*Kiara's POV*
"Father,we need to talk."
My father gave me a dismissive look and returned to reading whatever he had scribbled down in the small notebook he held.
"I'm busy now, Bella."
"It's urgent, " I pressed.
He still paid me no attention; if anything, my words were helping him enjoy the book better.
"I am engaged." I blurted out.
He gave me a murderous glare and shut his notebook. "Lohan is no longer a suitable husband for you. So,if you did promise him a marriage out of pity, you can go now to clarify things."
I pressed my forehead in frustration; he was a tough nut to crack at times.
"Because if I have to do it for you,your little friend will never be able to afford a wedding in this life,"he muttered as he opened his notebook and dived his attention back into it.
"It's not Lohan, or any werewolf for that matter." I said the last phrase with great care,so low that I don't think he heard me right.
Oh, but I was wrong; he was. He had an impeccable ear.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm engaged, father,and it's not a werewolf."
He eyed me and took off his glasses. "If this is a trick,I am not amused."
"It's not; it is my right anyway, I said, pacing around,trying to give myself some sort of comfort in the fact that I wasn't committing a hideous crime. "And it's a good marriage too."
"Hm,you arranged an engagement for yourself, I see. You have too much free time, Kiara."
There was a pause in me—a part of me that wanted to not speak in fear of disappointing him. I was scared to death, but then again,he will find out anyway. And the news will not be taken lightly if it doesn't come from me first. At least,this way will be better. The worst he could do was disown me. I panicked a bit. Then what? Then I will never be able to divorce Adriel because I will have no home apart from his. I will be stuck with him for all eternity, and I might never see my own family again. Only God knows what he will do to me when he finds out I have no family,no title, and no honour.
"Kiara." My father started thoughtfully when he noticed my loud silence. "Who is this man you told you would marry without my permission?"
"He is a royal." I said,trying to lessen the blow.
My father laughed to himself. "Of course he is. I know you are not a fool to come to me and boldly announce that you have ruined your future."
I swallowed. After I'm done speaking,I honestly think he will change his mind.
"Does he not have a name?"my father asked me, taking a sip of his matcha tea.
I took three steady breaths. It was now or never
"Adriel Valerian."
My father's head swung up with immense vigour,choking hard on his drink. His eyes bulged at me in horror. If I didn't have a retentive memory,I would have assumed I just announced that I was here to assassinate him.
He stood up from his seat.
I took a step back.
"What did you say?"
"The elder Valerian brother." I whispered,
He clutched his chest and shook his head. "No,it's not true. It can't be,It's a nightmare!"
I cowered back with my head bent.
"Did he blackmail you?"
"No,he----"
"So you did this intentionally, then!!" He raged, wiping his hand over the table and throwing everything on it to shatter.
"He offered a good marriage, father,and I could get a quiet divorce later."
"It is not the fucking point,"my father raved through gritted teeth. The fine lines on his forehead, deepening with every passing second. "You have no idea who that man is."
"He courted me,unlike any man you had in mind; he asked me first,like it should be."
My father grabbed me by my shoulders and shook me vigorously.
"What is wrong with you? Don't you see what you have done?"
"I made a decision, " I declared weakly when the shaking stopped. "I did something for myself without your help, permission, or instruction, and it feels great."
"He hates me; that's why he poisoned your mind to do this. You have been manipulated, but Shadrach will fix you." He said it assuredly as he pulled me to the door.
"No, I yelled, removing my hands from his grip. "This has nothing to do with him; no one has put ideas in my head... I am not under the influence of anything, father. This is all me." I said, pointing at myself as my voice raised pitches higher than I planned.
"This is me finally speaking about what I have bottled up for years in fear that it will ruin my reputation—a reputation that is non-existent to everyone, by the way. This is me; I am not as you made me feel—small,weak,fragile.I am a grown woman, and I will like to act as such. With decisions like this and many more to come."
"What has he done to you? he asked sadly.
The rebel in me left instantly when I saw the obvious sorrow in his eyes.
"I'm sorry I raised my voice."
"It's decisions like this that show just how immature you are," he spat before leaving the room.
I held back a sob and bit my lips instead as I stared at the empty room and the broken china on the ground.
My eyes roamed the room and landed on the large portrait of my mother. Her face was plastered with a gentle smile.
"Is he always like that? So protective and hard-headed?" I asked for the painting.
