The new additions to the throne room are still startling for me to see. An EEG beeps along with my father's heartbeat. An IV drip hangs from a hook next to the throne, its thin plastic tube running to a shaved square of my father's fur.
"Why do I send you out into the world, my worthless son? A disgrace to me. A figure of embarrassment. Why do I bother with you?"
"Because you are infinitely kind?"
He looks hard at me to see if he can catch me smiling. He won't. I'm smart enough not to. Pissing him off just makes it last longer.
"Your brother at least had the respect to kneel in my presence."
I contain my urge to sigh heavily, and lower myself more towards the ground.
"My apologies, father. I have no knees. I'm just…guessing at how far to squat here."
He glares at me again.
"I've finally found a way you can be useful to this family."
This is new. And it sends a jolt of nervousness through my gut. What the hell is he talking about? My father and I have disliked each other for...well, my entire life. We have a routine. He shits on me until his narcissistic urges are fulfilled and then he leaves me alone.
Making meusefulhas never been one of his desires. He mostly wants me out of his sight.
"Oh?" I ask, careful to keep my voice neutral.
He rings for Carter, the family butler. Carter comes through the red velvet doors. He's short and stout. Long horns curve up towards the ceiling from the top of his head. His red hair is curly like rolled copper.
He's followed by possibly the only person I truly hate. My cousin, Octavian.
Octavian is as handsome as I am ugly. His masculine body is ripped and strong. He looks beautiful in a suit. The only thing that sets him apart from humans, aside from being almost seven feet tall, are two tiny horns on his forehead, and the strange slash marked pupils in his eyes. Like goat's eyes.
Octavian nods to me as he enters. He stays well away from me. Since we were children, he's never come close enough for me to touch him.
His father went mad from terrible nightmares. Never had a moment's rest. When Fahad told me to do my worst, it was Octavian's father I thought of.
I'd hoped destroying him would save my mother's life, but it didn't.
Dear old dad killed her anyway.
My father's ancient face cracks into a smile. It looks like it takes effort for him to do it. I'm only two hundred and eight, young by monster standards, but I swear when I'm a thousand years old, I won't look as ravaged by rage and hate as he does.
And I won'tbe so ground down inside until it takes visible effort for me to smile.
"I have just received word," Octavian says, "that the marriage may go forward. They have agreed."
I look from Octavian to my father in disbelief. How is this possible? I've just made a deal with Arabella Black to find the love I'm meant for, and now this?
My father will ruin everything, just like always. I'd never wish that cancer on anyone, but I do wish for him to leave me be. I wish for it every day.
"What is this?" I ask.
"Why, didn't you know?" Octavian says, with a wicked grin. "His majesty has found you a wife. The princess of a human mafia family.Theyhave both guns and money. As much as we could wish for."
"What? A human?"
"Yes, Fabian. It's a time of celebration for our family. You're to take a wife."
A low growl escapes my lips and I rise.
My father's gaze narrows dangerously.
"Careful boy, you'll go too far."
"I'm not marrying anyone, old man. Not until I see her with my own eyes, and choose her for myself."
"You'll do what you're ordered to do. I let your mother live too long. She always let you run wild, like a thing of the sea. Now that she's dead and buried, you can finally earn your place." My father's gravelly voice changes as he turns to Kyran and beckons him forward. "Korah, come here."
"Your majesty," Korah replies, walking quickly to kneel at my father's feet.
In a blur of motion, my father snatches Korah up by the throat and holds him in the air. His hand squeezes until Korah's face turns red. The edges of his claws just barely dent the flesh.
I move a few inches. My father's guards, elite and dangerous, eye me warily. Even my father's eyes betray a hint of fear.
No one really knows if they could stop me, or what the cost of doing so might be.
"If you take one more step," my father growls, "the next time you visit the throne room, you'll be chained like an animal."
If he'd wanted to, my father could tear Korah's head clean off.
Korah doesn't dare kick or fight. He has to just hang there and dangle like he's at the end of a noose. The gurgling, strangling noises coming from his throat infuriate me.
And my father knows it.
"You'll marry her?"
He watches me carefully, to see if I'll attack, or if I can be controlled like a dog.
I stand and watch as the fury builds inside me. Kyran ismyright hand. Chosen by me.Mine. He's also my best friend. My only friend, if I'm being honest. I can't react or show weakness.
But in my soul, I vow to take revenge for this humiliation. Somehow, I'll make my father pay.
My father grits his teeth. Korah's legs stop twitching as he loses consciousness.
"You're right about one thing, father," I tell him. "I'm certainly more suited to marriage than Jarrad ever was. I'm assuming it's a woman you want me to marry."
Korah hits the floor, gasping for breath. My father glares murderously at me. He takes a step forward, then another. Coming towards me. The IV stand nearly topples, and Octavian catches it deftly. My father's hands flex like he'd like to wrap them around my throat.
But he doesn't come any closer.