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Ten

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Adrika

I ran my fingertips across my sensitive lips as I watched Rian take long strides away from me. The only other man that had touched his lips to mine had been Brett. His had consisted of soft pecks placed in between whispers of endearment as he gradually talked me into doing things I wish I had never done. Most of those had not landed on my lips.

In contrast, Rian’s kiss was full of tenderness and restrained passion. It was unexpected, but everything about this meeting had been. Including, him leaving to go see my father. What was that about?

Uncle Galik came storming through the open door. I jerked my hand down from my lips and placed it in my lap. His brows were bunched over his dark, glaring eyes. I quickly averted my gaze, unfortunately it landed on to his white-knuckled fists. Despite my fear, I stood and curtsied as he drew nearer. In Kearnley you were only expected to bow to the king, but it was demanded by every man in Cordelia, no matter what his rank or relation.

“What is the meaning of this? Have you brought shame and dishonor to your family with your wanton ways?” He gestured toward the pallet laid out on the floor.

“No, Uncle. I have not.” Unless he counted the kisses I had received . . . or my past.

“I am told you were alone in this room with that man, and then I come in to find your lovers’ bed spread out on the floor. Why should I believe you?” The fury in his eyes was unmistakable.

My gaze traveled up to the buttons on his chest. “We sat here on the couch and ate and talked. That is all. My father set this up.”

It felt necessary to remind him that I was under my father’s control. If I was under my uncle’s command instead and he had learned of my past sins, he would demand my death. My palms were sweating just thinking of those consequences, but I kept my hands folded in front of me, hoping he would not see my fear.

He took a deep breath and seemed to relax. “Daughter, let us sit and talk for a while.”

Father hated when he called me that. It was another custom of my mother’s homeland. Women were referred to as daughter no matter what the relationship. I sat back down on the very edge of the sofa as he sat beside me.

“You know I would never ask you to defy your father, but he is getting up in age. Some men start to . . . well, lose their ability to think.” Fake contrition laced his words. “This is the only explanation I can come up with as to why your father would set up something like this.” He gestured toward the pallet again. “His condition is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, we honor these men in our country. But we do not follow their lead, and we do not allow them to rule.”

I could not help but wonder what they did to the women once they began losing their faculties. I glanced sideways at him but knew better than to speak.

“This kingdom needs a strong ruler. One that will work in harmony with our kinsmen. This prince your father has his mind set on is no man at all. A true leader would never abandon his homeland and people and then expect to be welcomed back with open arms. This man will not lead your people to victory. His family runs the rest of this country. He would side with them in every conflict.”

Uncle Galik stopped talking suddenly and took another deep breath. There was some truth to the part about Rian abandoning Gilvary and his family, but he was only fifteen when he left Kearnley. And what conflict did my uncle imagine? There was no conflict to speak of in Kearnley, and it was more than likely because of the two brothers ruling two-thirds of the country.

He reached out as if he was about to touch my hands but stopped short. “Daughter, you must accept my counsel. Allow me to find you a husband of honor. Your father cannot go on ruling as he has. He needs the help of a strong-minded man—not this prince.”

Father’s personal servant, Brasil, came into the room at that very moment, saving me from having to give a reply. Even if I wanted to marry a man of his choosing, I could never defy my father in that manner.

“Princess Adrika, the king would like to see you in his chambers.” Brasil waited at the door to escort me to my father’s room.

As I stood to leave, Uncle Galik grabbed my arm. “Go, but think about what I have said.”

I never thought the blue and purple of my parent’s suite suited my father, but it was his one concession to my mother. Most of the castle was decorated in the style of her homeland. When I entered the sitting room of his suite, Father was sitting in his overstuffed armchair. The lively paisley design covering the furniture contrasted with the dark look in his eyes as he glanced my way. 

Rian was pacing the floor behind him, his features just as stormy as the king’s. The prince whipped around at the sound of the door closing behind me and headed my way. He was stopped in his tracks when General Cormac’s staff smacked across his chest. The warrior said something to him that I could not hear. I continued into the room and curtsied before my father.

“Have a seat.” He gestured to the end of the sofa next to him.