"It is a good marriage. I am bringing peace to my people. Perhaps not an instant collaboration and alliance,but it will be as good as a truce. It's not like I am dumb, mother ,no.I know I am throwing myself into the lion's mouth, but everything comes at a price. You understand me, don't you?"
"I'm glad to see you have picked up your old habits again." Carlotta''s voice said behind me.
"No." I lied, sniffing.
She looked at me with pity. "I don't know if it means anything to you, but I don't think it's insanity. If anything,it is one of the ways you give yourself therapy, and I admire it."
"Thank you." I replied, forcing a smile, so she leaves me alone.
But she didn't; she came over and gave me a small hug.
"That was very brave."Carlotta whispered to my ear.
"I had to be.I got myself in the mess in the first place.And my dear fiance could practically wage a war if I turn back now." I said regrettably.
"My God,you are so cold."Carlotta said changing the topic." I will prepare a hot bath for you."
* * *
My father refused all forms of eye contact with me during dinner. There was an eerie, awkward silence in the room, and I had no appetite, but it seemed I wasn't the only one. No one was really eating; everyone's mind was far away.
My grandmother and my cousins had left long ago, so there were only four at the table. Me,Uncle Hugo,Aunt Lydia, and an angry Alpha Denzel.
"Lydia told me about Kiara's new engagement." Uncle Hugo said addressing the elephant in the room.
My father pretended not to hear him. I was beginning to think I would be excommunicated by my father.
"And I totally embrace the idea." He added.
I stared at him in shock and glanced at my father, who was busy glaring at the man as if he had already planned a slow, painful death for him.
Aunt Lydia gave me an awkward smile of assurance that I didn't know how to return.
"Perhaps you don't know who she wants to get married to,"my father said bitterly.
Uncle Hugo continued calmly. "In fact,I know all about it, and I think it's an extremely good idea."
"You are testing my patience, Hugo."
"Denzel,please just listen to what he has to say." Aunt Lydia begged my father,placing her hands softly on his arm.
My father patted his mouth with a napkin and gave his full attention to his beta, making an already disappointed face.
I gave my attention to my soup. I had no idea what Aunt Lydia and her husband had planned to say, but I dare not say a word.
"It will be the strongest alliance by marriage ever in history; it guarantees us peace for a while till we are fully prepared for war and-"
"I'm not scared of him." My father said to cut Uncle Hugo off. "If that bastard wants war,he will have war."
"It's not about whether you are scared of him or not. You often said he is not to be underestimated, and you are right. He has strong alliances, and we have no idea what he is up to. It will be a great idea to have Kiara,one of our own, around him as our eyes and ears. Tell us what he is up to."
My eyes darted to his in disapproval, but Aunt Lydia's eyes cautioned me to be silent before I could say a word.
"It is very important to know he has grown a liking for the princess; we could use this to our advantage."
"I will not be your spy." I shot at him.
"Exactly. You won't put my daughter at risk even more. She could be arrested for treason or kept as a prisoner.Or even executed, I'm beginning to think you all are running mad." My father said he was defending me, to my surprise.
"I went to sympathise with the Forchescas, and they revealed to me that he was behind the fire on their lands, and it was because of Lady Forchesca's disrespectful slap. He cares greatly for her—greater than he has cared for any woman for that matter." Uncle Hugo said, staring at me like I had worked some kind of magic trick.
My father glanced at me in disappointment. "Have you been meeting this man...in private?"
"No." I lied quickly. I knew exactly what a meeting in private meant and admitting that it would be the end of me.Especially with the reputation Adriel has.
"It will be foolish not to take advantage of this situation, Denzel..."Aunt Lydia told my father. "Either that or he brings his army of sirens to send tsunamis to destroy us.This is one of the reasons I was against having our fortress near the sea.Those hideous creatures have been working hand in hand with Vampires since the last World War."
"Do you see what you have done?" my father asked me, getting up from his seat.
He glared at us all and walked outside, his food barely touched.
"It hurts him that he has to let you go," Aunt Lydia said when her brother left. "But he will eventually come to understand and accept that you are going to have to get married to Adriel."
I gave her a dark glare as I got up. "Whether he agrees to it or not,I won't be your little spy."
"You will also have to understand and accept that certain things just have to be done for the sake of our people,our subjects, and the entire pack." Uncle Hugo told me solemnly. In the sort of way that meant I had no other choice.
I headed to my room quietly,thinking about my future with Adriel. All signs showed chaos ahead,and it seemed I couldn't turn any other way.