Page 27 of Legacy of Succession

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

NICHOLAS

The need to protect herself must suddenly occur to Victoria because before I realize what she intends to do, she raises her leg and thrusts it hard into my shin. I step back and grab my aching leg.

“Bitch,” I growl, but she doesn’t hear me because she’s taken off fast down the corridor. She manages the steps down without any trouble, and I listen to her rapid breathing in the darkness. I chase after her with murderous intent. William is my flesh and blood — he’s my closest ally in this house, and I won’t see any harm come to him from anyone. Especially a stuck up girl who thinks that she’s better than her allotted place in life. She thinks I’m a coward. I’ll show her just what I can do. She reaches her room and kicks at a pile of books holding the door open and tries to shut it. She’s too late and too weak against my superior strength. I push the door open and stalk into her room. The lights are already on, and I can see that she’s like a frightened little rabbit, cowering backward into a corner.

“Big mistake,” I sneer.

“He came to me first,” she pleads.

“William doesn’t understand what he’s doing. He thinks he’s nice, but he doesn’t understand the trouble it’ll get him into with my father. You should have sent him away and certainly shouldn’t have followed him.” I prowl closer to her, closing the distance between us like a cheetah ready to pounce.

“You forget something. I’m not the monster in this house. I’m just as much of a victim as it seems your brother is. Both of us not allowed to leave and kept hidden away against our free will. If you want to look at who might hurt your brother, go look in a mirror,” she hisses back at me. “Your brother was just being nice and bringing me a present.”

I groan. Setting William up with an Amazon Prime account was the worst thing I’d ever done. I thought it would help alleviate the boredom he felt, but after he spent five thousand pounds on games consoles, books, and a massive television in the first month alone, I decided to limit his spending. He’s obviously been on it again and buying presents for people that he really shouldn’t.

“You have to promise me you won’t tell anyone you saw him.” She's in the corner, and I place both my hands on the wall either side of her. She’s trapped. The only way out is to kick me again, but I’m anticipating that.

“Why?” she asks with utter contempt for me.

“Please?”

“Let me go, and I won’t say a word. Let me walk out of this house, right now.”

“You know I can’t do that,” I reply, sick of the same argument. Doesn’t she realize that I could squash her like a fly?

“Why not?”

“For god’s sake, Victoria. Just accept that this is happening. You aren’t getting out of here anytime soon,” I snap.

“Tell me something — I know what happens if you choose me. I get to be the Duchess of Oakfield and put my own children through the heartbreak I’m experiencing. What happens if you don’t choose me?”

“I’m not talking about this. Just answer me. Will you keep quiet about William?”

“No, you answer me.” She stamps her foot. I brace myself just in case she’s about to kick out again.

“God, you're the most infuriating woman I’ve ever known. Fine, you want to know what happens. If you survive the task, if being the poignant factor, and you lose, then you’ll be taken by the other men and raped. You’ll then be executed —since you’ll know far too much. Face it. One way or another, your life’s over. Accept it. Save my brother in the process. Don’t drag him down with you.”

She gasps, and her legs give way. She sinks to the floor at my feet.

“How can you do this to me? You don’t even know me. How can you be so cruel?” Tears pool in her eyes, but they don’t fall. Despite her moment of weakness, she won’t allow me the indignity of seeing her cry.

“It’s not personal. If I could change things, then I would. I want this as much as you do.” The anger of moments ago dissipates between us. I crouch down on the balls of my feet in front of her. “I’ve told you I have no choice. It’s the only way to get rid of him.”

“Your father?”

I nod an affirmative.

“I don’t want to die.”

“I don’t want you to die. I don’t want Elizabeth and Amelia to die either, but I have to get rid of him. Once I’m Duke, William can be seen. I’ll be in charge. I’ll make the rules.”

“Will you change the rules of the society so that this doesn’t happen to other people?”

I swallow deeply.

“I’ll do what I can.”

---