Chapter 136

The seventh lash landed—and Charles buckled. One knee slammed into the floor, blood splattering across the stone. But he forced himself up again. By the ninth, he was barely conscious. Covered in blood. Shaking. "Now…" he whispered, looking up at the elders. "Can he go free?" The First Elder's face was unreadable. After a long pause, he nodded. Charles smiled faintly. Then collapsed. ⋯⋯ He was rushed to the Hart family's private clinic. Blood soaked the stretcher, trailing down the halls. Jason was already waiting in the operating room, gloves on, team ready. One look at Charles's back—and Jason's jaw clenched. "He's insane," he muttered. "That whip was banned for a reason." But now wasn't the time to rage. There was a life to save. "Get the transfusion. Now!" The surgery lasted six hours. And through it all, Charles never woke. Not once.... Three days later, in intensive care. Charles remained comatose, his fever spiking again and again, the infections refusing to ease. Jason barely l