Page 121 of Jagged Souls
It isn’tmine.
It isn’ther.
It shouldn’t be there.
“Get it out!” I scream. “Get it out! Get it out!Get it out!”
I jerk my arms down hard, tearing the skin off my wrists as I struggle to free myself. If I can just get a hand free, I can dig the imposter out of my stomach.
I’ll find a knife.
I’ll use a broken bottle.
I’ll antagonize Sadist so badly, he’ll beat me to death.
I just need it out.
“I’ll get Eduardo!” Sunny shouts.
I tear my left arm free of my binding, ripping the skin off my wrist and hand. I grope around for something to stab myself with, but finding nothing, I simply start tearing my nails across my flesh. They haven’t been trimmed in weeks, and the thick keratin scratches through the first layer of skin. Someone grabs hold of me as they curse, their fingers tight around my skinless wrist. Pain flares down my arm, but it’s nothing compared to the shards stabbing their way into my heart.
I don’t want this monster.
It isn’t right.
Rafiki should be the one in there.
I shouldn’t be holding another child in her place.
I can’t do this.
I can’t keep this creature.
I have to get it out.
I jerk against the person holding me. A fist slams into my face. I try to free my other arm.
“Hold her still!” Eduardo snaps as he enters the room, but there is a tinge of fear to his voice, the whine of a coward who doesn’t want to approach anything less than a sedated lion.
Heavy muscles pin my arms down. Someone sits on top of my chest. My screams turn into gasps as the air is pressed out of me. A hand rests on my belly, and warm magic flows from its fingers. I sob as I realize he’s going to keep the monster alive. I do not want the disease in my belly. I want it out. I want it fucking out of me.
“Is it a hybrid?” Antonio demands, his words flat without a care. The calmness of his tone cuts through my fear, and I swallow the rest of my cries as I tremble, waiting for his answer.
A few moments pass, then, “No.”
“Then abort it and breed her again.”
I sag in relief, hiccuping tears of gratitude. Losing the last part of Rafiki I have will break me. Feeling another baby moving around inside of me, passing all the milestones I should’ve had with her…
I won’t survive that.
So despite how much I hate Antonio, I’m grateful to him too. He’s letting me keep that last memory of my baby alive. I want to press a hand to my stomach. I want to curl up and cry. Sobbing as I think of Rafiki, I thank the alpha between my tears. It’s the only solace I’ve had in this place. The last connection I have toher, and I cannot express my gratitude enough for him having killed the otherthingin her place.
Thank you.
Thank you...
Nine days later though, I get pregnant with a hybrid.
