Charli.” She didn’t want to delve into talks of feelings, not when hers were far from steady.
“Very well then, Charli.”
“Can I ask you something?”
Neith dipped her head once. “You may.”
“Was it hard? Sitting in the Hall while Vane was on trial and then here in the gardens during his punishment. How did you do it?”
“Yes,” she answered after a lengthy pause. “It was very difficult, but this is our way. You have to understand, I didn’t want this. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone, but it would have dishonored Vane for me to intervene.”
“Men are all about their pride,” Charli agreed as Neith led her to a shiny, ocean blue glider parked at the side of the building.
“True, but this has little to do with pride.” The door opened automatically, and Neith ushered Charli into the bench seat before sliding in beside her. “Honor is very different than pride,” she elaborated. “Vane wants to be worthy of his position, his rank, and worthy to call you is mate. Despite the circumstances, and though I believe he had good reason to do so, he broke our laws.” She took Charli’s hand and patted it lightly. “This wasn’t punishment. This was…atonement.”
Charli sighed. “I don’t understand.”
“I know, child. You will, though. One day, it will all make sense.”
While Neith gave instructions to the onboard computer, Charli gathered her courage to ask her next question. “What did you mean when you said that it was good Vane and I weren’t bonded yet?”
“He hasn’t explained it to you?” She looked absolutely horrified by the news.
“Well, he told me a little last night, and I…well, I didn’t take it very well.”
“That boy,” Neith grumbled under her breath. “When a Nekros bonds with his familiar, they create a kind of bridge between them. What happens to one, happens to both. Whatever Vane feels, you will also feel, both physically and emotionally.”
“So, if we had been bonded when…that happened, I would have felt his pain?” The more she learned about this mating stuff, the more it freaked her the hell out. “That’s cheery.”
“I understand it can be overwhelming, especially with everything else so new and strange on top of it. Might I offer a suggestion, though?”
Charli would take all the help she could get. “Please.”
“Stop trying to put labels on it,” Neith said bluntly. “Forget what was acceptable on Earth. Forget what society deemed acceptable in…what year are you from again?”
“2014.”
“Yes, well, stop trying to make a thirtieth century relationship on an alien planet fit into an Earth time capsule from nearly a thousand years ago.”
Charli offered Vane’s mother a wan smile. “I doubt it’s that simple.”
“My dear, when it pertains to matters of the heart, nothing is ever simple. You just have to decide if it’s worth it.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
“There’s not a mark on you. How is that even possible?”
Standing in his kitchen the next morning, Vane shivered when Charlotte traced her fingertips across the unmarred skin on his bare back. “I’m completely fine, prya.”
Her soft lips pressed against his left shoulder blade. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Beating back his desire, Vane turned and pulled the beauty into his arms to claim her mouth in a slow, easy kiss. “I promise, I’m fully healed.”
Charlotte had held his hand while she’d watched the bright green flames dance inside the wounds. She’d seen the flesh mend itself together right before her eyes, yet she still worried for him. The knowledge warmed and soothed him, chasing away the memories of the pain.
Sweet heavens, he’d never known anything could hurt like a fire whip. The first searing strike to his back had stolen the breath from his lungs, making it impossible for him to scream or even curse. As he’d hung there in the snow, waiting for his final lash, he’d been unable to move, too weak to even hold his head up.
Then the winds had shifted, and he’d heard Charlotte’s quiet, trembling voice. He’d clung to it like a lifeline, drawing strength from her presence, but all the while, hating himself for needing her so much. Fuck, he’d never wanted her to see that.
“Maybe you should take another day off work,” Charlotte said, interrupting his thoughts.
“Why would I do that?”
“Because I’m worried about you,” she admitted.
Touched by her concern, Vane brushed her hair back from her shoulder and bent to nuzzle against the side of her neck. “I’m sorry I frightened you. I would have given anything for you not to have seen that.”
“I know.” Lifting her arms, she draped them around his neck, pulling him closer. “Xavian isn’t very happy with me, but I needed to be there.”
Growling, Vane straightened but kept his hands on her hips to stop her from moving away. “I’m not very happy with Xavian, either.” He’d trusted his friend to keep Charlotte safe, including protecting her from the unpleasantness of his punishment. Not only had Xavian failed him, he’d encroached on Vane’s territory. “He was touching you.”
Charlotte snorted and rolled her eyes. “Are you kidding right now? I think Xavian was a bigger mess than I was. He just hides it better.” Softening her tone, she placed her hand on his chest, just over his heart, and smiled. “You have nothing to worry about, Vane. He wouldn’t do that, and neither would I.”
Some part of Vane knew that. He just didn’t care. “I don’t like him touching you.”
“The next time you g
o and get yourself whipped bloody, I’ll be sure to remember that.” Charlotte only laughed when he growled at her again. “Oh, stop it. Xavian isn’t even my type.” Pinching the ends of his hair, she tugged gently, pulling him to her lips. “I definitely prefer blonds.”
Vane didn’t know what had changed while he’d been sleeping, but Charlotte had been more openly flirtatious since they’d left his parents’ house. He liked this side of her and hoped he would see it often. Still, he worried her attentiveness stemmed from some sense of misguided guilt.
“I have to go, prya,” he mumbled against her lips. “I’ll be back soon.”
“Then I guess I should get you a shirt.” She nipped at his bottom lip before easing out of his arms. “I really wish you’d give it at least another day.”
“Stop fretting. I’ve been through worse.” Technically, he’d died twice before. Somehow, he didn’t think Charlotte would find comfort in the knowledge.
“Fine. Let me go grab your shirt.” She smirked when her gaze traveled down to his bare feet. “And your boots.”
* * * *
Entering the sterile, harshly lit office, Vane found Xavian, Captain Eryx Roth, and Lieutenant Alexander Winn gathered around the commander’s desk.
“Schiva.” The captain greeted him with a nod, his shaved head reflecting the overhead lights. “You good?”
“I’m good.” Vane knew the captain referred to the fire whip, and he also knew neither of them would speak of it again.
“Asshole.” Lieutenant Winn grabbed his hand, squeezing hard enough to bend Vane’s bones. “I hear you went and found yourself a human.”
“Hey, Lex.” With a sharp tug on Lex’s hand, Vane jerked the guy to him and thumped him on the back. “When did you get back?”
Alexander Winn was one big bastard. At least four inches taller than Vane’s own six-feet-four, and so broad in the chest, Lex had to custom order most of his clothes, most people gave the male a wide berth. His hair hung down to the middle of his back, pin-straight and as inky black as the night, while his multi-colored eyes usually scared the hell out of people—one a gleaming red, the other a blue so pale is appeared nearly translucent.
