Andraya blinked several times in surprise and confusion.
The handsome gentleman who'd entered the room was most definitely not her father. Her father was balding, overweight, and had questionable hygiene. This man was several feet taller than her father, was athletic in build but not overly so, and his long hair was tied back in an elegant style that belonged more in a period drama than in modern-day society. His suit was bespoke and fit him perfectly.
She watched as he made his way to the seat next to her and settled. A moment later, a woman entered carrying a tray with two pitchers, glasses, and a small container of ice. She set it on the table gave a slight bow to both Andraya and the strange man and then left the room.
Andraya eyed the man as he fixed her a glass of something that looked like pale honey and held it out to her. She was weak but was happy to note she was strong enough to take it. The scent rising from the glass was sweet and made her dry mouth want to water.
She drank, as the cold, golden liquid touched her lips, her eyes closed, and she struggled not to guzzle it down greedily as it soothed her dry mouth and throat. She couldn't decide the flavor, but it was magically. When she finished the glass, it was refilled, and she finished half of it before she felt like she could speak.
"Daughter?" her voice came out raspy. She coughed and took another sip.
"Yes, after I found you and brought you here, I went through your clothing looking for identification. You were, after all, on my property. You are 21, this makes you a human adult, but paranormals do not reach their majority until 25, which is maturity-wise that of an 18-year-old or so. You are, to us, a child. Children are not allowed to roam freely, and you are human, you would be prey without protection. I adopted you. You are now my daughter and have all the protection that provides. I, in turn, gain a companion. I have been contemplating the need for one for some time. You will, of course, want for nothing."
Andraya swallowed and straightened her shoulders and tightened her hands on the glass " What if I don't want to be adopted by you? What if I don't want to want for nothing?"
Niklaus was confused. He'd expected the human to gush with gratitude. Humans were, after all, known for being greedy. "Why would you not? I am Niklaus Lord Of Ravis. Some people would kill for just an audience with me."
"I'm not interested in material things. When people talk about wanting for nothing, they are always talking about material possessions." Andraya replied.
" I do not understand," Niklaus said calmly, trying to hold back the irritation and anger that her statement brought. He offered to make this human an elite, a royal among the paranormals, and she was refusing the offer.
Andraya let out a long sigh. She was already tired, and she set her glass on the side table before laying back into the pillows. She could see how a privileged, wealthy person wouldn't understand. There would be no point in arguing with him regarding it. Instead, she decided to ask something personal.
"Why did you adopt me? Why did you want a companion? I know I was just happenstance."
Niklaus thought for a long moment, beings such as he did not readily bare any part of themselves. Weaknesses were hidden so that they could not be exploited by family, friend, and foe alike. Still, she was not asking an unreasonable question.
Niklaus sighed, "I'm a primordial being, that makes me very powerful. I am the Lord of this territory, and even those whose families have served me for more generations than anyone wants to remember, do not come close. There is always a distance, and I am...lonely. I do not need a lover. I want someone to share a meal with, a good conversation, someone who will not fear me or who is willing to come close, to me such a thing is priceless."
Niklaus paused a took a sip of his tea before meeting Andraya's eyes, " My people do not have daughters. We are only able to produce male children. We do not have families because our children leave and do not return. If they were to return, they would die for crossing territory lines. I want a family."
Andraya had been thinking as he spoke, his reasons weren't wrong, but they were incredibly sad, and if he were to be believed, she could see how he would be so lonely.
"I'm not sure I'm the best candidate for creating a family with, my own family was rather dysfunctional, and I have no good examples of how to make a family work successfully."
Niklaus reached out a hand and took her hand, holding it in his. "What do you say to learning together, how to be a family. You will bring me the joy of having a daughter and a child who might come around on holidays, and there won't be the territorial drive to kill, and I will give you all that I have to offer."
Andraya swallowed, "not having the drive to kill is a good thing." She yawned.
"How about we work something out with a bit more definition, something a bit more balanced as all you have to offer seems to be quite considerable and not equal to anything I'd be able to give to you. I'm just a poor human. I don't have anything to bring to the table."
"You might be surprised at how much I would be willing to pay or give to have someone to share life with, even if it is only for the limited years a human may provide. You bring far more than you realize. You already have my name in our community and my protection. If you choose to walk out the door when you are well, I will not stop you. I have no desire to have your company unwilling. I apologize for not asking you. I am not used to asking for anything."
Andraya looked down at the large hand holding hers. Looking at their hands clasped together, she could think of herself as a child or at least child size, and would it be so bad. He had already taken care of her when he could have left her to die. He was offering her the world, and she didn't get the creepy vibe off him. She'd been around plenty of those types of men to know. She could always book if it didn't work out. It wasn't as if she had anything better or anywhere else to go. Andraya took in a very deep breath and then let it out slowly.
She looked up and gripped the massive hand. " Ok, I'll be happy to give this a try, making a family together...Father."