The Progeny (The Progeny Series) by Ashlynne Laynne Read Free Book Online Page B

her cheeks as she swiped her finger across the picture of them—Ascher and her.
    Utterly baffled, she couldn’t understand what she’d done to make him cut communication with her. She’d given him everything he could want in a mate—she'd been dutiful, loving and loyal. She’d given him her virginity, because she believed that their sealing was predestined. Klaus prophesized it three hundred years ago—before either of them existed. She'd sensed that something was off. His voice was different the last time they’d talked, and his expression seemed a little too happy when she’d left the States three months ago.
    The thought of a common existence sickened her. She was ruined goods, tampered with, considered unsuitable for a dignified sealing. If Ascher refused, they’d hand her off to a commoner. Claws ripped from beneath her fingertips and fangs burst from her gums.
    “It’s only nerves ,” Clive interjected, in an effort to alleviate her hysteria.
    Even she could see the lies lurking behind his forced smile. Razor sharp talons scraped along the concrete wall, nearly splitting the blocks in half. “Fix this Father, you and your inbred servants had better fix this.” Her vision swirled with more crimson. “I want the life promised to me, it's mine. I want that bloodstone and I want him . I deserve it, and I’ll be damned if I let it go without a fight!”
    * * * *
    Langley, Massachusetts
    Ascher paced the floor of the great hall, his mind a muddled mess. By now, he’d gotten a reply to his formal request for a postponement. Clive had bypassed him and gone straight to his father.
    Gabe and their father, Jonas, arrived, giving him serious glances as they sat in their seats at the wooden table. Ascher swallowed hard. The large table was for serious meetings. Six months ago, he’d sat at it and received his father’s formal blessing to seal to Ursula. Although, Gabe hadn’t laid claim to Shauna, Ascher still felt like he was betraying him and recognized the scowl of contempt hidden underneath his brother’s pasted grin.
    Ascher sighed. “I know why the both of you are here. I understand the weight of my decision. I also understand the consequences the covenants prescribe if I fail to honor the arrangement. I need more time. I’m just not ready.”
    “Son, I know you , and you wouldn’t make a decision that would put the family in harm, unless there was a good reason. What is the reason for your indecision?”
    “You should talk to her, ” Gabe suggested. “Go to Romania and spend some time with Ursula. It’s been months since you’ve seen her.”
    Ascher knew Gabe’s sudden interest in his love life had little to do with concern, and much to do with getting him away from Langley —away from Shauna. He cringed. The thought of making love to Ursula’s lifeless cold body every night for eternity was enough to make him impale himself.
    Lacing his fingers on the tabletop, Gabe said, “Clive will rain down death on us if you refuse to go through with the sealing. Ursula is beautiful, sweet and she'll make a wonderful mate.”
    Ascher glared at Gabe. He should have nothing to say about it, because he was free from having to make such a sacrifice. “Why do I have to seal to her? Gabriel thinks she’s so great. Let him seal to her!”
    Gabe gritt ed his teeth. “You selfish fool,” he hissed. “You think you can just do what you’d like without consequences?”
    Jonas’s hand crashed down on the heavy wood table, cracking it. “I will not have you two at each other’s throats! If there’s a chance that Clive is coming after us, we have to unite and be ready to fight. The darklings aren’t going to roll over and play nice. They’re soldiers and killing is what they do. It’s why the Romanians created them. Rousseaus don’t behave like this! My sons do not behave like this! What’s wrong with you, Gabriel?”
    Gab e’s face became a slab of furious stone. “ Me , what’s wrong with me ? He