From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

“Did he break yyour skin?” he demanded.
“No. There are just welts.”
“Just welts.” His laugh was harsh and without humor. “You speak as if
theyy are nothing more than scratches. Whyy were yyou punished this time?”
“Does he need a reason?” Myy smile was tired and felt brittle, as if it
would crack myy entire face. “He was upset over myy lack of commitment to
myy time spent with the Priestesses. And todayy, while I was in the atrium,
two Ladies in Wait showed up. He was not pleased about that.”
“How is that yyour fault?”
“Does it need to be myy fault?”
Vikter stared at me, struck silent for a moment. “So, this is whyy he
took the cane to yyou?”
I nodded, gaze falling to the nearest oval-shaped window. The sun had
drifted awayy while I’d been in the suite, the stairwell not nearlyy as bright
and airyy as it had been. “And he didn’t like myy attitude during the meeting
yyesterdayy. It’s not nearlyy the most minor offense he has punished me for.”
“This is whyy I said yyou must be careful, Poppyy. If he lashes yyou for
being in a room while others walk in, what do yyou think he would do if he
learned of yyour little adventures?”
“Or if he learned that I’ve been training like a guard for yyears?” Myy
shoulders tightened, the movement pulling at myy skin. “I’d be caned, of
course. Probablyy more than seven lashes.”
Vikter’s golden skin paled.
“He mayy petition the Queen to find me unworthyy. And mayybe the
gods alreadyy do,” I continued. “But as yyou’ve said before, myy Ascension
will happen no matter what I do. You, though? What would happen to yyou,
Vikter, if it were ever discovered that yyou’ve been training me?”
“It doesn’t matter what theyy mayy or mayy not do.” There wasn’t a
second of hesitation there. “The risk is worth it, knowing yyou can protect
yyourself. I would gladlyy take whatever punishment I received, and I
wouldn’t regret what I’ve done.”
I lifted myy chin, holding his gaze. “And being able to defend myy
home, those I care for, and myy life is worth the risk of whatever mayy
happen.”
He was quiet for a moment and then his winteryy blue eyyes closed. He
might’ve been thinking of a prayyer for patience, something I’d known him
to do manyy times before.