HALDEN MORROW’S POV
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<b>78 </b>
55 vouchers
“Did you see how smug she is?” Reina hissed as shey on her stomach, her voice strained with anger and pain. Every twitch of her body betrayed how raw her back was from the punishment, but her fury burned hotter than her wounds. “That was the face of a bully, Father. A bully who wanted to trample our family!”
Halden pursed his lips, his expression unreadable.
“Father, you must teach that woman a lesson!” Reina pressed, her fists balling tightly against the mattress. “Do not let her get away with this!”
Halden folded his arms, his gaze steady. “And how, exactly, do you reckon I teach her <i>a </i>lesson?”
Reina turned her head sharply, ring at him with disbelief. “You’re asking me that? She humiliated me in front of everyone! She humiliated us. She dared to strike me, then ordered me caned like a criminal. And you just stood there!”
Halden’s eyes narrowed.. “I warned you before, Reina. Your mouth would bring punishment on you one day. I told you, time and again, that words can cut deeper than des. Today it was the Princess Consort who punished you. Tomorrow, if you’re not careful, it could be someone far less merciful. Are you not going to stop until someone decides to take it on our family?”
Reina’s eyes widened, her face twisting in shock. “You’re siding with her? With her? Why are you favoring that woman over your own daughter?”
“I am not favoring her,” Halden said, his tone sharp enough to cut through her protest. “I am favoring the North. Do you understand the difference? She is the Lord’s wife. Whether you like it or not, she is the Princess Consort. You insulted her, you insulted the Lord himself. You spoke like a reckless child and used her of witchcraft. You crossed the line, and you paid the price. That is only right.”
Reina’s lip trembled, her rage boiling back to the surface. “How dare a wolfless woman punish me? How dare someone who cannot even transform into a wolf embarrass our family like this? Are you truly going to allow her to do this? She isn’t even giving us face, Father!”
Halden’s expression hardened, but he didn’t raise his voice. “You speak of face, yet you gave none to her in the first ce. You walked into her presence with arrogance, challenged her authority, and spat usations at the woman chosen by the King himself. Do you think titles and family name will protect you forever? Do you think your father’s seat will shield you when your actions threaten the stability of the North?”
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<b>78 </b>
55 vouchers
Reina turned her face back into the pillow, seething. “She wanted to embarrass me. Embarrass us. Everyone saw it. And you did nothing. Do you know how they looked at me? Like I was somemon criminal.”
“You brought it on yourself,” Halden replied bluntly. “I cannot defend you when you are the one who fed the fire.”
Her fists pounded against the bedding. “So that’s it? You’ll let her trample us? You’ll let her show everyone that the Morrows can be pped and whipped in the courtyard like dogs?”
Halden leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing. “Careful with your words, Reina. You are not the family. You are one daughter. And the family’s strength does not rise or fall on your pride. The North does not need your tantrums–it needs order.”
But Reina wasn’t done. She twisted to look at him again, her eyes zing. “Then if you won’t protect me as a father, at least protect the family as its head! If you let this pass, the council will think we are weak. They’ll think we bowed to her. We must file aint to the council. We must demand the Lord himself hear of this. Let them judge if a southerner with no wolf has the right to punish the daughter of Halden Morrow.”
Halden studied her for a long moment, his jaw tightening. She was trying to light the me of his anger, pushing the weight of the family name against him. He saw it clearly, but he also saw the hungry way she wanted revenge.
“The council?” he asked tly.
“Yes,” Reina pressed quickly. “Bring this before them. Force her to answer. She pped me in public, caned me in front of soldiers. If we stay silent, every house will think the Morrows are weak. Let the council decide if that waswful. And if the Lord hears of it, let him judge her actions himself. You cannot let her walk away unscathed, Father.”
Halden let out a slow breath, the deep lines on his face sharpening as he thought. He didn’t reply immediately.
“She clearly wanted <i>to </i>establish her authority,” Reina said. “Are you going to allow a bully to do that?”
Again, Halden let out a sigh. “This time you are in the wrong,” Halden said. “I need you to apologize to the Lady once your wound heals.”
“What?”
“Kneel if you must but an apology is needed.”
“No, I won’t.”
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55 vouchers
“That was not a request, Reina. I, as your father, order you to apologize to the princess Consort once your wounds heal.”
“Why would I do that!? She-
Halden rose from his chair. “Enough. I’ve said what I needed to say. You will do it or I will personally punish you, myself!”
He walked to the door and opened it. Two guards straightened at once, awaiting hismand.
“From this moment, no one enters or leaves this room except the physician,” Halden ordered. His voice carried the weight of finality. “Not even Lady Reina herself. She is to remain here until I say otherwise.”
The guards bowed their heads in unison. “Yes, my lord.”
“What?!” Reina’s voice shot up behind him, shrill with outrage. “Father, why are you doing this? You would lock me in like a prisoner?”
Halden didn’t turn back. “Even if I exined, you wouldn’t understand,” he said tly.
Her protests followed him as he stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind him, but he didn’t waver.
Almost immediately, one of his men approached at a brisk pace. “My lord,” the man said, lowering his voice, “There are reports that someone saw the Lord board a carriage headed for the northern outpost.”
Halden gave a short nod, his expression giving nothing away. “I see.” He resumed walking, his boots echoing against the stone corridor.
Inwardly, his thoughts shifted. <i>So </i>that’s how it is…
That disy in the courtyard, the caning, the lieutenants drawing steel, the soldiers standing silent while the Princess <i>Consort </i>spoke, none of it could have happened without the Lord’s silent approval. Cassian’s lieutenants wouldn’t have moved for her unless they believed their master sanctioned it. And if the Lord had heard the insult himself yet allowed her to carry out the punishment, then the message was clear.
She isn’t a temporary ornament. He is letting her act in his name.
Halden’s mouth pressed into a hard line. “It seems this one willst longer than the four previous brides,” he muttered under his breath.