I whirled around to face the council, ripping my arms free. Then I rushed up to Rose, who watched, face flat, as the guardians tied my mother’s wrists to the dangling rope.

I fell to my knees. “Please, she doesn’t understand what she’s doing,” I cried, tears blurring my vision. “I deserve to be punished for what I’ve done, not her!”

“You’re right,” Rose replied, voice steely. “You deserve the blame. And so you’ll pay your own price.” She turned hard eyes to Claude, who held the whip. “Bring it to me.”

I twisted back to see my mother hanging from the rope, wrists secured above her head. Claude stepped up to Rose and held out the whip.

Rose snatched the long coiled cord and shoved it at me. “Whip her!”

The air around me stilled.

Rose grabbed my arm and pulled me to my feet. Shoved the whip into my belly. “Whip her or I swear I’ll kill her!”

“No.” Her intention was finally sinking into my skull. “I can’t!”

“You can and you will if you have any hope of seeing your mother survive.”

Grace, you must do whatever is necessary, Bobbie’s voice whispered through my mind, and I knew she was close. Whatever is asked of you.

I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t inflict this kind of pain on anyone, much less my own mother.

If you don’t it’ll be much worse for both of you. Think of your unborn child. Think of the damage this could do.

“No,” I said again, staring at the whip I held over my belly. “I . . . I can’t.”

“Look at me, Grace.” My mother had twisted toward me. Light glistened in her eyes. If she was feeling fear, she hid it well. “Listen to me. I know what I’m doing. Do as Rose asks. It’s alright.”

“I can’t hurt you,” I wept. “You can’t ask me to do this.”

“It’s all going to be alright. You must do what’s best for your child, just like I’m doing for you.”

Listen to your mother, Grace. Protect your baby. You have to do what is asked.

I glanced back toward the other council members as they watched. Surely someone would intervene. Rebecca? Colin? Surely someone would stop this insanity. My eyes fell to my brother, who was staring at the horizon.

“Jamie . . . Please, she’s our mother.”

He said nothing. I knew he was lost to me, that I was alone now. I looked at Andrew, pleading, but he lowered his gaze. My tragic reality was setting in. I had done this. Whipping my mother was my price to pay.

A sob escaped my mouth and I turned back to Rose. “Please, there has to be another way.”