Spit flies as a fist lands against my jaw, a snarling Jasper behind the heavy blow. "Tell us where you've hidden her!" He's in my face, his hot breath blowing against my jaw. But then he whispers, "Your family has contested Forks' right to retain you."

I headbutt him in the jaw, knocking him backward. "I'll die before I give up a member of my kingdom."

He grabs the whip, and I brace myself for the stinging blows. I'm stretched taut, arms in the air, legs spread wide, feet anchored to chains that connect to the walls. The whip snaps, a loud crack in the air before landing across my back with the brunt of the blow spent before contact.

It's a game we play.

Jasper and me.

He tortures, less so than it appears.

And I pretend to suffer more.

A tiny red light shines from a dark corner, Royce no doubt watching the playback with keen eyes.

I'm tired and worn, but more alert than I should be, even though I don't know exactly how long I've been here. Hours bleed into days and my dark existence has left me lost to the passage of time. Jasper visits often, and we go through the motions.

In what I assume to be the dead of night, a loyal guard sneaks in water and bread, just enough to sustain me.

Jasper tosses the whip down after five searing licks and approaches, claws pricking my chest. "What about your wife, Prince? Would you prefer we focus on her?"

Usually, my attempts to attack him are half-hearted, but this one isn't. Even with my arms and legs rendered useless, my mouth is a dangerous weapon, and I just miss his jugular as he jumps back with wide eyes.

"Do not ever mention my mate again," I hiss, deadly serious.

I realize he doesn't know about and could not understand the bond I share with Bella, but she is off-limits in this game we play. I will rip him apart for daring to breathe her name.

"I see I hit a nerve," he sneers, but the panic in his eyes don't go unnoticed. "Perhaps you'd give up Rose Hale in exchange for a promise to drop all charges and withdraw our petition for proof of marriage."

"You will return me to my kingdom, and I will inquire if Rose wishes to return to Forks," I say, steadfast. "And if that answer is yes, I will see she has a personal escort."

Jasper paces, his hands behind his back. "You will likely die here, then."

He leaves without another word.

And I sag, my arms numb from being above my head for so long.

Just as I think it, the gears click, click, click and my body lowers to the dirt, chains still attached. I slump into the foul-smelling ground, the abuse and hunger making me weak.

At least Jasper shared that my kingdom knows of my fate.

Proof that shielding Bella is the right call.

I fall asleep, and the next thing I know, I'm kicked awake, a flashlight shining in my eyes.

"Prince Edward," Jasper says urgently. "The Kingdom has suffered an electrical blackout, and we may only have minutes. I'm going to release you so that you can stretch your muscles. I fear you'll become immobile if you stay chained up. Please understand, I will retaliate violently if you make any attempt at an escape." He holds up a key. "Do you agree?"

I snarl, the low growl echoing off the walls. "I'm too weak to escape. You've made sure of that."

"I apologize," he says, moving to open the cuffs. "But that is my job."

"You should be in Kingdom Cullen," I snap, angry that he's chosen the humans over his own kind.

He barks a laugh, and I'm not fond of the tone. "My family has been banished." He stands, all the locks open, and holds out a hand. "It was decades ago, by your great grandfather, I believe, but being born away from your people out of necessity fosters bitterness."

I brush his hand aside and crawl to my knees before planting one foot in the dirt and then the other. I rise, every muscle in my body screaming in pain. For the first time since that day at the water hole, I'm able to stand freely, and I owe that to Jasper.

"What is your family name?" I ask, stretching my arms before attempting my first step.

"Whitlock," he replies.

I cut my gaze to his, brows lifted. "As in Roger Whitlock?"

"Yes, Prince." He eyes me carefully.

The name is one shared with us as cubs to paint a picture of a great betrayal, but I've never felt as deeply for the tale as one is expected to. The story goes that in our time of war with the canids, Roger Whitlock went behind King William's back and brokered a peace deal without permission. He'd been warning of the human threat, and my great-great-grandfather refused to listen. Instead of accepting the treaty, the king banned Roger Whitlock and his family and ordered an attack on the Kingdom Black troops in the field.

Those actions extended the war for another two years.

But the story is always told to make King William look courageous. I questioned it as a cub, and my mother always told me to remember how I felt about it when it became my turn to lead.

After my first step, I stagger, but I continue walking around the room. Besides Jasper, the guard who brings my sustenance is near the doorway. I probably could escape this room but not the Kingdom of Forks entirely, so I won't make an attempt.

"As heir to the Cullen throne, I will clear your name," I finally say. "No matter how this situation turns out."

"I worry you will not make it back to your kingdom," Jasper says, hanging his head. "Royce is growing ever impatient, and I fear he would have me kill you rather than hand you over to the Council."

"Then you know what you must do," I demand. "It is against Planet Eclipse law to murder a royal."

"I realize that, but I need a compromise from you, Prince." He holds up the cuffs. "Not much longer."

"I'll think about it and try to come up with a solution, but I will never agree to return Rose," I tell him. "She is my mate's sister in life, and it would destroy Bella to lose her."

"I don't believe he will accept anything less," he says, and the hall light flickers. "Hurry. Back in your position."

It pains me to allow myself to be chained up again, but for the first time in my life, I'm going to trust that a stranger will do the right thing.

Jasper Whitlock, if he's anything like his distant relative, will not allow me to be murdered in cold blood.

I'm currently writing chapter 30, and it's scary to have y'all so close, so we'll stick w/Mondays until I get more than 5 ahead of y'all.

See you nxt week :)