Interlude III sneak peek

Xavier stares at his mother with mounting horror. "You can't be serious."

Florence sighs, running a hand through her loose, silver-streaked curls. "Xavier..."

"I'm marrying Annika in three months!"

"And I'm not saying you can't!" Florence groans. She's already said this twice, and she's getting tired of repeating herself. "Darling. Sit down and have a drink. You're being emotional."

"Emotional?" He thunders. He looks ready to throw something. If he were a violent man, Florence might be worried. As it is, she sits on the chair by the fire and picks up her tumbler of vodka.

"What you're asking - no, what you're demanding of me, is immoral!"

Florence hates that concept. What does morality have to do with legacy? "Xavier," she begins, deciding the time for kid gloves is over. "Annika cannot have children. The doctors have confirmed it. Hell, you and Annika have confirmed it - fucking like rabbits since you were sixteen!"

Xavier flushes in embarrassed indignation. "Don't-"

"Do not interrupt me when I am speaking!" Florence snaps. Xavier goes silent and sullen. Taking a breath to calm herself, Florence continues. "Annika cannot have children, and her little misstep in the woods ensured that won't change."

"So what?" Xavier presses. The rage is so close to the surface, but he's a good man. He won't unleash it. "So what if she can't have children? I don't even want children!"

"Your wants don't factor into this. Our legacy here is the only thing keeping that thing out there at bay! I thought you cared about the people here! I thought you wanted to protect them!"

Xavier stiffens. An unfamiliar, sardonic smile twists his beautiful features and darkens his pale eyes. "Protect them? Like how you protected Lacy?"

Florence grits her teeth. "Xavier."

"Or Anastasia - sorry, she goes by Stacy now, right?"

"Xavier!"

"Or what about how you protected Silas' dad?"

Florence throws the tumbler of vodka - it smashes in the fireplace, the alcohol sending a quick, violent gout of flame dangerously close to her chair.

Xavier smirks. "That's what I thought. You don't give a single fuck about protecting the people here. You've made that clear every time someone makes you mad. Am I next? Are you going to drag me into the woods?"

He snorts at his own words. "No, you can't. Because if you did, you'd either never see me again, or I'd come back useless."

Florence bites her tongue so hard that she tastes blood. "You will father a child, and you will continue our legacy. I will make sure of it."

"Then try your best, Mother." He leaves without a backward glance.

Florence wishes she had another glass to throw.