“Chin up! Shoulders back! And keep that face like how I taught you. No emotion. No warmth.” My father growled out, smacking me with a whip in his hands, aiming it at places where no one could see the bruise. “I expect more from you. Always. You should be the best of them, the smartest, the most beautiful, the most cunning. Never show any weaknesses, do you understand? Never have anything out of place. Be perfect. Be a Rhys.”
“I will.” I squeaked, but the sound of my young voice only angered him more.
“You’re ten years old. Grow up already, Vasilisa. You’re not a child anymore.” He snapped, lashing his thick whip at me again. “You are this family’s last hope. If you fail, we all fail. And we never fail, so it is up to you. Will you be this family’s undoing or will you be our salvation?”
