A Substitute No More, A Queen Returns

Dougl

our k

r more terrifying than his anger. The word hung in th

rt hammering against my

taking a menacing step

Before I could resist, one of them kicked the back of my knees, forcing me to crash down onto the

ather whip. The one our father used to use on the hunting dogs. He f

ac

the impact stealing my breath. The pain was immediate and searing, a line of fire

asked, his voice a low gr

eyes, but my voic

ac

y that escaped my lips. I tasted blood as my teeth bit through my lower lip. I felt

spat. "Haleigh is dying,

ac

. You've always

k. C

being flayed open. My mind began to disconnect from my body, the pain becoming a

ce, choked with sobs, came from

without turning his head. A guard dragged

o have meaning. All that existed was the whistle of the leather,

ing but a pal

less sub

call you a thief.

hing I saw was the crimson pool spreading on the flo

Just the throbbing, raw agony of my back. But the physical pain was nothing com

So much

eling it all wrong!" Ha

ou read to me?

Can you fetch my

icious! You're the best

rumbling chuckle. A sound that us

ow, my nails digging into my palms until they bled, trying to block out the sounds of the life I had so briefly been allowed t

t of fire, every movement an exercise in agony. Clinging to the wall

ifting up from the foye

the coast again," Jameson was saying. "You

cht," Derrick suggested immediate

a," Blake and

er. They were going to the sea. The sea, where the salt

ddenly called out from below. She had spotted me. "

must have looked a fright. I was gaunt, the dress I wore hanging off my skeletal fr

ace a picture of innocent concern, and looped her arm through mine.

pull my arm away, but

know you think I'm trying to take everything from you. But I forgive you for what you did at the party. M

asterful p

thundercloud. "Bailey, what is wrong with you? Haleig

s than you'll ever

r faces-Jameson's anger, Derrick's contempt, Blake's disappointment, Kane's cold in

yacht. They said it wa

decided she wanted a barbecue on the deck. My brothers, despite their concerns for her "fragile heal

evere seafood allergy. No one remembered my back was an open wo

the first time all day. "Bailey," he started, a flicker of something-g

"I'm allergic

to find me something else to eat, but just then, a sudden, vi

over. Hot coals and flaming sk

thers threw themselves in front of Haleigh, creating

ot, landed on the hem of my long summer dress. T

lfed my legs. I screamed, falling to the d

ed and s

them turn