EIGHT

Shira had been trying to fortify her mind about seeing Liam get whipped all the way back to the inn. It was her fault, she knew. She had known he would be punished for helping her – for getting tricked by her. He had even told her so, and yet she had been so selfish. She tried to tell herself that this was the life he had chosen, and everything had it’s consequences but – she knew. Liam was just a lad, and because of her, he was going to be whipped. She tried to hate the shark, he was such a monster. She tried to hate him!

She had expected the Shark to set up the platform for Liam’s public whipping immediately they got back to the inn, but to her surprise, he only handed her over to one of his rogues, with strict instructions to take her back to her room and lock the door.

Shira tried to speak with the rogue as he marched her to her room, tried to beg him to plead with the Shark to spear Liam, but the rogue ignored her completely. She could have been nothing but a sack of pota