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Taehyung just gaped at him. “What are you talking about?”

“A man was discovered in her bed.  She must be beaten.”

Taehyung frowned.  “Did the king order this?”  

He could feel Mari beginning to shake.  He tightened his hold on her shoulder.  Then he caressed it with his fingers in an attempt to calm her.

“This is in keeping with our customs.  We do not need to consult the king at this time.  We don’t wish to disturb his sleep.  This is a routine punishment.  It can be carried out without his directive.”

“You cannot beat this woman,” Tae declared coolly.  He pulled her closer to himself.

“Why not?”

“She’s under my protection.  She’s my fiancé.”

Mari gasped.  Her eyes flew to Taehyung’s face, but he didn’t flinch.  He didn’t even spare her a glance.

“She must still be beaten.  She hasn’t married you yet.”

He could feel her terror.  Her whole body was vibrating.  Taehyung was furious.  This woman had saved his life, and they wanted to bruise her.  He’d like to bruise them.

“If a punishment must be meted out, I will bear it.  I’m just as guilty as she,” Taehyung boldly faced her accusers.

Shock rippled across every face.  A man was going to take the punishment a woman had earned?  This was unheard of.

Mari was every bit as astounded as they were.  First, he’d tried to cover her by claiming she was his fiancé.  Now he was going to take her beating upon himself?  She couldn’t allow it.  He’d already lost so much blood.

“No!” she cried out.  “You cannot.  You’re already so weak!  They’ll kill you!”

Still, he didn’t even glance at her.  “Hush, woman.  I can handle a few lashes.”  He lifted his head haughtily.  “I will go with you now.  Let’s get this over with.”

He tried to step away from her.  She could tell he was about to pitch forward, so she tightened her hold on his waist.  

“Please.  Let me come with him,” she begged.  “He was attacked last night and suffered a grievous wound to the back of his head.”

The head guard furrowed his brow.  

How had none of them noticed the bandage around his head?  

“You were attacked last night?  Where?”

Taehyung sighed.  Now he was in very deep waters.  If they discovered that the king had been kidnapped while Taehyung lay unconscious on the ground, he could be executed for failing in his duties.

“I was not attacked.  Someone ran by me in the dark and shoved me backwards.  I hit my head on the iron fence.  It’s nothing.  It will heal quickly.  Now.  Let’s get my beating over with.  If you don’t mind.”

Mari frowned.  Why had he lied to them?  She felt like she was going to be sick as they shuffled off towards the courtyard.  They were going to beat him.  Because of her stupid move last night.  She should have made him leave or locked her door or something…

What if he died because of her?  What if this beautiful boy ceased to breathe because he’d taken her beating after being grievously injured last night?

She could barely draw breath by the time they entered the courtyard.  Taehyung leaned towards her and breathed into her ear.

“It’s all right.  Don’t worry.  I’ll be fine.”  He gave her a crooked grin.  “You can nurse my back when they’re done if it’ll make you feel better.”  Then he kissed her cheek.

That unexpected kiss branded her.  She stared after him as he strode boldly forward to stand in front of the punisher.  Taehyung held himself up straight.  The punisher held the stick high over the offender’s head.  

“One hundred lashes!” cried out the king’s representative.

Mari gasped as her knees gave way.  She fell to the ground.  Taehyung would never survive that.  Neither would she.  Better she die than he.  She stood up to cry out, but the wooden rod was already making its first mark on his back.

He grunted.  That was all.  Every single time the stick hit him.  She’d just hear the air leaving his lungs.  By the twentieth lash, he’d fallen to his knees.  He had almost lost consciousness.  He bent over as the rod hit his back again.

Mari was on her knees too, tears streaming down her face.  How could this be happening?  He’d been attacked trying to defend the king.  She had just bandaged his head.  Taken care of him so that he wouldn’t die.  And now they were going to kill him with a rod.  She couldn’t take one moment more.  She’d rather die than watch this noble man be beaten to death for her.  

She stumbled to her feet.  

“No!” she cried out.  “No more!  Can’t you see you’re killing him?!”  

She ran forward and threw herself over him.  She covered Taehyung’s back with her own.  The rod came down on her back, and she screamed.  She hadn’t meant to, but it hurt so much.  And she hadn’t expected it.  

As the punisher lifted his hand, Taehyung gasped, “You stupid girl, go away.  They’ll kill you, don’t you know?”

“I’d rather die than watch them beat you to death.”  

She was still lying over his back when the rod hit her again.  She whimpered, and a raging fury overtook Taehyung.  As the punisher lifted his hand again, Taehyung crumpled to the ground and rolled to lift her off of him.  He shoved her away and the rod came down on his belly.

“What is going on here?” A royal voice suddenly demanded in outrage.  “What is the explanation for this?”

Taehyung lay panting.  That wicked rod had just bounced off his abdominal muscles.  Thankfully, it had missed his ribs.  He glanced at Mari.  She was lying on her stomach.  He could tell she was in pain.  She’d been lashed twice.  

He dragged himself towards her.  “Mari…”  He bent over her.  “Are you all right?”  

He knew she wasn’t.  He wanted to lift her shirt and see how bad the damage was.  She was so tiny.  He winced just looking at her.  Tears filled his eyes.  Poor baby.

Yoongi’s eyes raked every member of his council.  “Why is my best guard being beaten?”

“He was found in this woman’s bed this morning and insisted upon taking her punishment.”

Yoongi glanced at Taehyung in alarm.  The bandage on his head was bright red now.

“You fools!  You hit him in the head?”

“What?  No!” the punisher exclaimed.  “I would never!”

“He already had a wound from last night.  The punisher has hit him only on the back.  Except for the last one.  Which was his own fault.  He moved.”

“You mean, after he struck the girl twice,” Taehyung panted.

Yoongi’s eyes widened in disbelief.  “He struck the girl?”

“She ran out and threw herself over the guard.  She begged to be beaten instead.”

“Enough of this brutality!” Yoongi’s voice exploded along with his temper.  “Take them both to my chamber.  The royal surgeon too.  Don’t let anyone else in!” he ground out.

Then he turned to face his council.  “You will never execute a punishment without my approval from here on out!  Do you hear me?!  Unless you wish to be the next one under the stick!”

He turned and strode across the courtyard.  He had a bloody friend to attend to.  And a new bride.  And a mysterious yet heroic girl.