Chapter 31 A cruel mate
Lyra's POV:
They didn't even give me the chance to defend myself or anything; they just dragged me away as soon as the words left the alpha's mouth.
As they dragged me to the door, I came face to face with Lord Kael.
"You have to believe me; I didn't steal any of her things. I'm not a thief, I swear. Please help me," I spoke through the mind link.
"Don't try to involve me in any of your shady activities. We both know she'd never accuse you if you hadn't taken her jewelry, and besides, it was found in your room. Suit yourself out!" he blurted before cutting me off. His eyes remained on me as he said that to me. Tears, streams of them, flowed down my cheeks. Why does he hate me so much? Can't he at least find a place in his heart to accept the fact that I'm his mate? Even if he doesn't want me, treating me this way is beyond the line. I don't deserve this from him.
With his eyes still fixed on mine, he told the guards, "Drag the thief out. Do to her what they do to thieves. Nothing should be exempted; she's no different from the rest of them!" My heart sank into my stomach; it felt like I was stabbed with a knife. He just called me a thief and told them to punish me when all the alpha said was for them to lock me up. I'd never forgive him for this.
I wanted to curse at him, but then I stopped myself, knowing it would only attract more punishment. He might still tell them to punish me for cursing at him, and I wouldn't want that. I'm already in a big mess.
They dragged me away while the other maids watched and mocked me. They called me names, saying I was daft and that I was misbehaving because the alpha had once invited me to dinner. I completely forgot my position and let pride get into my head.
I know it's all their doing; it's one of them or even all of them who placed those things in my bags. But why? What have I done to deserve such ill treatment from them?
I was dumped in the dungeon like some bag of trash, and I twisted my ankle in the process.
"I'm sorry, Miss Lyra. I know you've been looking out for us the whole time. Even when the rest thought we were unworthy, you still chose to feed us unlike the rest. But still, I can't disobey the alpha nor the alpha's prince. It will only attract more punishment for you and for us. But not to worry, I'll try to be as gentle as I can," the guard said as he picked up the whip. The whip had stones at the end of it, and the mere sight of it made my stomach churn.
But I couldn't object; it's what they use for thieves, and at this point, I'm one. I wish I hadn't foolishly believed she had changed. I stupidly carried her only for her to frame me. I should have known nothing good comes from her.
The guard walked in, and then I began to move back. The thought of that thing on my skin sent shivers—loads of them—down my spine. It would completely damage my skin, the little I have left.
"I hope you'll cooperate, Miss Lyra. The earlier, the better. If the prince or the lady comes here, they'd want me to take the bigger whip, and you know that won't be good." He had barely finished his statement when Lord Kael arrived with two other guards.
"So you're negotiating with her? I knew you wouldn't be able to do it, not with that pitiful gaze on your face back there. That's why I've come with these two; they don't know her, so they won't show her mercy because thieves don't deserve the slightest of it. Now step out!" Hearing the word "thief" from him completely shattered me, the remaining hope I had left of him changing his mind.
The guards he came with pushed the other two out while the one with a scar on his face took the whip. Why would he bring him to whip me? He's said to be the most cruel of all the guards and is known to show no mercy to his prey. He's used to punish spies or enemies, so why would he use him on me? I'm not a spy, nor am I an enemy. I didn't steal, so why? Why won't he let me be? It's so obvious he wants me dead because that's the only way he'd successfully marry Seraphina. But he can't possibly kill me just because he wants her, right?
"I can see he took the smallest whip. That's for maids caught stealing food or provisions from the kitchen. She stole from the future Luna, so she deserves more than that." My mind skipped again as I watched him bring out a whip. It was twice the size of the one the guard had and handed it to the guard.
"But, my prince, she wouldn't be able to take 50 of these. She might die," the guard with the scarred face told him.
"And why do you care? Or do you want to get on the bad side of Lady Seraphina? I guess not, so do it!" The guard didn't wait for him to finish before he came in. He slammed the door, grabbed my hands, and tied them to the iron in a way that I couldn't move or struggle. How could I when both of my arms are tied upward?
"You have to believe me, I'm innocent. I'd never steal from anyone. I'm not a thief," I said, hoping he'd change his mind, but that didn't move him; instead, he scoffed.
"For arguing with me, you’ll get 55 instead of 50! Now you start." I didn't dare say a word again until I felt the first whip on my back. The second followed, then the third. I couldn't take it anymore, so I called out his name. Now, I might end up getting 70 instead of 55 for calling his name.