Timeless (Pandora Book 1) (13 page)

“If the human female is truly your familiar, she will be afforded all rights and protections under our laws.”

The female elder with the girlish voice spoke next. “Have you bonded with the girl?”

“No, Elder Larson.”

He didn’t elaborate further, but Charli detected the undercurrent of sadness in his tone, and it lashed at her heart.

“Given the circumstances,” the third female elder said, speaking for the first time since Charli had arrived, “I think that was a wise choice.” Her voice softened, and she nodded at Vane. “I look forward to meeting her.”

“Thank you, Mother,” Vane answered with a mirrored nod. “I look forward to that as well.”

Charli’s mouth hung open, and she almost forgot her promise to remain quiet. The woman had been silent throughout the trail, more subdued than the others. Charli wondered if it hurt Vane’s mother as much as it did her to see him standing there facing judgment. Surely, it did, yet she’d done nothing to intervene.

The rational part of Charli’s brain not ruled by her emotions argued that there was nothing to be done. Vane’s mother couldn’t simply change the laws of the entire race because it happened to be her child who had broken them. Still, Charli couldn’t fathom why the woman would choose to be there at all. Then again, she guessed the same thing could be said about her.

The elders spoke more about the Jewel of Atrea, agreeing to reconvene at a later date to discuss the matter in more detail. Then each of them rose, standing with their hands together and hidden inside their dusky, purple robes, to deliver their verdict.

“Lieutenant Vane Schiva.” The center elder spoke with authority, his rumbling voice carrying to everyone in the Hall. “You are hereby sentenced to one lash for each of the charges against you.” Then he proceeded to name the charges, nine in total. “Do you accept your sentencing?”

Vane showed no signs of distress when he answered. “I do.”

Charli’s heart climbed into her constricting throat, making it difficult for her to breathe. Her head started to spin, and she prayed she’d misinterpreted the elder’s meaning.

The elder nodded. “Your sentencing will commence immediately then.” He held his hands out to his sides, motioning to the guards standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling, ivory columns that bracketed the dais. “Please escort Lieutenant Schiva to the gardens.”

Strong hands gripped her by the upper arms, guiding her out of her seat and back into the lobby. “Time to go.”

Charli felt dazed as she tilted her head back to look into Xavian’s eyes. “They’re not really going to whip him are they?” It was the thirtieth century for pity’s sake. Civilized nations just didn’t do those kinds of things. “Tell me they’re not really going to fucking whip him,” she demanded, refusing to budge until he answered her.

“Yes,” Xavian answered deadpan. “They are, and it’s not something you need to see. Now, come on. I’m taking you home.”

He could try. “I’m not going anywhere. He did this for me,” she argued. “This is all because of me, and I’m not going to just leave him here to face this alone.”

“Charli listen to me.” Grabbing her shoulders, Xavian held her immobile and loomed over her. “They are going to take Vane into the gardens, cut his shirt off, and tie him to a column in the middle of the snow. Then a guard, likely one of his friends, is going to have to lay open his back nine fucking times with a fire whip. Is that really something you want to see?”

Paling at the description, Charli swayed on her feet while her knees threatened to buckle. No, she really didn’t want to witness the carnage, didn’t want to see her strong, capable soldier reduced to a withering mess of pain and agony.

“I can’t,” she whispered. “I can’t let him go through that alone.” If Xavian couldn’t watch, she wouldn’t judge him for it, but Charli couldn’t forgive herself if she walked away when Vane needed her most.

“You being there is only going to make it worse for him.”

Charli shook her head, a sad smile curving her lips. “You’re wrong.” Her heart filled with conviction, giving her strength and purpose. “I’ll find the gardens on my own.”

She turned to leave, but Xavian’s arms locked around her waist like steel bands, dragging her back against his broad chest. “I’m sorry, Charli. I promised I’d keep you safe, and I can’t let you do this.”

Knowing she couldn’t win, even if she tried, Charli didn’t fight him. Surprisingly, she couldn’t even find it in herself to be angry with him. “It’s okay, Xavian.” She kept her voice quiet, soothing. “I’m scared, too. He needs us, though.”

