Page 108 of The Vixen

I force myself to stand, my jaw tight while I ready myself to fight. I wait for the words ‘she’s mine’ to come from Chasity’s mouth, but it’s me he looks at instead.

We stare at each other a few moments, me with my eyes narrowed, him looking oddly calm. Finally, he speaks.

“More rice, less Karu.Anda new pair of socks for each of us… Understood?”

I blink at him. It takes me a moment to understand the deal, but as soon as I do, I nod.

“Understood… It won’t be a problem.”

He nods curtly then turns and walks to the other end of the cell. Others seem hesitant, but few would have the courage to stand against him. Actually, no one would because they all eventually slink away.

I turn to Liberty who’s found sanctuary once again in the corner. I can see the question in her eyes without her needing to speak it.

Now what?

CHAPTER 29

LUNA

Ifind Father locked away in his study, the stench of booze overpowering wood polish.

My lips purse as I take in the room—the overturned whiskey bottle, the slouch of Father’s posture, the laptop open and abandoned on his desk, screen dark, untouched. I don’t let my gaze linger.

The whiskey stench grows stronger as I storm toward him. He leans over the armrest of his chair like a drunk too intoxicated to stand, and it only makes my nostrils flare.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I snap, half tempted to slap the glass out of his hand.

With a swirl of his drink, he sighs. “You’rehere to askmewhatI’mdoing? I shouldn’t be surprised…”

I let out a shaky exhale while flexing my fingers. When I speak, I enunciate every word. “What did you make Thorne do?”

He doesn’t answer me right away. Instead, he glares like I’m the enemy. Like I’ve wronged him beyond belief instead of him sabotaging my every move.

I hate him.

It isn’t the first time the immature thought has come to me, but it’s never been so strong. The flash point of alcohol has never seemed so interesting.

After setting his drink on the floor by his chair, Father stands. His clenched jaw reveals anger that seems inappropriate for a man who always gets his way.

“Thorne and I are in agreement. It was time to speed up your plan, so I had him begin the mating process with the whores. Apparently, this upset your lover, and he interfered. Which, to be perfectly honest with you, my sweet, was a relief to Thorne and I both.”

Begin the mating process…

I look over Father’s head while trying to understand what would possess him to do such a thing. What hatred must he have in his heart to sacrifice the future of our people just to spite me?

My knees wobble while I try to suck in full breaths. “You had them raped?”

“Mated. That’s what you brought them here for, yes?”

My hand pressing to my forehead, I shake my head the slightest bit. Not an answer. Just a reflex.

“Why would you do that?” I drop my hand. “You waited until I left just so I couldn’t object. Why, Father? Why are you…”

My words trail off as he pulls a thin slip of paper from his pocket. Blood drains from my face as I recognize the check I wrote for Sawyer—thirty million dollars to his mother’s foundation. Thirty million of my father’s money.

He holds it up for me to see. “Persephone brought this to me this morning. She thought I might find it interesting…”

“It’s a scrap of paper meant to manipulate our ally, and itworked. Sawyer has been compliant ever since I gave it to him.”