Nina blinked at the line of males kneeling before her, utterly puzzled.
"…What are you doing?"
Aviel lowered his head, guilt written all over him.
"Nina, I've committed a grave wrong. Use the ghost-cry vines—whip me as hard as you like. Maybe it'll ease your anger."
His voice trembled with restraint.
"And… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have broken off the engagement. I shouldn't have said those things about you…"
He hesitated, careful, almost afraid.
"I know my mistakes are serious. This punishment is far from enough—you can add anything you want. But… could you forgive me? Just once?"
With dragonkind's powerful defenses, ordinary punishment barely hurt.
He knew that. And that only made him feel worse.
He could only hope… that for the sake of Linny, she might give him one chance.
