Katana

The Royal Palace was a heavily guarded fortress. No one can get in or out without getting caught. Although Kieran lived his whole life in this place, his actions can’t go amiss or his uncle will find out about it. Kieran’s relationship with his uncle wasn’t a very good one. His uncle has raised Kieran when Kieran’s parents died. However, Thaddeus manipulated Kieran every chance he got. Kieran lived under his uncle rule all his life-obeyed all his orders and commands even though he was a prince himself.

After all, family is family.

Kieran stood in his uncle’s office with his hands behind his back as a good soldier will do. A few guards stood around the Alpha King, there were always guards guarding him. Kieran’s eyes flickered around the room. It was a pretty extravagantly large office-customize to Thaddeus’s needs. The office was painted a deep burgundy color, multiple floor-to-ceiling windows aligned the wall behind Thaddeus’s carefully crafted office desk, a glass case filled with good tonics and alcohols that were brewed specifically in the palace were carefully placed in.

“What is it now?” Thaddeus asked clearly impatient.

Kieran was wise not to tell Thaddeus of his relationship with Katana. He knew that if his uncle knew he will use this to his advantage. Kieran inhaled slowly before he spoke to calm his anger.

“I need you to stop whipping her. She did nothing wrong, uncle.” Kieran answered.

Thaddeus chortled sarcastically. “Seriously, Kieran. What is with you and this chit? You are protecting her when she has completely disobeyed the law.”

“She fought the war with us and is a damn good warrior. She deserves to be rewarded not whipped!” Kieran lashed out.

Thaddeus growled. “Regardless, she’s a woman! If I let this one go, others will start joining-”

“And is that so bad? Why is that women can’t do what we all do?” Kieran countered and Thaddeus flashed black, his power radiating-threatening Kieran to stand down.

Kieran held his head up, strong. His uncle’s power as Alpha King affects Kieran to a point but Kieran’s blood ran as royal as his and their wolves refused to cower. A silent stand-off passed between them. The tension in the room rose to an incredible height. The guards began shifting uncomfortably under the heat.

“My decision is final. If you continue this I will have her brought up and whipped in front of everybody in the hall. Do not push my limits, nephew. I am more than capable of following through with my orders.” He threatened Kieran.

Kieran was in a silent debate. He didn’t want to cause more harm to Katana. He only wanted his uncle to stop whipping her while he finds a way for her to escape. His uncle seemed to have noticed the change in Kieran’s demeanor because a slow wicked grin crawled on his face.

“I see that this woman is important to you.” Kieran fought to steady his heart rate. Any sign he gives his uncle will push his uncle further into suspicion.

“She is important to me. She’s my soldier and did an excellent job in the field. She saved my ass when she could’ve left me for dead. Do you not care about my well-being?” Kieran shot back to change his uncle’s thinking.

His uncle’s eyes narrowed in as if listening to his heart beat before his facial expression relaxed a little. “I do care about you, nephew. Nevertheless, the woman has committed a crime.”

“She fought better than most of the soldiers I have trained.” Kieran retorted.

Thaddeus fist slammed onto the table and he stood up immediately. Propping both of his hands on his desk he stared fiercely at Kieran.

“Do not question me again!” He roared. His uncle was clearly not happy with Kieran’s persistence. After a moment, Thaddeus calmed down and sat back in his expensive swiveled chair.

“I will not stand down and allow you to harm someone I believe should not be harmed!” Kieran said deathly low.

Thaddeus didn’t look happy with Kieran’s response. His eyes glazed over and Kieran knew he over stepped.

“Since you are so keen on me not whipping her and disobeying me every turn, I will show you exactly what I mean when I say I will follow through with my threat.” He sneered and waved for the guards to do as he ordered.

Kieran roared and went for the guard who was going to go for Katana but Thaddeus was out of his chair and had Kieran around the throat in minutes. Pressing him hard against the wall, Thaddeus snarled in front of Kieran-daring him to make a move.

Minutes passed and the guard came back into the room. An abrupt nod indicating that the task is done. Thaddeus tossed Kieran to four guards who held him down as they walked out of the office and down the hallway to the main hall where Katana sat chained to the ground. Her back exposed.

People stopped to look and many whispered. Servants and guards all together looked upset and a few wore blank expressions as they saw the marks on her back. Thaddeus moved to sit in his chair and waved for the executioners to step forward.

Kieran’s eyes met his mate and all he could see was empty pools of no emotions. He felt like his heart was being wrenched out of his chest. He struggled against the guards to get to her.

“A hundred lashes in front of everyone.” Thaddeus announced.

