Malachi watched the couple go through the door and close it. He turned his gaze back to their daughter. He saw exactly what she was, a spoiled pampered brat. Oh but she would play any part she had to very well. She was just as conniving as her parents. Right at the moment though she was fearful but she hid it well. Still he could smell it, and she looked a bit more pale. He was also very pissed at his father for the fact he was stuck with this young woman. She was never going to accept him, accept what he was. He was mad at his father for taking his choice of mate from him. Did he understand why? Yes, did he want to? No.
"You know the deal that they made?" Lord Vento asked.
"Yes, you asked if my parents would have their daughter marry your son. To keep my family from falling into Ricardo Alectro's holdings." She said dutifully.
"I have no need of a wife." Malachi interjected. He was eighteen and this was bullshit to him. No he didn't want a wife, well not her. He also disliked the word wife. Better than mate he guessed, he was not going to be able to choke that word down looking at her. His father looked at him, displeasure there but he didn't shout at him. Still he knew that later his father would give him an earful no doubt.
"But I thought…"
"Excuse Malachi, he tends to speak before he thinks. You and he will be married, it will keep the peace for now. As long as you are able to handle the position that is coming to you." Malachi didn't doubt she would be able stand in the position given to her. He didn't think that she was the right person for it. However, how long did he have to put up with her? He didn't like the sight nor scent of her. He'd be rid of her as soon as he could.
"I will be what you need, I know my place."
"I don't think that you really do." Was Malachi's out spoken opinion. Clearly Malachi was not able to hold back on his irritation. Unlike this nearly young woman, he didn't see marriage as a status symbol. He wanted what his parents had had, and instead he was now in a political game. He wasn't even finished with schooling yet. He was just starting college and this was thrown on him.
"Malachi." Lord Vento said in warning. She was beautiful, she'd be a gorgeous woman. Oddly he didn't feel a thing. He just wanted someone of his own, he'd just need her as long as it took to stop an out right war. If her father's land fell then Ricardo would have a direct shot at them and a lot of people would die. This was about more than just inheritance and what one wanted. This was about their people, their cities and the only reason Malachi was doing it. After a rather serious argument with his father. Not only did he have to hide what he was. Rarely got to let out his animal, he now had to pretend he cared about this girl. Could nothing be real in his life?
"If you would go get your parents we have a few things to discuss." Natasha gave a nod and got up leaving the room gracefully. Lord Vento gave his son a severe look. He then spoke sharply.
"Common courtesy is all I ask."
"You aren't being forced to marry some idiot. No one picked mother for you. You got to choose your mate." He said a curl to his lip.
"You will be civil with her! You know exactly why we have to do this. All out war will destroy most of the fields that we have managed to cultivate. Along with all those that we are in charge of, Ricardo is itching to take everything that we have but he doesn't have the power yet. If he goes after the Standish territory that will give him a direct shot to us."
"She's a liar, just like her parents. She reeks of greed and pettiness." Malachi nearly growled.
"I know, but we need the large area they are in control of to stay on our side. It wasn't my first choice, but it's not a life long commitment. I never said you had to pick her as a mate. She is a wife by paper only." Malachi looked at him. He understood, he did feel bad forcing this on his son. However this would protect them all.
"It better not be, she'd never accept our oddity. I can barely stand it sometimes. Look at her and them. It's clear they have lost their other side. They are just like the rest of humans. Shunning their gifts, losing their animal. How could I ever accept such a close minded fool." Lord Vento sighed, he knew that he was giving his son a hard hand to play but he'd do it. After all he would be receiving all the wealth and power when his father died, or stepped down. This was how it went for the powerful, and it was unfair to his son's wolf. His animal half, but they were a dying race. At this rate there honestly wouldn't be anyone left here with the gifts. It was sad but true, still a handful of them were alive and well. Still that was not the issue at hand here.
Along with the burdens of running this land so far away. It had taken their family many years to build it up, to get the right conditions to grow the crops they needed. To farm the animals that they required for food. His people had run here to this colony to stop others from persecuting them. None here were aware that werewolves, shifters, or changelings were among them. It was going to stay that way. A hidden secret among the powerful of this world. Sometimes to survive you had to hide right under their noses.
Malachi's dark blue gaze held anger. He let out a harsh breath eyeing his son. He had no idea how he was ever going to make it up to his son. This was going to be a large part of his life. Maybe they could make it work. This Natasha was still young, still impressionable. The two of them watched as the family came back in, neither very thrilled with what they saw. However there were a couple different reasons for it, though both pretended indifference.