Patrick tensed, waiting. Would she bite him like Claudius did? Would she beat him? His breath choked into a terrified rattle and every hair stood on end, desperately sensing for her. Was she close? How close?

There was a whoosh of air, then a crack. A millisecond later Patrick felt the sting on his naked back. A whip? Holy Jesus! Was she really?

A second crack killed the question and he choked back a cry of burning pain. The impact of the next lash drove him to his ...