A slight flicker of fear crossed her eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. As her lips parted to speak, Alyxander beat her to it. "You keep your filthy hands off of her!" Josephine gave him a slightly warning glance, worried the king would attack him. The cut that he had gotten from the slap early had caused a trail of blood to stain his cheek. Josephine returned her glare to the king again. "You will never win. No matter what you do to me, it will not change who I am or what I am fighting for. Why waste your energy on such a useless punishment?"