I managed to finally push Tod away and I immediately stepped aside.
"Congratulations, since you claim to be an adult then act like one." I was nervous, Tod always made me so.
"I'm about to enter the competition and when I win I will claim you as a reward." He smiled brightly.
"Lorcan will never agree." I shook my head in disbelief how naive Tod was.
"We shall see." He smiled and leaned closer. "You will be mine, it's just a matter of time."
Back in my room I still had the shivers. There was something sinister in the way Tod looked at me and said it about having me. I fell asleep waiting for Lorcan's return. He must have come back late at night because I didn't hear him enter. I just woke up in his embrace in the morning. He felt warm and I felt lazy so I decided to stay like that for a moment. The knock on the door woke us both.
"Lorcan, your wife came. She is waiting for you." Gael sure knew how to kill the mood and force Lorcan to get up.
"Need a moment." He sighted while getting up. I was watching him getting dressed, he still had that muscular body. It was nice to watch.
Lorcan smiled looking at me.
"You little perv, watching me with greedy eyes, hmm?"
I blushed, I'm sure I was really red. He caught me staring at him.
"You need to get dressed, Ian. A tailor will come soon. I will order some new clothes for you, as well as some jewelry. I want you to look pretty." He kissed my forehead and left in a hurry.
I said nothing, somehow I knew what sort of clothes he would buy me and I was right. The tailor must have brought the most tacky designs ever. It took me a while to find something half decent. After taking all the measures I was finally set free. I went downstairs only to find Lorcan in the sitting room. He was looking at the window thinking hard about something. I sat next to him.
"What's wrong Lorcan?" It wasn't hard to notice something was bothering him.
Lorcan looked at me, there was still a light frown on his forehead. He touched my cheek for a brief moment.
"My oldest son got a marriage proposal," He suddenly announced.
"That's a good thing, isn't it?" I replied without thinking.
"It depends."
I sat quietly looking at him and waiting till he explained himself.
"The woman he is supposed to marry is no one less than Marina Waldenberg."
"And what's wrong with her?" Arranged marriages were common in my world so the only problem could be that the woman had a bad reputation or was not appropriate by her status.
"She is a cousin of Hadrim Moreta." Lorcan looked at me.
I almost bit my lips, the prince of Moreta. The very one who was the source of my whole misery.
"I see." I said quietly. Was Lorcan worried because of me? He knew how I despised him and how I wished him to be dead. I clench my hands.
"The point, my pretty one, is that I have to refuse it." Lorcan stood up and walked across the room.
"Is it because of me?" I lifted my head and looked at him. I wanted him to confirm my suspicions. I wanted him to be considerate about my feelings.
"Don't be silly Kian. The Lord of the bridge was never involved in politics. We only ever care about economics. Money means power. I shall not allow any prince to have his ways with me and my family and using the bridge as a stepstone to attack other kingdoms." Lorcan sighted and I felt like shit again. For a moment I thought I was the reason why he was so considerate about the young lady Marina, but no. What did I expect, after all it was Lorcan. Still it was better than nothing, I wanted to see that damn price sour face when Lorcan refuses him.
"What will you do?" I asked.
"There is a party next week, by that time I shall find a suitable future wife for Jay and introduce them both during the party." Lorkan was looking out of the window and seemed absentminded.
"What does your wife think about it?"
"We agree on that matter. We shall announce the engagement at the party. Then there will be no turning back."
I didn't comment on that as I thought it might not be that easy, then it hit me.
"What about Tod? Have you got someone in mind for him?"
Lorcan turned around and looked at me.
"Why are you asking?"
"Jay and Tod are twins. One will get a wife, what about the other?" That was an important question, important for me personally. Should Tod be married he will most likely forget about me with the time.
"Tod is a hard nut to crack. You know he is … obsessed with you?" Lorcans eyes were fixed on my face.
"Yes I know. He said it many times." I admitted.
"Well his marriage will probably look like mine. I shall find him a woman but I need more time for it.I need to find a noble family without connections or political involvement. Which shall be grateful to receive my son." After a moment of silence he added.
"That idiot even decided to take part in the swordsmanship competition. I once promised to give him whatever he wanted should he win it." Lorcan smirked.
"Has he got a chance?"
"Who knows, he practiced like crazy and he is in top form, yet he lacks real combat experience. We shall see."
"What if he wins?" I decided to make things clear.
"I will be very proud, but I won't give him what he wants."
Silence. I expected that much.
I had no more questions. My head was occupied by the price Moreta, our paths shall cross again. Soon.