The Commander's Daughter Read Online Free Page B

had long since abated, but the sting in her heart still hurt.
    She heard a soft knock on the door, and then she watched the reflection in the window as her mother entered the room. She didn’t acknowledge her mother, but simply continued to stare out the window and at the world she now knew she would never get the chance to be a part of.
    “Melody, we need to talk about this,” her mother began, stroking a soft hand over her hair.
    “What’s to talk about? You’ve let that Neanderthal follow me around for a month and never thought to mention I was his property,” she said bitterly.
    “Not his property!” her mother protested. “Do you feel your father treats me as property?”
    Melody had the grace to flush. “No, but I always thought I would have a choice in when I chose to mate and some ability to pick one myself.”
    “I’ve explained the ways of the Ramelians to you again and again, all your life. Why would you think this would never affect you? I admit I hoped it would be a long time before your mate found you, but it cannot be undone now that he has.”
    “Mama, how did you stand it? At least I had some idea of what could happen, but you really had no warning at all. How can you love him?” Melody voiced the question in a whisper.
    Melody’s mother smiled. “I didn’t at first. I fought him daily, I was rude and disrespectful… often disobedient and punished accordingly, I’m afraid. But then he would hold me tenderly and comfort me and at night he gave me pleasure I could never have imagined.”
    Melody blushed hotly at the thought of her parents being intimate. “TMI, mother! Please!”
    Her mother laughed. “Don’t be silly, love, you know we didn’t find you and your siblings under the turnip patch. Your father and I have a very healthy sexual relationship. And he loves me. He loved me from the moment he saw me; it took me a while to understand how it was possible and longer to really believe it. While I can honestly say I will never enjoy punishment, feeling cherished and treasured opened my heart in a way I couldn’t have understood until it happened. Now I understand the gift of my submission to him gives me freedom I could never have had without it and it’s a beautiful thing. He would never abuse that gift in any way.”
    Since she loved her father and saw how much he treasured her mother, Melody really couldn’t argue the point. “But that’s you and daddy. Liam is frowny and stern; how can I trust he will ever treasure me or love me for who I am?”
    “Your father assures me Liam has no choice. The Ramelian males are hardwired to treasure and love their mates beyond measure,” her mother assured her as she leaned down to wrap Melody in her arms.
    Melody leaned into her mother’s embrace. “I thought I had more time.”
    “I thought you did too,” her mother told her quietly. “But it was not to be. Liam has agreed not to claim you right away.”
    Melody looked hopefully up at her mother. “He’s going to leave and come back in a few years?”
    Her mother laughed again. “I think you know that wouldn’t be possible. He has agreed to give you a few weeks to get to know him before the bonding.”
    “A few weeks?” Melody frowned.
    “It’s better than tonight, but you have to try to know him. You can’t stonewall him or rebuff him at every turn. If you challenge him too much, he will bond you immediately,” her mother cautioned her. “He was relieved once your father explained the relationship between you and Jackson. Now he knows you weren’t running off to have relations with a strange man, but were with one you consider to be a brother.”
    “Is he sorry he spanked me?” Melody demanded, hoping for a humble apology.
    “Not at all; in Liam’s eyes you disobeyed, period. Discipline is the natural consequence. At least it was a very mild spanking from what I heard in the hallway.”
    “Mild? It hurt!” the girl exclaimed.
    “I bet your bottom isn’t even