The king and I glanced toward the doorway where Nicolette hovered, looking meek for the first time in her life, her eyes huge with worry.

Her brother waved her into the room. “Nicolette,” he greeted. “What news have you?”

“Vienne woke up again and was lucid enough to talk this time,” Nicolette said, glancing my way when I stepped forward to hear what she had to say. “She sends a message.”

Caulder scowled at me with a short frown, then he turned back to his sister and nodded. “And what does she say?”

“She had no idea Urban’s mark had chosen her,” Nicolette reported. “At first, she flat-out denied the possibility, insisting she couldn’t be his one true love, and then she was just confused. She said he hadn’t spoken to her once since he and Allera arrived at the castle. And she doesn’t believe he should be punished for simply helping her.” Glancing at me, she smiled slightly. “She said to thank you for what you did.”

I opened my mouth to ask how she was, but the king lifted his hand, silencing me.

After he digested Nicolette’s words, he nodded. “How is she, otherwise? And the child?”

Nicolette glanced my way. “Very well,” she answered before turning back to her brother. “Both of them. After I placed the babe in her arms as Urban said I should, she settled down enough for the healers to sew her abdomen closed and pack it with herbs. She took a small nap and has been healing unnaturally fast ever since.”

My shoulders sank with relief. I nodded my head, relieved to hear such a report.

The king turned his attention to me even as he answered his sister. “Thank you, Nicolette. You may go now.”

She nodded, but didn’t move. “Urban saved her,” she said. “You saw it with your own eyes, Caulder. Please don’t punish him for—”

“I said that is all, Nicolette. Now, leave us.”

The girl gulped audibly, then sent me an apologetic glance before she bowed to her brother and hurried from the Throne Room, out the same doorway Brentley, Allera, and Soren had left seconds earlier.

“Now,” the king started again, staring at me before he sighed and shook his head. “What the hell am I supposed to do with you, Bjorn?”

I shrugged. “Whatever you see fit, I guess.”

He narrowed his eyes. “You don’t seem very concerned. You are aware I could have you executed, aren’t you? For merely lying to me about your association with my sister-in-law. Because you have lied, since the moment you arrived. With a single word, I could have your neck stretched as you swung from the highest gallows. Just like that.”

When he snapped his fingers, I refrained from rolling my eyes.

Keeping a bored expression, I answered, “Yes, I’m quite aware of what you could do to me, Your Majesty.”

“Then why aren’t you afraid?”

I looked him straight in the eye. “Because I don’t regret what I did. If it has signed my death warrant this very day, then so be it. She is alive right now, and that is all that matters. I would do the very same thing over again and again an unlimited amount of times to see to her wellbeing.”

After staring at me a long moment, the king finally glanced away and shook his head. “I must admit, you definitely seem loyal to her.”

“I am,” I swore.

With a smile, he lifted his hands to show his confusion. “And yet you’ve never even spoken to her. You have to admit, this is all a difficult concept to fathom for someone who doesn’t hail from High Cliff.”

I nodded, acknowledging his perplexity. “I don’t even fully comprehend it myself, Your Majesty. I just know my life is now hers. Everything I do from this point on will be to her benefit. I honor what she honors and value what she values. And one thing I have come to learn after observing her from afar is that the kingdom of Donnelly is her home. She would die for this land. For its people. And thus, so would I.”

I took a step closer to the king and lowered my voice. “I have become your most prized ally, Your Majesty. My loyalty is now stronger for Donnelly than it ever was for High Cliff. All because of your sister-in-law and one little tattoo.”

Caulder stared at me a long moment. I could tell he was trying to weigh the truth in my words. Finally he shuddered out a long breath and shook his head. “Strong words, Prince. But if this is true, then why did you continue to conceal your bond to her?”

I took a step back and shook my own head. “A man’s misery is his own business. It was bad enough that everyone was aware I suffered and why. I didn’t see how revealing the who in my situation mattered all that much. It’s changed nothing for me. I’ll still keep my distance from her, as not to make her uncomfortable. And I’ll still give my sword, my loyalty, my life to Donnelly… Just as I already planned to do. From what I can tell, all this reveal has done was turn your cousin into a bigger dick than he already was.”

The king actually smiled over that comment. “Yes, well, I don’t listen to Soren’s advice for his sunny disposition.”

