Another strike. His laugh turns into a moan. His head tips back, and his long black hair falls over his shoulders. “Harder,” he growls, voice breaking with pleasure.
A third lash. A fourth. His skin splits, glowing with blue fire where the rod bites. He shudders, groaning with each blow, hips straining against the restraints.
The Cohort commander hesitates, unnerved by his pleasure.
“Continue,” I command.
The rod falls again and again. The chamber fills with the crackle of plasma and the sound of my brother’s ecstasy. He lifts his head, silver eyes finding Eve through the haze of pain. “This… is devotion. For you, my human. My Eve.”
Eve presses closer to me, as if my presence might help her understand my brother’s perverted ways. I put my hand on her head as we watch together.
By the time I raise my other hand to end it, Lorian’s back is a map of glowing welts. He hangs in his restraints, chest heaving, sweat dripping down his torso, but he’s not in agony; he’s enjoying the suffering.
“Release him,” I order.
The Cohort obey.
Lorian stumbles forward, blood on his lips from where he bit through them, and bows mockingly before me. “Satisfied, Brother?”
My gaze shifts to Eve; her face is pale with shock.
“This ends now, Lorian. No more fucking games. Tomorrow the Grand Championships begin, and the eyes of the galaxy will be on the Spire. If Eve is made to look like a pet, we lose everything. She is our humanliaison, not our entertainment. She must be seen as equal, competent, and untouchable. Do you understand me?”
He doesn’t answer.
“You both have roles to play and you will fucking play them. If either of you jeopardizes what we’ve built here with whatever fantasies you both are playing out right now, I will make certain that all future punishments will make tonight’s feel merciful in comparison.”
Neither of them speaks, and the shrine is deadly silent, heavy with the smell of incense, blood, and suffering.
I let my gaze cut across both of them. “Now get out of my sight.”
PART III
THE GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS
40
TODAY, EVE
Blood.Of course, there's blood.
I stare at the red stain spreading across the pristine white of my underwear, my body's monthly shark attack.
The Sovereigns are expecting me at the trainers’ gathering in ten minutes. I don’t have time for this.
My abdomen cramps as if to emphasize exactly how unprepared I am for this. Of all the days, why did it have to be today?Because of the Venus Lock and the twenty-five hour day on the Spire, my period has been erratic. In fact, so much so, this is the first time I’ve bled since I’ve been here.
I search frantically through my suite for the device Dr. Veil gave me. A small disc that's supposed to handle this exact situation.Where did I put it?My hands shake as I rifle through drawers, check under the bed, and even search the bathroom again. Nothing.
Another cramp doubles me over. I can't show up like this. Not to a gathering where I'm supposed to represent the Spire’s interests as their human liaison. I need to be on my A-game. These trainers are equivalent to 19th-century slave holders.
I admit defeat and decide I either have to go to the medical center and get another one or free bleed everywhere. I don’t even want to think about how the latter would go over.
I change quickly into fresh underwear and my formal uniform, then half run through the Spire's corridors. Staff members glance at me curiously as I pass but say nothing. By the time I reach the medical center, I’m sweating.
Dr. Veil looks up from her desk as I burst in."Eve? What's wrong?"
"My period started. I lost the device you gave me. I need... that thing.”
