Vital: The New Protectorate Stories: Volume Four by Abigail Kelly

Author:Abigail Kelly [Kelly, Abigail]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-08-28T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Three

The next morning, Josephine was surprised to find herself still simmering with the quiet, calm rage. She half expected a return of the meek creature she was before, heralded by the cold realities of a new day, but it did not return.

Fury and determination carried her through the motions of preparing Otto’s food, folding her blankets, and sipping from the cup that he would drink from — the first step of stage two.

Ridiculous, she thought. It was no wonder the benefactors were upset with her father when he wasted time on his Wyeth Protocols, knowing full-well they would never work.

Not that Josephine wanted them to, but now she saw her life with new eyes. She saw her father’s arrogance, his single-minded determination to do things his way, no matter how foolish or cruel those things were. She saw Harrod’s doglike devotion to her father, too, and was disgusted by them both.

Her new state of mind was a revelation. It was as if she had been seeing the world through a fog of terror, and now that she could see clearly, she did not feel small, nor weak.

When her mother turned her nose up at Josephine over a late breakfast, she felt nothing for the woman. No hate, no regret, no longing. All she saw was a miserable woman who did not know how to love anyone but herself. It would be as much a relief to be rid of her as it would be to throw out shoes that were slightly too tight.

When Harrod escorted her to the barn, her arms laden with her delivery, she didn’t listen to a word he said. She stared straight ahead as he went on in his cold voice about how he was certain they would be bonded, despite her father’s clear reluctance, and what he expected from her moving forward.

He demanded she be obedient. He would have her loyalty above all others, even her father. He would put a child in her as quickly as possible, for efficiency’s sake, and she would do well to make that process as easy as possible, lest she spark his temper. He would require she tend to him often, and speak as little as possible.

He declared it as if the matter was decided. They would be bonded. He would tie his magic to her and he would consider marrying her if she pleased him well.

With every word, Josephine’s rage expanded in her chest like a great Parisian balloon. If he continued, she wondered in a detached sort of way if she might simply float up into the sky, buoyed by the hot air of her fury.

You will not have me in your bed, she thought as they approached Otto’s cell door. Because very soon you will be dead.

For all that he’d done to her. For all that he’d done to Rasmus and every subject who came before and after. Most of all, it would be because he’d threatened her mate and children.

Harrod would never leave Meadow Creek again.

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