“Regardless,” I answered, not sharing the amusement. “That bullshit he spewed at Allera was unacceptable, and if he ever speaks to his wife in a similar manner…” I shook my head. “I won’t be responsible for my actions.”

Caulder’s smile faded. “I will handle Soren’s unsavory behavior, Prince. Rest assured.”

I nodded my acceptance. “Fine. If you can look me in the eye and swear to me that he won’t make her suffer because of me, then I’ll accept whatever decision you make regarding my unwillingness to disclose such information you all seem to think was so God almighty important to share.”

Displeased by my tone, the king straightened his spine, making himself look bigger. “And if I decide to have both you and your sister executed?”

I stepped forward, suddenly alert. “Why would you harm Allera? She didn’t bond with any of your people?”

“She was in on the lie. She admitted it was her idea to keep the truth from me.”

“Allera only seeks peace. Then and now. Always. She can’t be blamed for wanting to avoid a possible confrontation.”

Arching an eyebrow, the king murmured, “You make it sound as if you don’t share her sentiment. Don’t you care for peace yourself?”

“I don’t advocate war, Your Majesty. But I am a warrior, meaning I don’t shy from confrontation.”

“So you’re willing to go to war against us?”

“Against you? No. I already told you, as long as she’s kept happy and protected, my sword is yours. Because of her, you may wield it anyway you wish to the betterment of Donnelly. ”

The king merely studied me as if he couldn’t trust my word. Then he said, “You’ll never have her.”

I flinched but said, “I already know this.”

“And yet you still claim ultimate loyalty to Donnelly because of her?”

I looked him straight in the eye and nodded my head. “I do.”

He nodded as well. “Then I want you in charge of my army.”

Falling to one knee, I slammed a fist across my heart and bowed my head. “It is done.”

“Rise,” Caulder said stonily.

I did.

As I met his gaze, he sighed out a weary sound and confessed, “Soren won’t like this.”

I could only grin. “Do you promise?”

Caulder narrowed his eyes. “You will not egg him on.”

“Your Majesty,” I said with as much indignation as I could muster. I even pressed a hand to my heart. “He’s the one married to my one true love. I believe he has more to egg me on with than I shall ever have against him.”

“Oh, I’m sure you both could find plenty to hold against each other. Just don’t cross him, or I’ll have you exiled from Donnelly in a heartbeat.”

The idea of being forced permanently away from Vienne latched onto my gut to clench painfully, so I nodded my understanding. Yet I still had to ask, “And Allera?”

The king rolled his eyes. “At this point, I have a feeling my brother would kill me on the spot if I dared to keep him from his intended bride.”

A smile twitched across my lips. “He has grown quite fond of her.”

Caulder rolled his eyes. “He’s a smitten fool. But I don’t fancy a war against High Cliff either. Not even now that I have their best warrior under my control.”

That truth that I really was under his control itched at my collar, but I kept my mouth shut and nodded.

“Let the others back in again,” the king instructed to a guard.

After the guard hurried to comply, Brentley, Allera, Soren, and even Nicolette filed back into the room. They stood in a line, awaiting Caulder’s final decree.

“I absolve both Prince Urban and Princess Allera from any collusion against the Crown,” he said, causing Soren to step forward in outrage and Nicolette, Brentley, and Allera to clasp hands together and grin among the three of them.

When the king’s cousin started to speak, Caulder lifted his hand, silencing him. “Since the wedding planned for later today was delayed, I will allow Princess Allera and Prince Brentley to proceed with their vows in two weeks’ time. Meanwhile, Prince Urban will train and lead my armies.”

“The hell you say!” Soren started, but Caulder spoke over him.

“But first, I require twenty lashes from Prince Urban’s flesh, ten for him and ten for his sister, for keeping secrets from their king... All to be administered personally by Sir Soren himself.”

My stomach dropped. I gaped at Caulder, feeling distinctly betrayed that he’d decided to keep that bit of information from me until now.

Across the room, Allera screamed and rushed forward to protest, only for Brentley to wrap his arms around her from behind and pull her back.

“Caulder, no,” Nicolette pleaded, pressing her hands together at her chest.

The king turned his face away, refusing to listen to anyone else.

“It is done,” he ordered. “Brentley, remove these women from the room. They can’t seem to handle watching justice in action.”

Allera struggled in Brentley’s arms. “No! Don’t do this, don’t do this.”

Caulder glanced stonily her way.

