Page 34 of Legacy of Succession

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

NICHOLAS

“You’re awake.” I storm into her room without waiting for admittance. She’s sitting up in the bed, wearing pajamas over her bandages. Last time I saw her, she was naked and bleeding all over her sheets. Despite looking withdrawn from no food for a few days, she seems fine.

“I am. I woke not more than half an hour ago.” She shuffles on the bed to get comfortable, and I can see that she’s still in pain.

“Did Amelia give you the pills?” I ask.

“She did. I think they’re starting to work as my body is more rested than when I first woke.”

“You're to take them every four hours. I’ll set a reminder on my phone to come and check that you've taken them.” I pull my phone out of my pocket and pull up an alarm.

“There’s no need. I’m sure I can manage to remember.” She looks around the room for a clock — her face falling when she remembers that she doesn’t have one. “Maybe I’ll need that reminder.”

My father decided when we were preparing the rooms for the girls that they wouldn’t need clocks. He stated it would be better if they had no idea what time of day it was, other than by the rising and setting of the sun. It all sounded a bit more like adding additional torture into their stay to me.

“I'll have a clock put in here so you can keep an eye on the time yourself.”

“Thank you, My Lord.”

I grind my teeth at the form of address she uses for me.

“So, how are you feeling?” I’m still standing in the doorway. I can’t bring myself to walk any farther into the room, yet. I want to strangle her for not saying ‘yes’ and thus preventing her body from being put through this. But at the same time, I want to kiss every inch of her body in the hope that it will stop the pain she’s in. Argh. Women! Why do they have to be so complicated? Men are simple creatures, far more pliable. Particularly if you have a voracious dick like mine. Food, sleep, shower, shit, sex, not necessarily in that order, and several of those more than once a day.

“Just fine and dandy,” she responds, and her own face darkens with anger.

“Why didn’t you just say yes?” I can no longer temper my fury.

“Why should I? I’m not a liar, Nicholas.”

“Because, if you did, then this would have been much easier, and I wouldn’t have had to see you covered in blood and humiliated.” I put my head in my hands and pull the strands of my hair through to the end. “I wouldn’t have to worry that, because of what happened, you’re broken.”

She laughs at me. I see it hurts her, when she flinches, but she continues.

“You think this would break me? No, no chance. It’s made me even more determined to make you see that what’s happening here is wrong. You marry for love and with freedom of choice, Nicholas. If your wife misbehaves, you don’t lead her around in some elaborate parade designed to humiliate her.”

“You hate me.” Her words hit me hard, and I want to go to her and hold her. I want to stroke her and make all the pain go away.

“No. I don’t blame you for this. As I’ve said before, you're weak. What happened to me is because of the society, and your father’s macabre nature. What happens now is down to you, though.”

I finally dare to move closer to her and sit on the edge of the bed. While she’s speaking, she reaches out and takes my hand. I look at the cannula embedded in her delicate flesh.

“What do you mean?”

“Stop this. Go to your father and tell him you won’t go through with it anymore. Tell him that you’re letting Amelia, Elizabeth, and I go, and when you marry, it’ll be for love. You're the only one who can do that. Does the title of Duke mean that much to you? Would you rather money and prestige over your soul?”

“I lost my soul years ago. There’s still much that you don’t know about this society and what it does.”

“Then, tell me,” she interrupts me.

“I’m too entwined in this. Bringing it down will destroy everything. William also. I can’t risk his future.”

“But you can mine?”

“It’s not like that.”

“Then what’s it like?” She lets go of my hand and moves away to the other side of the bed.

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