“I’m not afraid.”

These damn men and their pride. “Well, I am.” Twisting as much as his hold would allow, she craned her neck to look up at him. “I can’t do anything to stop this.” She stopped, hoping maybe Xavian would offer a suggestion. When he didn’t, she sighed and continued. “Do you really want to just slink away and hide like none of this ever happened?”

The seconds ticked by, and little by little, Xavian’s arms loosened from around her midsection. “I’m going to regret this.”

Nothing she could say would make the situation any easier, so Charli kept her mouth closed while she followed Xavian through the lobby. They stopped near the sliding doors that led to the sky bridge to retrieve their coats, and then continued past several offices to the elevators. Neither of them spoke on the ride down to the bottom floor. The quiet continued while Xavian led her through a narrow corridor and out into oblong-shaped courtyard.

Several people had already gathered, forming a haphazard circle around a faded-gray, stone column embedded in the center of the gardens. Though the previous snows had been cleared away, a fresh layer blanketed the ground, covering Charli’s boots and leeching away the minimal warmth her slacks provided.

Only a single light at the top of the column illuminated the gardens, shining down to create a circular amber glow around the base. Bound to the stones with his arms stretched over his head, Vane held his chin up and his spine straight. Except for the occasional shiver from the cold, he looked to be the picture of ease.

The elders stood to the right of the column, their hands hidden within the sleeves of their robes, while the wide hoods shadowed their faces. A loud
crack
cut through the air, drawing Charli’s attention to the guard standing several feet back from Vane. The long-tailed whip in his hand coiled and unfurled, slithering like a living thing while a host of blue flames danced down the length from handle to tip.

Pushing through the growing crowd, Charli didn’t stop until she’d reached the walkway directly to Vane’s left. “Do you know the guard?” she asked when Xavian slid into the open space beside her. She couldn’t see much of him in the dim light, just his wide shoulders and shorn head.

“That’s Captain Eryx Roth. He’s Commander Schiva’s second-in-command.”

“Schiva? Vane’s father?”

Xavian nodded.

“Impressive family.” She wanted to ask more about the captain, and she had a ton of questions related to Pandora, but a hush fell over the gardens when Captain Roth stepped forward. “It’s starting,” she whispered.

“It’s starting,” Xavian confirmed. “Be strong.”

His arm came around her shoulders, and Charli leaned against his side, realizing they both needed the support. The first snap of the whip happened so quickly, Charli saw it only as a blue blur of light. Vane tensed and growled as the first drops of blood fell from his back to the white snow surrounding him.

It was far worse than anything Charli had anticipated, and she’d known it would be torture to witness. Watching Vane’s eyes squeeze closed, seeing the way his back muscles bunched with pain, it nearly undid her resolve. Though she’d promised herself she wouldn’t cry, by the time the fourth lash hit its mark, she couldn’t stem the hot tears any longer.

With the seventh crack of the whip, Vane slumped against his bonds, his head hanging between his stretched arms while his hair fell in golden curtains to obscure his face. Charli wanted to turn away, to hide her eyes against Xavian’s chest and let his shirt soak up her tears, but she wouldn’t. Even if Vane didn’t know she was there, she wouldn’t abandon him.

“It’s almost over.” Xavian squeezed her shoulders in comfort, but his voice sounded strained. “Almost.”

When the whip found its mark the eighth time, Vane’s legs gave out, and he crumpled to the ground, held semi-upright only by the ropes around his wrists. “One more,” Charli whispered, her puffy eyes filling with tears again to blur her vision.

Whether he’d heard her or sensed her, Charli didn’t know, but Vane lifted his head, slowly turning his face toward her. His gaze found hers and held as he pulled himself back to his feet with a labored groan. He didn’t look away, didn’t blink. Even when the final lash cut across his flesh, causing him to cry out, he still held her gaze.

“Is it over?” Charli asked from the side of her mouth.

“Yes.”

