Agreed

Elara’s POV 

I stared at the impeccable specimen. To me, he looked nothing more than a demon, freshly out of hell, trying to test out its tyranny on lower mortals. 

Disgust curled deep inside my stomach!

“Royal property, huh?” I repeated under my breath, my lips curling. “Are you actually serious right now?”

The crack of tension in the air was suffocating. 

The men, my comrades,the ones I had just been laughing with—fighting with—were now on their knees, heads lowered like criminals waiting for judgment.For what?Touching me during training?

“This is some next level shit,” I muttered, shaking my head.

Dustan didn’t even look at me when he ordered the punishment.As if he was just making a passing comment. “Have them whipped.”

My spine went rigid.His words reverberated inside my head. 

All of them, all those strong, well built men bent down so easily in front of this gimp.and by no means I was making fun of his disability.However he was definitely retarded- no soul, no humanity, no morals! 

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I snapped, my voice cutting through the silence.

A few of the men shifted uncomfortably, clearly wishing I’d just shut up and let them survive the moment with minimum damage. I wish I could do that! But that was not going to happen because I was involved.Because I got them in this mess to begin with. 

Whips were already being brought out.I could hear the faint clink of metal, the shuffle of guards stepping forward.

My insides twisted with boiling rage and disgust,aimed directly at the person who was supposed to be my lawfully wedded significant other half.

He turned slightly towards me, his voice calm, almost as if bored. “Follow me.” I didn’t move,didn’t even blink.The audacity of this man—“Did you not hear me?” he said, sharper this time.

Still, I stood there,rooted firm and visibly fuming.And when he turned fully, clearly ready to snap at me—I moved.

But not the way he expected.I stepped forward—And dropped to my knees too,right beside all the men.

A collective intake of breath echoed around us.Yeah,that definitely got everyone’s attention.

I lifted my chin, meeting his gaze head-on, refusing to back down. 

“If they’ve committed a crime,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside me, “then so have I.” Silence followed.Heavy silence that made one's skin prick! 

I didn’t look away.“I was the one sparring with them. I was the one who allowed it,” I continued. “So if touching me is treachery…” I tilted my head slightly, a cold edge slipping into my tone. “Then I guess I should be punished too for allowing and initiating the ‘treachery’ in the first place...”

A few of the men beside me whispered, “My lady, no—”

“Shut it,” I muttered under my breath without breaking eye contact with the devil himself.My focus stayed just on him. “Go on,” I challenged. “Or is your definition of justice selective?”

For a moment he just stared at me.No smirk,no mockery,just… staring… maybe with bewilderment. Like he was trying to figure me out.Or maybe deciding whether to strangle me or throw me off a cliff! .

Honestly, it could go either way.

Then suddenly he moved.Fast! Faster than I would ever expect a man in a wheelchair to move.

There was a soft mechanical whir from his wheelchair and before I could even react, he was right in front of me.

“What the—” The words barely left my mouth before he grabbed me.His grip was strong. His hurl was effortless.

I yelped as the ground disappeared beneath me.“Hey—what the hell are you—?!” Next thing I knew, I was slung over his shoulder like a sack of grain. “Are you insane? Put me down!” I snapped, struggling.

He didn’t even flinch.He simply turned around slowly 

and then started rolling back towards the palace like it was the most normal thing in the world.

“You—put—me—down—right—now!” I hissed, hitting his back lightly in frustration. “What is wrong with you?!Put me down, you psycho!” Nothing! No reaction. Not even a flinch.I twisted against his hold, kicking my legs in frustration.

“Are you going to kidnap me in broad daylight?” He said nothing. His expression was bored. 

“This definitely makes you look like someone with control issues. A petty child throwing a tantrum…” I was trying hard at reverse psychology. But this person looked like he was made of stone. Still no reaction… not even a word… 

Then I tried to dig a little deeper. I was angry! I was desperate! I knew I was treading dangerous waters but I wasn't going to give up without a fight. My life was officially fucked! I wasn't going to give a damn about anything else, other than my dignity.

“You know what… the rumors were right…” He still said nothing but his rhythm faltered,just a little.I pushed harder. “Alpha Alaric should bring back his sons after they complete their training years at Prayag!These lands have really started feeling the darth of a powerful monarch. He is aging after all! It's not his fault his elder brother failed his duty before passing away.Sounds like they were telling the truth when they said Alpha Daven was inept and that's what happens when you breed with a maid…”

A pregnant pause. 

I knew I had taken things too far. This could easily get me a death sentence but honestly at this point, I did not care anymore. 

But I was not prepared for the surprise Dustan had in store for me. 

He nodded, agreeing with me. “ You are right…”

He leaned in slightly as his lips touched my earlobe. A strange tingling sensation spread through my back as his voice brushed low against my skin—Dangerously calm.

“The whipping can be arranged,wifey, ” he murmured, maintaining his steady pace and his grip on my back. Another pause.I felt his breath around my hips. Then he added, voice lower, almost husky—“But in private.” My stomach dropped.“On my bed.”

I went absolutely still.