She must’ve read the resolve on his face, because she instantly started a new plea. “Then I want my ten lashes. Don’t give them all to my brother. Please. I’ll take my own lashes.” But her betrothed dragged her from the room as another guard stowed Nicolette away.

I turned my attention to Caulder, who finally met my gaze. “It’s not pleasant to have some pieces of information kept from you, is it, Prince Urban?”

I narrowed my eyes but didn’t reply. I’d already promised him I would take whatever punishment he decided to dole out, so I said nothing.

But, no, I didn’t care for this turn of events. He’d always seemed so soft, peaceable. I’d underestimated him. Something I would never do again.

“Would you care to remove your own tunic?” he asked politely. “Or let the whip rip it from you?”

Keeping my silence, I tugged at my clothing, removing my shirt until I was bare chested. Keeping my gaze on no one but the king himself, I waited until a whipping post was brought in, and then I willingly slid my hands into the wrist holds.

Soren roughly secured them into place, tightening the reins so I couldn’t pull free, but I ignored him the entire time, watching only Caulder and gauging his reaction to everything that happened. When a tick in his jaw let me see the barest of flinches just from watching his cousin lock me into place, I wondered if he would even allow the full twenty lashes.

But then he pulled himself up taut, bolstering his resolve, and nodded to Vienne’s husband who stood behind me.

The first strike was a sharp surprise. The muscles in my back jerked and tightened, unprepared. Then the second came, and pieces of metal and bone knotted into the leather thongs clawed at my flesh. I gritted my teeth and held on tightly to my wrist restraints.

This was going to suck. This was going to suck long and hard.

Somehow, I kept eye contact with the king as the lashes continued. His expression remained neutral, no more flinching from him.

Behind me, Soren had way too much fun inflicting his punishment. I think he grew disappointed in my lack of sound, however. He had to start taunting me, as well.

Quietly, so Caulder couldn’t hear, of course.

“You will never have her,” he promised. Slap, sting, burn. “Never taste her.” Crack, gouge, flay. “Never fuck her.”

My vision wavered, and my back screamed in agony.

“But don’t worry, fair prince,” Soren cooed. “She’s quite a frigid lay, anyway. So stiff and unresponsive. Cracking her legs apart is like prying a chicken wing from the breast bone.”

I growled out my anger, his words actually muting the pain as he incited my fury.

After another strike, he leaned in close. “I’m sorry. Were you trying to say something?”

“Yes,” I hissed. “I wanted to say a true lover is the one responsible for inspiring the passion in his partner. So if you failed to inspire her, I can only assume you’re the one who’s frigid.”

The next lash came high, so high it wrapped around my head, smacking the end of the flogger against my mouth. I instantly tasted blood as my ears rang while my vision dimmed. Pain tore through my face and the back of my head.

“Soren!” I vaguely heard Caulder censure. “No more of that.”

“Sorry, Cousin. It slipped.”

“Well, if it slips again, you’ll receive the rest of his lashes for him.”

Soren didn’t slip again. But the pain was still intense because he put a new fury behind his punishment, beating me with a speed and savageness that made me black out. When I came to, Caulder was commanding him to stop. At this point, I wasn’t sure if I’d received the full punishment or not.

“Twenty lashes, Soren. I said twenty.”

“I did give him twenty,” Soren argued, only to mutter for my ears alone. “And then some.”

“Your numbers must be off,” Caulder muttered. “Because I counted twenty-six.”

“Did you? Well then, apologies, Your Majesty.” Soren bowed low before him. I caught sight of the flogger dangling from his hand. It dripped with blood and torn flesh. “My mistake.”

“Untie him,” Caulder said on a sigh, motioning two of his guards forward. “And get him back to his room. See if one of the healers can make time for him.”

I slid my dizzy gaze his way, realizing I wasn’t sure when I’d lost eye contact with him in the first place.

He glanced at me and nodded once, apology thick in his gaze. “All is well between us now, Prince.”

Turning my face away, I winced when one of the guards loosened my bonds. I didn’t realize how much the wrist guards had been keeping me on my feet until my knees buckled as soon as I was free. But one guard hooked an arm through one of my elbows and the other guard caught my other. They half dragged, half walked me toward an exit.

I glanced over and met Soren’s gaze.

He smirked and waved his bloody flogger cheerfully at me. “Have fun recuperating.”