Page 68 of Feast

“No, wait!” Ika blurted. “I’ll pick another one. I’ll pick another one.”

Thusar settled back onto his seat, but his face was set in a stern, unyielding expression.

“A proper one,” he growled. “It is unwise to toy with me, Ika, unless you wish to earn even more punishment.”

Ika turned back to the pile of sticks with a thudding heart. Her mind raced. Surely there was some way that she could escape this humiliating punishment. She just needed to think.

Suddenly, an idea came to her.

Ika knew that Thusar was protective of her. He intended to punish her, but he did not wish to cause her any permanent injury, of that she was fairly certain. Therefore, if she chose a really large stick, Thusar would be forced to go easy on her.

It was a gamble, but Ika decided to try.

She selected a branch that was almost as big around as her wrist and showed it to the pack leader.

“This one,” she said.

The pack of ukkur stared at her blankly for a moment, then they erupted into roars of laughter that shook the walls of the cave. Thusar rose and approached her. He took the branch from her hands.

“I’m going to spank you, not kill you, Ika.”

Thusar broke the stick over his knee and tossed the halves into the fire where they sent up a swirl of orange sparks.

“I’ll give you one last try, little one.”

Ika gulped. She was sweating now, and her heart was almost pounding out of her chest. She turned back to the pile of sticks and selected one. A long, straight twig. It was narrow but sturdy, and her backside tingled at the sight of it.

She offered it to Thusar, who took the switch and held it in the light, examining it carefully.

“Yes, this will do nicely.”

He gestured toward the empty fur where he had been sitting a moment before.

“Now get over there and assume the position.”

“The position?”

“Hands and knees,” Thusar growled coldly. “Face down, ass up.”

Ika whimpered.

But she knew it was useless to resist. Reluctantly, she walked to the fur spread on the floor, taking slow steps to postpone her punishment a few seconds more. Then she got down on all fours, pressed her tear-moistened cheek against the soft, warm fur, and raised her naked hindquarters like an offering.

Ika heard Thusar’s feet scuffing on the floor as he circled her, appraising. There was a moment of shadow as the ukkur passed in front of the fire.

“Spread your knees a bit more.”

Ika complied. Warm air ghosted over her sensitive recess, and she felt eight ukkur eyes focused on the nakedness between her thighs.

“Good,” Thusar growled. “Very good.”

Ika sensed him kneeling, taking up a position beside her. His huge, calloused hand smoothed over the curve of her lower back. The gentleness of that touch belied the rough punishment that she knew was coming.

But somehow, even now, she held out hope that Thusar would change his mind. That he would see she had learned her lesson, and there was no need for a thrashing.

When Thusar spoke, the coldness in his voice quickly dispelled all such hope.

“Here’s how this is going to work,” he growled. “Twenty blows. For each blow, you’re going to count out loud, nice and clear so we can all hear you. If you miss a number, we start over from the beginning. Do you understand?”