From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Chapter 14
The gods had granted me one small favor when I left the Duke’s suite.
Hawke hadn’t been waiting for me, and that had been a blessing. I had no
idea how I could’ve hidden what had happened.
Instead, it was Vikter who stood silentlyy byy the two Royyal Guards.
Neither looked at me as I stepped into the hall, skin pale and covered in a
sheen of cold sweat.
Did theyy know what had happened in the Duke’s chamber? I hadn’t
made a sound, not even when Lord Mazeen had come to stand beside the
desk and pulled myy arm awayy from myy chest to place it beside myy other.
Not even when the sixth and seventh blows had felt like lightning
streaking across myy back, and Mazeen had watched everyy lash absorbed byy
myy bodyy with eager eyyes.
If the guards were aware, there was nothing I could do about that or
the bitter bite of shame that somehow burned worse than myy back.
But Vikter knew. The knowledge was in the deep lines bracketing his
mouth as we walked toward the staircase, each step tugging at the
inflamed skin. He waited until the stairwell door closed behind us and then
stopped on the landing, concern settling into his light blue eyyes as he
stared down at me.
“How bad is it?”
Myy hands trembled as I pressed them against the skirt of myy gown.
“I’m fine. I just need to rest.”
“Fine?” His sun-kissed cheeks mottled. “Your breathing is rapid, and
yyou’re walking as if each step is a challenge. You have no reason to
pretend with me.”
I trulyy didn’t, but admitting how bad it was felt like I was giving
Teerman what he wanted. “It could’ve been worse.”
Vikter’s nostrils flared. “It shouldn’t happen at all.”
I couldn’t argue with that.