ence

r the pressure. The scent of him-a mix of sulfur and molten gold that

d ready to erupt into flame and turn me to ash. "Sa

ot from fear, but from a child's helpless r

strength I could muster, I repeated, clearly, "I said

xpected me to actually do it. The guards around

g over me like I was an insect he was about to crush. "Regret it? A pathetic Dragonless w

the guard again. "It seems ten lashes

voice a soft coo. "Caelus, please don't

l stop me today. I'm going to teach her, and t

me, it whistled through the air, aim

er across the stones. Even Catharine's li

re the whip fell, I did somethin

ot my hand out with shocking speed an

than an inch fro

rtyard was utterly silent, sav

nadulterated disbelief. He tried to yank the wh

g at my skin, but I didn't let go. I could feel a

with my body. I was a full head shorter than Cae

it sliced through the silence like a

on. A powerful Dragon Lord, his weapon caught bare-hand

ed his momentum against him, pulling sharply as he pulle

ne finally breaking. Their lord h

. She covered her mouth, he

, you listen to me. I, Florence Wilkerson, am not you

to a stunned Mrs. Hay

ng Caelus directly. "You flog me

his shame turned to fury. "Do I need proof? You

because your precious concubine whispered something

harine!" Caelus roared, trying ag

might, staggered backward several steps before r

A Dragon Lord who can't even exercise basic judgm

rs, aimed directly

iles of the courtyard began to vibrate faintly as his dra