Painful groans filled the air, whips clashing against flesh, their tiny sharp edges leaving fresh lines of wounds on her back.
Sprinkles of blood spilled with each lash.
Valkyrie watched with slight satisfaction at the sight of Arianna getting whipped.
No one—absolutely no one—had hit her that way, except for pleasure. The best part of Arianna's punishment was that she had no wolf to heal. That's right, let her suffer the pain alone.
After the fifth whip, Arianna thought she might pass out at any moment.
What had she been thinking, doing something rash like that? Perhaps it was due to her hatred of people trying to break her spirit.
One succeeded—Kael... She was never going to allow that to happen again.
A guard strode towards Valkyrie, his feet carrying him as fast as he could. Upon reaching her, he delivered a deep bow.
"My Lady, Lord Lucas's personal guard, Falcon, is here to see you. It's an urgent matter."
Valkyrie raised her hand to the executor whipping Arianna, stopping the activity. Her expression shifted from amusement to wariness.
It must be due to the King's rut matter. She was prepared for this.
With that, she spun to leave the arena.
•••••••••
Seven whips in total; Arianna felt like her body was on fire, limbs felt like water, and all she could do was control her ragged breathing.
A wince rippled through her lips when Selene applied some ointment to her wounds. Her body shook like a leaf in a storm.
"You must be quite insane to challenge her like that," Selene said, dipping a piece of cloth in warm water. "You need to watch that attitude of yours if you wish to survive here, little one."
Selene had found her almost unconscious, asking her fellow maid to bring her here for treatment.
It had shocked Arianna, but she was too weak to even ask the middle-aged woman why she had helped her.
This was the same maid who had advised her not to run from the King.
Selene was simply hard to read.
"The bleeding has stopped, but the wounds are definitely going to leave scars," Selene said, her voice calm. Arianna winced at the contact of the warm cloth on her back.
After the head maid was done, she turned to leave.
"Why?" Arianna muttered.
Selene halt and cast her usual blank gaze over her shoulder and spoke.
"You've probably not heard this since you were held down by Lady Valkyrie. All new slaves are to stand before the King tonight at the court. You're to confess your sins before everyone and wait for his judgment."
Before the King?!
Selene continued, "Some face a cruel fate, some are assigned to various officials. If their crime is worse... they'll face death. Any slave who doesn't face his judgment will be automatically killed." Her eyes flashed with something unreadable.
"Eat the meal on the desk over there," she gestured to the small meal in the corner. "I'll send a maid to check on you. Rest for now."
With that, Selene left, shutting the door behind her, leaving Arianna's mouth hanging open in awe.
••••••••
The slaves were lined up and dressed in thin fabric that barely covered their frames.
After eating and resting, just as Selene had instructed, Arianna finally gained some strength. Every part of her ached, but not like before. The medicine Selene provided worked so well.
However, as the maid led her to the other new slaves waiting, dread crept onto Arianna's skin.
Nadia was among the new slaves, completely lost. Arianna wanted to talk to her but didn't know what to say.
As the guards led them through the hall, Arianna's heart pounded hard against her chest.
There were at least twenty slaves heading to the grand court where the king was going to stamp their fate.
She was going to see the king again. To stand before him... The thought of it sent a chill down her spine.
Would he recognize her?
"Be calm, Arianna... You can do this," she whispered to herself as the large ornate door open for them to step in.
The grand court was massive and intimidating. Dark stone pillars stretched high to the ceiling, walls built with carvings of wolves and the moon. Chandeliers hung above, casting a warm glow in the large space.
Their court back at Ravenwood was nowhere near this. The difference was like day and night.
The ground was made of fine marble, echoing as their feet collided with it.
Other slaves shuffled forward, their gazes remaining lowered as they marched to the center of the court. But Arianna's gaze couldn't help but scan through the hall.
Rows of nobles, warriors, and a few pack leaders stood along the edges of the court, their piercing eyes assessing the group of slaves as if they were cattle.
She spotted Valkyrie at the front, seated among the high nobles, her long velvet gown shimmering under the light.
Her expression was a bit stunned to see her, but it was just for a fleeting moment.
Arianna's jaw clenched, casting a hard look at her before finally shifting her gaze away.
But then, at the far end was the king, and she didn't bring herself to look at him. She dares not.
"Whatever you do... do not meet the king's gaze," she recalled Selene's warning. She had asked why but never got a reply.
She had met the king's gaze during the rut; why must this be any different?
He wouldn't even recognize her. Her scent was suppressed, her appearance messed with, and she looked like someone drawn from a gutter.
The host was busy introducing the event of the day, but Arianna wasn't hearing any of it.
Her heart hammered in her chest like a war drum as she fought her inner instincts.
Just look at him, Arianna... her mind whispered.
Arianna shut her eyes, trying to suppress the urge that storm within her. She had been warned; she needed to stick to that.
Just do it!
Look at him, Arianna?! Look at him!
What if he gets mad? Arianna fought her stubborn mind back.
'He could be staring at the host. Just for a fleeting moment! Just his face! Look at him! Just once!'
Arianna snapped, her eyes going wide, and that was it. She'll do it.
Her eyes trailed over the floor, sliding across the room, the stairs, and finally meeting his feet—large boots crafted from fine black leather, resting firmly on the marble floor.
Slowly her eyes traveled further to his legs, clad in dark, intricately embroidered trousers, slightly parted. His long, thick black robe draped over one leg.
Her eyes met his chest, broad... She recalled how it felt holding him.
Almost... Arianna's breath grew heavy, slowly raising her gaze to his jaw, propped by one of his arms.
His face from that night flashed in her head...
The beautiful devil, her mind whispered.
Then finally, her gaze met his face.
Her breath hitched, her body went rigid, heart skipping a beat as her face lost its color.
Those golden-amber eyes made her skin crawl, and it felt as though she had fallen into an abyss.
The king was staring back at her...