The executioner raised his whip and lashed down again on her skin. She closed her eyes tightly and her lips thinned tremendously. His mate refused to scream. Another lashed hit her frail skin and Kieran roared as he tried to remove his arms from the guards. They kicked him down and he felt something poke the back of his neck. Instantly he couldn’t move. A paralytic substance was administered into his body. His eyes prickled with tears.

Katana opened her eyes to meet Thaddeus’s eyes. It was disrespectful to meet a royal’s eyes head on but she allowed the rage building inside of her to push her to meet Thaddeus’s gaze each time the whip lash.

Thaddeus had to admit, the woman had strength. The lashes could make a strong man cry but the woman refused to let out neither a single sound nor a single tear. Instead, her fiery charcoal eyes met his and remained. His wolf was beginning to get antsy at the disrespect but Thaddeus revealed nothing as he looked back at her.

Putting his hand up in the air to halt the whip he spoke. “You look like you have something to say.”

She snarled. “You are no king. You are a dictator. You do not govern the good of all but to your own selfish ruling. I will not stand down. I will not keep my mouth shut. I will fight you in every way I can.”

Thaddeus’s jaw ticked in anger. The woman had more balls than anyone he knew. Anyone that stood in his presence should be afraid.

“Please.” Kieran said hoarsely from his position. His lower body completely numbed.

Thaddeus turned to look at his nephew. Silence followed in the air as wheels started turning in Thaddeus’s mind. He smirked as soon as he knew what he was going to do. Kieran knew that look-his uncle has something on his mind that will benefit him.

“Alright, fine. You want me to stop whipping her?” He asked Kieran. “Fine. The request from my dear friend Belen remains. He still wants you to mate with his mateless daughter. If you agree upon mating with her, I shall stop whipping her until her sentence is announced.”

Kieran couldn’t believe his ears. His uncle was as cruel as he can be and like before always manipulated a situation to his advantage. Kieran could disagree but it will mean that his sweet Katana will be whipped three times a day. His heart couldn’t take it. Swallowing the lump in his throat he looked at his uncle.

Kieran didn’t meet Katana’s eyes when he answered his uncle.

**

Several hours before Kieran’s meeting with Thaddeus....

“What are we going to do? What are we going to do? Oh goddess, I’m fucked.” Troy mumbled to himself as he ran his hand through his hair.

Isaac watched silently as Troy mumbled to himself. Honestly, Isaac was still coming to terms that the puny boy was a girl all along. His mind went back to the things that happened during their stays in the barracks-all the farts, all the ‘smell my armpit’ moments, and all the late night talks.

Troy stopped his pacing in the soldiers quarters and glared at Isaac. “We have to do something.”

“And what do you propose? Prance into the dungeon and say, ‘Hi, can you please release Katana?’” Isaac replied wryly.

Troy stopped to give Isaac a deadpanned look. “This is not funny. This is real business. We need to save her. Her father will kill me slowly and send me to hell and then bring me back just to kill me slowly again.”

“Sounds lovely.” Isaac murmured dryly as he mulled over other ideas.

The door to their room was shoved opened and Xavier walked in with Kieran. They both looked anxious and Kieran looked like he could use something to lighten his mood. Xavier closed the door behind them. Four men stood in a small enclosed room. Troy and Isaac looked at each other before looking at their General and Captain.

“So...uh...what’s up?” Troy asked awkwardly.

“I need Katana to leave this place but it is going to a hard mission to accomplish.” Kieran started.

“How? We have been trying to find a way but this place has guards at every corner.” Isaac pointed out the obvious.

“Thaddeus is unaware but words have spread around the palace. People are aware that there is a woman chained down in the dungeon for entering into battle. Women are getting upset all around. Many are starting to riot and boycott their duties.” Xavier pointed out.

“But what do we do with Katana? She’s been down there for two weeks.” Troy pointed out.

Kieran’s determination grew. “We will use everything to our advantage. There is a schedule for guard shifts but Thaddeus changes it every so often to confuse people. I need Troy and Isaac to learn it. Use whatever you can. Xavier you should continue instigating and spreading more rumors. The more people who are aware of the issue the more we will have on our side. Trust me, when I say we need people in the palace to help us. Find out who can and enlist them. The best people to speak to are the ones who work in the palace. Those are the people who know the in and out.”

“Just like back at the barracks.” Xavier pointed out. “Rescue our teammate.”

And so a plan was created. The four men were on a rescue mission and were more than determined to escape successfully. Kieran could only hope that it was enough time for him to save Katana.