Chapter 9

My father watched lazily on the side. "Vera, if you're this soft-hearted, how will you ever assume power in the future?" Though his tone was light, I felt an invisible, crushing weight pressing down on me. "Think about what Jeremy and Tara have done to you. If you show them mercy, what about yourself? Are you going to wear the mark of a victim for the rest of your life?" My father's words dragged those fading memories back to life. Fury surged through me, and I kicked Jeremy off, tearing him away from my leg where he was snivelling for forgiveness. "Tie them to the stern!" At my command, the mercenaries rushed forward, seizing Jeremy and Tara and binding them without question. Jeremy shrieked, "No, Vera! I saved your life once!" For years, he had used that as his bargaining chip. Time after time, he took things for granted and trampled all over my boundaries, hurting me without a shred of remorse. "Jeremy, I told you. It's over between us! We're even." I looked at the f