Page 171 of Heartbeats & Highways

“You’re not my family. None of you are my family.”

“Weareyour family,” he countered. “When your parents joined the Seed Reapers, we became your family. You married my son. We are bonded. Forever.”

“Family loves and cares for each other. You want me to produce offspring. I’m just a broodmare to you.”

His gaze narrowed. “And you think those heathens are your family?”

“Yes,” I said automatically. “They’re my family.”

“And where are they? Have they come for you?” His grin was smug. “You’re with us now, where you belong. You have nothing to do but rest. Rest and grow ripe.”

His eyes slid to my belly. He stepped forward and reached a hand out to touch me.

I batted him away.

He clenched his hands into fists and rage swept across his face.

“Just like your son,” I murmured. “You hate being denied.”

My words landed. He opened his hand and slapped me hard across the cheek. The pain was instantaneous and my eyes watered.

“You get to choose how you want me to treat you, Evie. You can either cooperate and bite your tongue, or I can make thingsveryunpleasant for you.”

I pointed to the shackles around my ankles. “More unpleasant than this?”

“If you think this is unpleasant, you’re in for a rude awakening.”

I began to laugh which only made him angrier. “You’re so deluded.”

My laughter turned maniacal. He’d already told me my fate—a fate worse than death.

My brain was on the fritz.

“The chamber pot,” he stated.

“What about it?”

“I need to see it.”

“What? Why? You just saw me throw up in it.”

“Not that one. Theotherone,” he insisted. “I need to know if you’re getting enough fluid.”

The Grand Patriarch didn’t wait for my reply. He crouched down and reached for the chamber pot that was underneath the cot.

He looked into it and shook his head. “You need more liquids.”

“Tell that to your wife. She’s in charge of feeding me, isn’t she?”

He clenched his jaw. “Breakfast will be up shortly. You will eat every bite.”

The Grand Patriarch marched toward the door and when his hand was on the knob, I spoke.

“You told me they weren’t my family.”

He froze but didn’t turn around to look at me.

“You said they wouldn’t come for me. I don’t believe that, and neither do you.” I moved my legs, the chains clinking together, reminding us both of my position. “You better hope he’s dead. Because if he’s not, you’re going to find out why he’s named Savage.”

---