Chapter 50
Althea creased her forehead, studying the man.
‘He looked familiar. Right, he’s that one she realized, recalling the moment Gavriel had brought the man to check on her when she first woke up and regained her memories.
Uriel Kingsley.
That was the name Melva had whispered to her—Gavriel’s cousin, once exiled from the royal estate.
“Uriel, you’re back!” the Queen Mother exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise.
“Greetings, Queen Mother,” Uriel said with a wide grin, offering her a curt bow.
Lord Thanos rose from his seat, his face dark with suspicion. “Aren’t you prohibited from stepping foot in the royal estate, Prince Uriel p>
Before Uriel could answer, Gamma Simon stepped forward, holding a rolled parchment.
“The Alpha King issued an edict lifting Prince Uriel’s exile and reinstating his position as the Minister of Magic and Healing.” He handed the scroll to the Queen Mother, who unrolled it in silence.
Uriel spread his arms theatrically, smirking. “It’s true. The edict has been in my hands for some time now, but I haven’t decided whether to accept it. Today, I chose to return—and thought to surprise everyone. But I never expected to stumble into such a funny play inside the so-called royal court of justice p>
Gasps and murmurs spread across the hall.
Then Uriel turned his sharp gaze toward the Minister of Law. His smirk widened as he tilted his head. “Tell me, Lord Thanos, is it because you’re growing old that you’ve begun to lose sight of simple common sense p>
The hall buzzed with shocked laughter and whispers. Lord Thanos’s face flushed crimson, his hand slamming against the armchair.
“You just arrived, and already you flaunt your reckless tongue! This is not your domain to interfere!” Thanos roared.
Uriel only chuckled, unbothered by the man’s fury. He turned his gaze to Althea, his grin fading into something sharper.
“This woman is under the Alpha King’s mercy. She is practically his possession. I am certain he made it clear that no one should touch her—except him p>
He swung his eyes toward Gamma Simon, his voice tightening with a frown. “Isn’t that the case p>
“Yes, it is,” Simon confirmed firmly. “And I already sent word to the Alpha King about the situation here. By now p>
“Enough!” Thanos cut him off with a thunderous snap. His glare burned into both Simon and Uriel. “Your opinion is not needed, Gamma. The Alpha King is not present, and authority falls to the Queen Mother. As part of the High Council of Law and Justice, I am in charge of this trial. You will respect that—or leave.” Newest update provıded by.net
He stood, raising his voice for all to hear. “Now… let us proceed. Since the Alpha King is absent to attest to the traitor’s daughter’s words, she will be punished with fifty lashes p>
The council chamber erupted in murmurs, most in agreement.
Thanos smirked, his voice carrying over the noise. “She broke the law by using magic inside the royal estate without formal authorization. She was here not as a healer but as a criminal’s daughter. And that, by the law of this kingdom, deserves no mercy p>
Althea’s blood ran cold. Her face drained of color, her fingers clutching the fabric of her dress so tightly her knuckles whitened. Fifty lashes… no ordinary human could withstand such a punishment without breaking. Though a hybrid, her human blood outweighed in her. Her body wouldn’t survive it.
Her mind raced. She could raise a barrier to shield herself, but that would only seal her fate. The council would brand her a witch, a dangerous sorceress, and her punishment might turn into execution.
Her chest tightened as fear clawed its way up her throat. There was another way, but it was risky.
Althea’s gaze swept across the hall. No one here had inner energy, none except one. The Minister of Magic and Healing. Only Uriel could sense if she used her power to protect her body, just enough to survive the lashes.
A while ago, he had vaguely tried to shield her, even mocked the council on her behalf.
‘Maybe he wouldn’t say a word,’ Althea mused, weighing her chances.
“Begin the punishment!” the Queen Mother commanded.
Two guards forced her to her knees. The hall seemed to close in around her as the man with the whip stepped forward. Her breath hitched when she saw it—dark leather, embedded with cruel thorns. Not an ordinary lash but one designed for werewolves, meant to tear flesh and dig into bone before their bodies healed.
‘Seriously? At least punish me with a normal whip!’ she retorted inwardly, her lips pressed tightly together.
But she didn’t waste time. As the executioner uncoiled the weapon, Althea closed her eyes and began to cast a subtle spell over her body. Not a shield strong enough to deflect the lashes—that would expose her instantly—but something lighter, hidden.
A spell that would dull the pain, slow the bleeding, and help her endure. Her back would still be torn, the blood would still flow, but her body would not collapse.
She whispered the incantation in her heart, her fingers curling against the cold stone floor.
‘Let them see me bleed. But I will not break p>
The executioner raised the whip high and his arm came down.
CRACK!
The whip tore across her back, the thorns biting into flesh. Althea’s breath hitched, her nails digging into the floor, but she refused to scream. Warm blood spilled down her side, staining her dress.
CRACK!
The second strike landed. Her body jerked, her lips trembling as the fire of pain burned through her. Murmurs rippled across the hall, some shocked at her silence, others sneering at her defiance.
CRACK!
By the third lash, her vision blurred. The spell dulled the edge of pain, but it couldn’t stop the tearing of her skin or the steady trickle of blood. Her teeth sank into her lip until she tasted iron. ‘I won’t give them the pleasure… I won’t break p>
CRACK!
The fourth blow drove her forward onto her palms, her back arching in agony. A strangled gasp escaped her throat, but she clamped her jaw shut, forcing herself upright again. Her body trembled, sweat and blood mingling as the chamber fell into hushed awe.
CRACK!
The fifth strike ripped deeper than the rest, tearing through layers of flesh. Blood streamed freely now, pooling at her knees. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her arms shaking as she struggled to stay upright.
And still… she did not scream.
The hall was silent—every council member staring, caught between disgust and reluctant respect.
Then—
BANG!
The heavy doors of the court slammed open, crashing against the walls with thunderous force. The sound echoed like a storm breaking.
All heads whipped toward the entrance.