“Can I…” She took a step forward. “Can I go to him? Or is that not allowed?” As much as she wanted to take him in her arms and comfort him, she didn’t want to do anything to make his punishment worse.

Removing his arm from her shoulders, Xavian gave her light push. “Go.”

Charli didn’t hesitate. She tried to run, but the shin-deep snow slowed her progress. Still, it took her only seconds to reach Vane’s side, just as a pair of guards stepped forward to cut his wrists loose of the ropes. Vane lurched forward and stumbled, but thankfully, the guards caught him under the arms and held him up.

“You must be what all the fuss is about,” one of the guards said as he draped Vane’s arm around his neck.

“What are you doing here?” Freeing himself from the guards, Vane pushed them away, stumbling twice before finally falling to his knees. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“Hush.” Kneeling to the ground with him, Charli brushed the wet, matted hair back from his face and cupped his jaw in both hands. “I didn’t want you to be alone,” she answered as the tears overflowed again. “I’m so sorry this happened.”

“Come here, female.”

Sniffling, Charli leaned in, brushing her mouth lightly against Vane’s cold lips. “We need to get you inside.”

“Take him to the commander’s residence,” Vane’s mother instructed the guards before coming to crouch down in the snow on Vane’s other side. “Easy,” she said, stroking Vane’s hair. Then she turned her multi-colored eyes—one blue, one purple, just like Vane’s—on Charli and smiled. “He’s going to be okay. He just needs rest.”

“I’m coming with him.” It came out more as a demand than the request she’d meant, but she wouldn’t apologize.

“Of course.” Vane’s mother moved away, pulling Charli with her by the hand as the two guards lifted Vane to his feet again. “I’m Elder Neith Schiva, but you may call me Neith.” She wound one arm around Charli’s shoulders and rested her other hand at the crook of Charli’s elbow. “I admire your bravery.”

Glancing over her shoulder, Charli nodded to Xavian as she allowed the woman to lead her away from the gardens. “I didn’t do anything brave.”

“You came here, didn’t you? You were afraid, but you came to be with him. That sounds very brave to me.”

Charli shook her head. “Thank you, but I didn’t do anything special. I’m sure you would have done the same for your husband…uh, mate? Familiar? Sorry, I guess I don’t really know what to call it. I’m still learning, so I hope I don’t say anything to offend you. I probably will, but I promise I don’t mean it, and I’ll get better.”

Neith laughed, the sound almost musical as it carried on the wind. “I’m sure you will learn quickly. You’re already doing much better than you realize.”

“I don’t feel like it. I feel like I’m stumbling around in the dark.” Tilting her head back, she stared up at the stars and twisted her lips into a grimace. “Literally. I should also warn you that I tend to babble when I’m nervous, and I’ve never done the whole meet-the-parents things, so I’m pretty damn nervous right now.” Charli pursed her lips and winced. “Sorry.”

Neith simply laughed again, a little louder this time. “There’s no need to be nervous. Vane cares for you, Charlotte. That’s all that matters to me.”

“Please, call me Charli.” She didn’t want to delve into talks of feelings, not when hers were far from steady.

“Very well then, Charli.”

“Can I ask you something?”

Neith dipped her head once. “You may.”

“Was it hard? Sitting in the Hall while Vane was on trial and then here in the gardens during his punishment. How did you do it?”

“Yes,” she answered after a lengthy pause. “It was very difficult, but this is our way. You have to understand, I didn’t want this. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone, but it would have dishonored Vane for me to intervene.”

“Men are all about their pride,” Charli agreed as Neith led her to a shiny, ocean blue glider parked at the side of the building.

“True, but this has little to do with pride.” The door opened automatically, and Neith ushered Charli into the bench seat before sliding in beside her. “Honor is very different than pride,” she elaborated. “Vane wants to be worthy of his position, his rank, and worthy to call you is mate. Despite the circumstances, and though I believe he had good reason to do so, he broke our laws.” She took Charli’s hand and patted it lightly. “This wasn’t punishment. This was…atonement.”