“I don’t know yet. I need to be there toassess the situation.”
“It’s my job to protect you,” Veronicaground out. “It always has been. Your life means more to humanitythan mine does.”
Victor sucked in his breath. Lachlan’s eyeswidened at her words. Even Finn and Ramsay glanced over to her withworried looks.
“Do you really believe that?” her brotherasked.
Her jaw was firm. “I do.”
“How can you say that, wife?” Lachlanangrily asked. “Your life means everrathing.”
“Not compared to Victor’s.”
“Who told you that bullshit?” Victordemanded. She wasn’t accustomed to her brother showing his temperso it took her somewhat aback. “Who?”
“Mom,” she quietly admitted.
Silence.
“Nica…”
“It’s okay, Victor. I understand my role. Ialways have. I was born to keep you alive so you can continue yourwork and expand humanity’s knowledge.”
“I feel like I’m going to vomit. I can’tbelieve mom would say that to you.”
“She didn’t. At least not outright. It wasjust something I picked up on from a very young age.”
Veronica’s life flashed before her mind’seye. Their mother had loved them both, yes, but she’d also made itobvious by her constant bragging on Victor’s educationalaccomplishments that her baby brother was intrinsically more worthythan his older sister. Knowledge meant everything to theirscientist mother and was the standard by which she cast heropinions on a person’s value. She had likely felt it was theirfather’s duty to protect her and Veronica’s obligation to caretakefor her brother. It’s just the way it was. Everybody had theirplace.
“Nica, whatever mom did or didn’t do—said orfailed to say—she was incredibly proud of you and understood yourvalue.” When she said nothing to that, he plowed on. “For whateverit’s worth, I always felt like I could never live up to thestandards set by my big sister in dad’s eyes.”
“That’s crazy,” Veronica insisted. “Daddyknew your value. It was the same as mine, just different.”
“And mom understood that as well. I knowthat to be a fact. She always raved about your talent concerningeverything from the martial arts to target shooting. Well, come tothink of it, she raved behind your back rather than to your face,but rave she did.”
“Really?” Veronica’s heart stirred in herchest. “She did that?”
“Yeah. All the time.”
She smiled. The newfound knowledge meanteverything to her. “Daddy did the same about you. He always saidyou would change the world.”
“He did?”
“Pinky swear.”
Victor grinned. “Then I guess we’ve bothbeen carrying around misconceptions since childhood.”
“It appears we have.”
“’Tis happy I am you have set the otherstraight,” Lachlan growled. “Never let me hear you speak thuslyagain, wife.”
Veronica looked over to him and searched hisface. “I’m sorry. I won’t.”
He grunted, but looked appeased. “Leastways,we shall take a break at our usual resting place betwixt the grovesof trees. We are but an hour’s ride from the Campbell holding nowso whoever needs must piss you are to do so afore we arrive.”
“I dinna ken if I can,” Finn said, pullinghis cloak tighter. A braided lock of black hair showed from underhis hood. “’Tis nigh unto as cold as a witch’s tit out here.”
Veronica grinned at him for the first timesince his faux pas at supper. He grinned back, looking reassured bythe fact she was acknowledging his presence once again.
