The Professor's Mate Clause novel Chapter 57

CHAPTER 57

KELVIN’S POV

I have been here for twelve hours: No food. No water. Just stone walls and the knowledge that I failed again. Failed to warn Freya Failed to stop my father. Failed to be anything other than what he teade me

A killer. A coward. A tool.

I hear footsteps approaching. My father’s. I know his walk

The cell door opens. He stands in the doorway. Arms crossed and facing me.

“How long are you going to pout in here?” His voice is cold. “I have work for you.”

“I am not pouting. I am imprisoned. There is a difference.”

“Semantics. You disobeyed me. You tried to interfere with my plans. You had to be punished.” He steps inside. “But punishment is over. Now you get a chance to redeem yourself.”

I do not want redemption. Not his version anyway. But I need to get out of this cell. Need to find a way to actually help Freya instead of just promising it.

“What do you want?”

“Tomorrow morning we have the rejection ceremony. You will guard Freya. Make sure she does not try anything stupid. Make sure she says the words.” My father moves closer. “And if she refuses then you will hurt her. In front of Adrian. Until she agrees.*

My stomach turns. “No.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said no. I am not torturing her. Find someone else.”

His hand moves faster than I can react. His fist connects with my jaw. Pain explodes. I taste blood. My head snaps back and hits

the wall.

“You do not get to say no. You are my son. My weapon. You do what I tell you.”

“You killed her mother when I asked. You will hurt her too if necessary.”

“That was different. I was younger. Stupider. I did not understand what I was doing.”

“You understood perfectly. You just did not care. So do not pretend you have suddenly grown a conscience.” He grabs my shirt. Pulls me close. “You are going to guard her. You are going to make sure she rejects Adrian. And if she does not then you are going to make her wish she had. Are we clear?”

The urge to fight him, to refuse. to be brave for once in my pathetic life.

But I am not brave. Never have been. Just weak. Just obedient. Just desperate for approval I will never get.

“Clear.”

“Good. Shower. Change. Report to the holding cells in one hour. You will stand guard outside her cell until morning.” He releases me. Brushes off his hands like touching me soiled them. “And Kelvin. If you try to help her again I will not put you in a cell. I will put you in the ground. Understood?”

“Understood.”

He leaves leaving the door open.

I drag myself up. My jaw throbs. I can already feel it swelling. I stumble out of the cell. Down the hallway. To the showers.

2

3

+16 Bonus

The hot water feels good. Washes away the blood. The grime. The shame. But it cannot wash away what I am. What have always been.

A monster.

I killed Freya’s mother. Wrapped my hands around her throat and squeezed until she stopped moving. Watched the light leave her eyes.

I was young and angry. Grieving my mate. Desperate to make someone else fert the way I was hurting

My father said it was necessary. Said she had information about Freya’s location. Said if she talked then we could finish what needed finishing.

I did not think about what it would do to Freya. Did not think about anything except my own pain. My own loss. My own selfish need for revenge.

And now Freya is here. In my father’s compound. About to be murdered by the same people who murdered her mother.

Because of me. All of it is because of me.

I finished showering and got dressed.

The walk to the holding cells takes five minutes. Five minutes to decide if I am going to follow orders or finally do something right.

Five minutes is not enough time to become brave.

Freya’s cell is at the end, dark, small, and stinky. I can hear her breathing inside. Steady. Controlled. She is not crying very strange of her, she was really designed for Adrian.

I stand outside her cell door. Silent. Trying to figure out what to say. What to do. How to fix this.

“I know you’re out there Kelvin.” Her voice comes through the door. “I can smell you.”

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