5

Edwina.

"Wait."

"Wait." I panic as Rebecca's servants hold me down and Benita trembles as she hands over the rod to Rebecca.

Are you feeling pity? Maybe after I'm done with her, I will give you a mark too! Rebecca says, dragging the rod from Benita who looks at me with teary eyes.

"You don't have to do this, please," I say and she puts the rod into the fireplace.

"I have always wondered what you looked like. When I was younger, I was in love with the king when he was still a prince." My heart broke when I heard he was already betrothed. So, I pleaded to the moon goddess to remove you from the equation.

"I think she answered my prayers. Don't blame me, I must destroy every connection you have with the king." Rebecca says, and her eyes are nothing but evil.

"He doesn't care about me anymore." You are already his fiancée, you don't have to do this! I say, trying to free myself from the servants that are holding me.

Rebecca heads over to the fireplace and removes the rod. Slowly, she begins to walk towards me and I begin to breathe heavily. I'm so afraid. I break free from one of her servants and I push her towards the rod.

Rebecca moves back when the servant falls on her, the rod falls on the ground and Rebecca falls on it, she falls right on it with her neck.

Immediately, it burns and she screams in anger, shocked that she has burnt herself. They let go of me and they ran towards Rebecca whose neck is badly bruised. I get up, leaving the room and running as fast as I can.

Rebecca's servant pursues me and there is nowhere to run to when I see Gracie approaching me. They apprehend me and take me to the throne room. I am forced to stay on my knees while Rebecca lies to Gracie that I tried to attack her.

Her servants say the same thing and I don't bother to utter a word. It won't change a thing and no one here will take my side. When the door opens, I have already made up my mind that I won't beg. I know Edward is in the room, his scent surrounds me and Rebecca runs to him.

“What happened?” Edward asks, his tone is ragged.

Your majesty, this servant hurt me! I asked her to stir the coal in the fireplace and she got angry. She put the rod into the fire and pressed it into my neck! Rebecca says, crying fake tears.

I am quiet. I don't care what happens here but I will not deny or accept anything. They won't believe me.

Gracie, what punishment befits the offender? Edward says.

It is like I thought. He won't care whether I did it or not.

"The offender should be whipped." Gracie says with no remorse.

"Gracie, take Rebecca and get the burn treated immediately!" I will punish the offender myself, everyone leave! Edward says and that gets a reaction from me.

Will he really hit me? I think to myself as Rebecca looks at me, the look on her face is full of insecurities but she has no other option than to obey his demand.

"You, go get a whip." Edward says, pointing to Benita who bows her head and hands it over to him. In seconds, the throne room is empty, I am still on my knees and he is towering above me.

"Get up." He says, his voice is lax—I'm not sure if I want to believe it.

I stand on my feet, holding my hands but my gaze remains on the ground.

"Look at me." Edward says and my heart skips. I slowly raise my eyes to look at him. He is dignified and bring in a regal presence. Edwards stands tall with a commanding posture, exuding confidence and authority.

As I stare at him, his eyes are clear and expressive, high cheekbones and a straight nose. His strong and chiseled jawlines add to his kingly charisma. "Looking at him makes me realize that his hair has grown longer; it is braided into and woven into each other."

“Are you jealous?” He asks and I blink.

That isn't the question I thought he'd ask.

"I'm not, your majesty." I reply, blankly.

Why did you come back to my territory? You have been running away for so long. Did Damien send you here? Or did you realize that you have made the biggest mistake of your life? Edward asks.

"Neither." I answer, truthfully.

He chuckles but it soon turn into a hard glare.

You don't regret killing my mother. Edward says.

"I didn't kill your mother." I say, trying to use this as a means to explain to him and maybe, if he understands, he will help me get my mother out.

Damien did! I say and he scoffs.

Isn't he your lover or something? According to the spies that I sent to Avalor, I was told for three years, you stayed with him. Edward says and I know what he thinks.

You believe I gave myself to Damien? I ask.

"I don't believe so." I know so. Your body is all you have left. He says, flexing the whip in his hands and my eyes drift to it.

“Is that why you wish to trash me? You want to destroy my body until I have nothing left. How will you deal with the guilt when your wolf haunts you for it?” I say and he grabs me, pushing me to the nearest table.

“Beg, if you wish to beg for mercy! Do not pretend like you aren't intimidated. We have nothing in common with each other anymore!” Edward says and I don't think he knows how close we are to each other.

Edward's chest is conjoined with my bosom, his fists hands are grabbing my uniform and it causes my chest to be slight exposed. When Edward realizes this, his eyes averts to it for seconds and my face becomes heated.

He pushes me to the table roughly and I brace myself. I don't know why I was confident that he would never punish me himself. I am the reason his mother died.

I should have never underestimated his grief. So, I wait for the lash to come upon me but it doesn't. Slowly, I stare back at him and the lash is on the floor.

He can't do it. It doesn't matter how great my offense is. I will always be Edward's weakness.

"As long as I live, I will never forgive you. Our mate bond will never be strong enough to make me forgive you." He says.

"Edward..." I say, my voice breaks.

“Do not call me by name!” He yells at me and I move back in fear of his anger.

"Mates are supposed to be each other's bane of existence but I will be a thorn, a poison to you. I will marry Rebecca, and she will take your place.” Edward says.