She stiffened. Whether it was from the mention of punishment or the cage, he wasn’t sure, but the woven magic between them dissipated.
He didn’t want to administer Zander’s punishment—the serious whipping she’d earned for allowing or encouraging her daughter to leave the pod and put herself and their unborn young in danger. Slapping her with the flat of his hand while holding her snug against his lap was one thing. Binding her to the apparatus Daneth had provided and using various implements was another.
But it had to be done. He served Zander and had taken Leora on as his slave, his responsibility. And no, he wouldn’t want or allow any other being to do it in his stead.
He brought her to his chamber and leaned his back against the door. His nervous system had been abuzz since the momen
