Page 71 of Speak No Claim

Crack!

“Still believe it’s not that deep?” my father taunted.

“Yeah,” I stated, my voice came out strained. “I do.”

The next lash came down with such force I thought I was going to pass the fuck out.

“Six,” a new voice counted.

“You can stop this,” my father coaxed out of nowhere. Maybe he was starting to feel bad. “Just apologize and beg for mercy.”

Without missing a beat, I clenched out, “Is that all you got for me?”

Crack!

“Seven.”

I bit down on my lip until I tasted blood.

Crack!

“Eight.”

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. The room began spinning, and everything started to slow down, the chamber getting darker by the second. I blinked, and the room tilted to its side.

Crack!

“Nine.”

My stomach roiled. The world was hazy, and I found refuge in that. Until finally…

Crack!

“Ten.”

I fought with the desire to tell them to fuck off, but my body had gone numb as the room spun in crazy, fast circles. I caught a glimpse of the council as the men opened the lock, gripping my arms to stand me up. I tried to find my bearings.

One right after the other.

It was no use. My breath disappeared, and darkness immediately took over. I passed the fuck out.

* * *

And only then did I find any peace.

Chapter

Twenty-Two

Onyx: If you expect the world to be fair with you because you are fair, you’re fooling yourself. That’s like expecting the lion not to eat you because you didn’t eat him.

“This is fucking bullshit!”

I came to with Deja screaming.

“Look at him! Just look at him, Caspian!”

My eyes fluttered open, groaning to wake up.