Chapter Nine

PRICE OF A KNIFE

LUCIEN 

They dragged Bren into the throne room just as I ordered. The guards pushed him forward until he dropped to his knees on the stone floor. His clothes were dirty, his face swollen from the beating the guards gave him when he tried to run. He spat blood onto the ground and looked up at me with a hateful glare.

“What is this?” he barked. “Why am I here? I didn’t do anything!”

I sat on the raised seat meant for royal business. I never liked sitting here, but today I needed the height. I needed him to look up at me.

“You stabbed someone,” I said calmly.

Bren rolled his eyes. “Who?”

“Erwin.”

He frowned. “Erwin? That tiny boy? You dragged me here for him?”

My jaw tightened. “Yes.”

“That’s stupid!” Bren shouted. “Why do you even care about him? He’s a nobody. A weak servant. He’s not worth—”

“Be careful,” I warned quietly.

The guards behind him shifted. Bren swallowed but kept talking.

“This is insane. I just… pushed him a little. It wasn’t that deep.”

“You put a knife in his side,” I snapped. “You made him bleed until he passed out. He almost died.”

Bren scoffed. “Why would you care? He isn’t even from here.”

Before I could answer, the throne room doors slammed open.

A tall man marched in—broad-shouldered, armored, the scar across his jaw easy to recognize.

Captain Rolkan.

He was one of the strongest fighters in the pack.

One of my Father’s trusted commanders.

He looked furious.

“Prince Lucien,” he growled, “what is the meaning of this? I was told my son was dragged here by force.”

I blinked once.

Son?

I looked at Bren.

He froze when our eyes met.

Rolkan stormed toward us. “Why is Bren tied? What is this madness?”

Bren bowed his head quickly. “Father, don’t worry. This is a mistake. I didn’t do—”

“Quiet,” Rolkan ordered.

Bren instantly obeyed.

Rolkan turned to me again. “Explain yourself.”

I stood. My wooden leg scraped against the floor, but I didn’t let the pain show.

“Your son stabbed a servant,” I said. “He stabbed Erwin of the servant hall.”

Rolkan’s eyebrows shot up. “Why would he do that?”

“He was angry,” I said. “And he took it out on someone smaller.”

Bren glared up at me. “I told you he isn’t worth all of this. You’re acting like he’s—”

“Enough,” I snapped. “You stabbed someone who saved my life.”

The room went silent.

Rolkan blinked. “Saved… your life?”

I nodded once. “Erwin freed me from a rogue’s trap. He carried me until my guards found us. I owe him.”

Bren looked shocked—true shock this time. “You owe him? For real?”

“You think only nobles deserve respect?” I asked calmly. “You think you can hurt someone weaker just because you’re stronger? That is not strength. That is cowardice.”

Gasps spread around the room.

Rolkan’s jaw tightened. “My prince, this is serious, but surely we can discuss—”

“I am done discussing,” I said.

I faced Bren directly.

“For your actions, your punishment is thirty-two lashes.”

The entire room erupted.

“No!”

“That is too much!”

“What?!”

Rolkan stepped forward, his voice booming. “Prince Lucien, that is madness! He is my son!”

“And he tried to take another life,” I shot back. “A servant’s life matters just as much as his.”

Bren stared at me like he was seeing a ghost. “Why do you care this much about that boy? Why him?”

I didn’t answer.

I couldn’t answer.

I didn’t know the answer myself.

Rolkan pointed at me sharply. “You cannot command that punishment. That is a punishment for traitors, not boys who got into fights!”

“He used a blade,” I said. “A blade meant to kill.”

Rolkan stepped closer. “Take a moment to think. Punishing him this harshly will cause trouble. He is young. He made a mistake.”

I stared at him.

“He almost killed someone,” I repeated.

Rolkan growled. “This is unfair. This is too much!”

The room grew tense again.

I lifted my hand.

“Then Bren may choose,” I said. “Thirty-two lashes… or banishment from Nightveil.”

Everyone gasped again.

Bren’s mouth fell open.

Rolkan grabbed my arm roughly—something no one ever dared to do.

“This is insane! You think you can banish my son? Are you trying to start a fight between us?”

I pulled my arm back. “Your son almost ended someone’s life. Why should he stay here after that?”

Bren opened his mouth as if to argue.

But he didn’t say a word.

He looked between me and his father.

His eyes was  filled with fear and not guilt.

Fear of the punishment.

I felt disgust twist in my stomach.

“I will choose for him,” I said coldly. “Thirty-two lashes.”

“No—!” Rolkan shouted.

But the guards seized Bren before he could react. They dragged him to the center of the hall. Bren kicked and yelled.

“Let me go! Father, do something!”

Rolkan rushed forward, but three guards held him back.

“You cannot do this!” Rolkan roared. “Lucien! Stop this now!”

I ignored him.

The guards tied Bren’s wrists to the whipping post. His shirt was ripped open at the back.

He thrashed wildly. “No! No, let me go! I didn’t do anything wrong!”

“You stabbed a boy,” I said. “Be grateful you still have a choice.”

He glared at me with hatred. “I hate you!”

I didn’t blink. “Begin.”

The first lash cracked across his back and Bren screamed.

Gasps filled the room again. Some servants covered their mouths. Some guards looked away.

The second lash fell, next was the  third. 

Then the fourth.

Bren’s voice broke into sobs.

Rolkan roared, “STOP THIS! STOP THIS AT ONCE!”

I didn’t move.

“Five!”

Bren cried harder.

“Six!”

Rolkan fought harder against the guards. “Lucien! He is a child!”

“He is old enough to carry a knife,” I said again.

“Seven!”

Bren’s back was bleeding now.

“Eight!”

Tears ran down his face.

“Nine!”

Rolkan’s voice cracked with rage. “You are out of control!”

“Ten!”

The whip was raised for the eleventh stroke—

“STOP!”

A voice thundered across the hall and every guard froze.

The whip hung in the air.

Rolkan stopped struggling.

And everyone in the room turned toward the entrance.

My father, the Alpha, stood there.

His expression was cold and sharp.

“What,” he said slowly, “is going on here?”