I looked at the woman. Furious.

She led me to him.

Bodin walked through the shadows of the buildings and stepped into the light closer to us and I noticed the eyes were wrong.

"Fey King." I whispered.

"Thank you, Ena." He dismissed the woman.

She turned and walked to the far end of the alley behind me.

"What do you want?"

"I'm certain you're fully aware why I'm here." He said coldly. Eying me. "I can't afford to let you flee."

"Are you going to drag me back to your castle?" I scoffed. Certain he had zero intention of doing that.

"I'm seriously debating it."

I deflated. "You can't do that. There are laws."

"Not that apply to me." He shook his head. "Or my son."

***

"Why are you here?" I asked more cautiously. Seeing now that the Fey King was not bluffing atall.

Bodin hadn't been threatening me.

He was warning me.

"To send you back to him for a sound spanking."

I reared back as though he'd slapped me. That'd never happen!

"Don't look at me like that. I think you've been misunderstanding your options, My Dear." He caught me by the hair and began walking me toward the front of the buildings.

Bent on proving to him he couldn't do such things to a lady. I gripped his hand in its brutal grip and began shrieking my head off.

Summoning the Magistrate.

Much to my satisfaction.

"What is going on here?" The chubby man asked. Nearly sputtering. His three chins bobbing anxiously as he eyed the formidable man gripping a fistful of my hair.

"This is a wayward ward."

"A bit more than that." Another voice broke in. Drawing all eyes.

The crowd parted and a man stepped through.

No mistaking this one...

***

"Bodin." I cried. Looking to him for help.

He looked ruggedly appealing in his white shirt and dark pants and sleek black riding boots. Looking far brighter than the other version.

"That is my runaway wife." He snapped. Fury written over his face.

The crowd looked in confusion from the Fey King to Bodin. Brows furrowing at the look-alikes before they must've determined they were twins. Paying their extreme similarities no mind.

"She's his wife?" a lady in the crowd wondered aloud. "She ran away from spousal duty...What manner of woman?"

"How dare she!" Another woman shouted in outrage. "She's shirking her duties!"

"I'm not!" I squawked. Seeing the clear disapproval in their expressions. They were closing in to watch the scene.

"I have no ring." I lifted my hand as if in evidence.

"Of course not. Since you left it on your Dressing Table at the house, while you made your sly getaway." He charged. Lifting a beautiful bejeweled ring from his pocket. Striding over while I stared at him aghast.

The Fey King caught my wrist and held it before my face, where I'd displayed it.

Bodin walked over and skid the perfectly fitted wring over my middle finger. Seating it in place.

"She is mine. By law!" He announced. Glaring at me.

Everyone was staring at the ring in the same astonishment I was. With such a perfect fit, it was hard to deny what he said, to them.

Many disapproving groans filled the air.

"Charge her!" One man with long gray hair and a black hat with a broad brim said. Vehemence in his voice as he pointed at me. "Wives can't be fleeing their men in such a way. 'Tis improper!"

"Charge her." Another man echoed.

"Charge her!" A third barked.

I looked at their faces in horror.

Soon the crowd was chanting it. "Charge her. Charge her."

"I'm not this man's wife!" I declared in desperation.

"I heard the consummation myself!" The woman that'd ridden with me in the coach stepped forward to declare. "But despite it, she forced me chaperone her on this fool's fleeing!"

My cheeks flushed in rage and embarrassment. "I-I..I didn't. I wouldn't..."

I looked to Bodin for help, but his lips were so tight they were white, and his eyes were narrowed in a rare rage. Making clear he had no intention of saving me this time.

***

"They're right!" The Magistrate declared. Throwing up a fat, ringed hand. "They're right."

He turned on me.

Based on preponderance of these witness statements and the clear evidence of the ring, I charge you with falsehoods and fleeing your legally binding wedding.

But I didn't! I shook my head in horror.

"Find a switch no bigger than her thumb." He called over the crowd.

"Bodin!" I shrieked in pure desperation.

They couldn't truly mean to strike me.

"You can't let them."

"This is not my doing." He hissed through gritted teeth.

"You know I'm not your wife!" I cried.

"So, you'd lie with a man you weren't wed to?" He said coldly. Silencing the crowd as they looked at me stunned.

My mouth moved as I scoured the huge crowd of strangers.

"Is that the manner of woman you are?" He demanded.

"I...No...I..."

He made me out to be either an admitted whore or an admitted wife.

There was no answer that'd save me.

I was cornered.

Bodin mouthed a word. And though I focused on him, I couldn't catch it.

Not the first time.

But when he mouthed it the second time, I could tell what he was saying.

Checkmate.

***

"You unbelievable, Cad!" I shouted. Jerking at the Fey King's grip. Looking at all their faces ferociously.

They were all unreadable. None showing a hint of sympathy.

Several men brought switches of various types of wood.

The Magistrate swung them through the air. Only accepting the ones that whistled through the air rather than snapping. Tossing the broken ones aside before striding over to hold up my hand. Lifting each next to my thumb until finding one of similar size.

"You can't!" I wrenched my hand from him and hid it behind my back. "This is nonsense!"

"She clearly needs an awakening." The Magistrate grunted. Sauntering to Bodin and handing him the bit of wood.

Bodin's head lowered, and his gaze was dangerous as he descended on me.

The Magistrate swept up a chair from the deck of the Coach Station and set it behind Bodin for him to take a seat.

Bodin did and then caught my wrist.

The Fey King released me as Bodin gave me a vicious tug. Sending me splaying over his lap. My skirts tangled around my legs.

I did all that I could. Pounding the chair and shrieking in objection as he smoothed my skirts over my rear.

Men and women cheered him on rhythmically.

Mortified I looked away from them. Grabbing the legs of the chair and trying to toss myself up was futile.

Bodin flattened a forearm across my shoulder blades and pushed me back down over his lap.

"I swear, Bodin."

"Enough!" He barked and brought the switch down brutally.

It hissed through the air and made a cracking sound against my rear.

I yelped and lurched upward. Feeling a sting which burned through me. Making my legs tingle painfully and my lower back ache with my sensitive cheeks.

"Again." The Magistrate directed. "Hard enough she'll remember it."

I was already going to remember it.

I'm never forgiving him. I twisted to look up at Bodin.

He met my gaze and brought the switch over his head. Glaring at me as he brought it down again. So hard it rang over the crowd against my bruised tail.

"Stop!" I shouted. My hands automatically going to briskly rub the stinging spot.

The crowd was laughing as I rolled off his lap onto my knees and had to climb to my feet and back from him. Still rubbing myself to soothe the pulsing pain. I could still feel that switch coming down.

"Now maybe you'll remember." Bodin hissed as he walked past me. Catching my arm and turning me. Dragging me behind him.

He opened the door of a contracted carriage and tossed me inside. Climbing inside next and seating across from me before slamming the door and hitting the roof to bid the driver go.

Glaring at me heatedly as the carriage lurched into motion.

"You did this!" He roared before I could say a word.

"Not a peep further from you." He barked.

"I've no wish to say anything more to you any way!" I shouted. "Ever again."

"You will." Bodin leaned across the gap between us. "Run from me again and the next time I spank you it will be bare naked across my lap until you're too red and bruised to stand."

I reared back with rounded eyes. Shocked at his aggression.

"Now, shut. Your. Mouth."