I could not imagine what was going on here. Had Father, like my uncle, assumed we had spent the last hour entangled on the bed of his making? I was still confused and hurt that he would go to such lengths to begin with. When had his love for me died?

“Daughter, you should be smiling. By tomorrow afternoon, you will be a bride. Prince Rian has asked for your hand in marriage.”

Asked or was forced? I took a chance to glance over at Rian. He seemed to be trying to send a pleading message using only his eyes, but I was clueless as to what he was trying to convey.

“Tomorrow? I . . .” There was no way I could be ready by the next day, but I was helpless to argue with him.

“The decision has been made. I see no reason to wait. Prince Rian, come join us.”

I did not look at Rian as he made his way over to sit beside me, even when he reached for my hand and held it on his knee. He squeezed my hand, but I could not respond. My limbs felt numb and tingly as I stared at the floor in front of me.

“My family cannot make it here by tomorrow. They are not even aware that I am here in Dermot. Why are you insisting on such a speedy wedding?”

“After you are wed, you will no longer be my prisoner. You may go visit your family any time you like. I see no reason to wait. The sooner you are wed, the sooner you can see your family.”

Rian scooted a little closer to the edge of the seat. “I would think your daughter would deserve time to plan a wedding fit for princess. What about her family and friends? Should they not have an opportunity to attend?”

“I will not provide such an extravagant wedding for a daughter that has been defiled.”

I sucked in a breath and began to shiver. The more they talked, the more I felt the heat seep from my body. Rian must have felt it. He moved closer to me and rubbed the back of my hand with his thumb. Why was he not defending me against this accusation? We had not done anything wrong. Then it hit me. Rian had not defiled me, but someone else had. My stomach churned, making me wish I had not eaten.

The two men sat staring at one another before Rian spoke up. “Let it be so. We will say our vows tomorrow. As you said, after that, I will no longer be your prisoner. I expect to be treated differently then. I expect both of us to be treated differently. My wife will no longer scrape and bow before you like one of the servants. We will be next in line for your throne, and you will treat us as such.”

The room was deathly quiet. I took a chance to glance over at my father. He was glaring at Rian, his lips pressed tight. “After tomorrow, my daughter will be in your control. You can do with her as you like. After tomorrow, you will be crown prince of Dermot, but I will still be king. That is tomorrow. Today you are still my prisoner.   “General, escort Prince Rian to his chambers. He can remain there until the evening meal. After that, he will be free to walk about the grounds as before.”

I remained where I was, awaiting further instructions. Father waited several minutes after Rian left before he spoke. “You might as well leave too. I am sure you have plenty to do before the big day tomorrow.”

I stood on wobbly legs and turned to go. “Daughter, are you not forgetting something? You do not belong to the prince as of yet.”

“Sorry, Your Highness.” I turned and curtsied, hoping all the time that I would not fall over before I made it up again. I do not know what made me call him Your Highness. I was expected to “bow and scrape” as Rian had said, but I had always been allowed to call the king Father. He did not feel like my father at this moment. I wondered if he ever would again.

Once I made it to my room, I sat down on the bed, my back against the oaken headboard. Why had Rian not made an attempt to escape from this place already? I hated that he was being forced into marrying me. Every conversation from the last hour and a half replayed over and over again in my mind. According to what was said in Father’s room, after tomorrow I would belong to Rian. He would rule over me in my father’s stead. Although, I doubted that was the way it would go. Father was still the king so I would have two rulers instead of one. The oppressive feeling of being caged in was almost unbearable.

Damini stepped quietly into the room. She spared me a glance as she made her way over to my wardrobe and began shifting through the garments hanging there. “I am told your father has chosen a groom for you. Are you excited about the wedding tomorrow?”

An unexpected sob escaped my throat. She came rushing toward me as I buried my face in my hands. The bed dipped as she sat down beside me and then pulled me into a hug. She did not say anything as she rubbed my back in soothing circles while I released my pent-up emotions.

“I mean nothing to him.”

“Surely the prince will come to love you in time.” Her whispered words were more like a prayer than a conviction.

“I meant Father. It is as if whatever feelings he had for me died with my mother.”

“I am sure . . . I am sure he loves you still, but losing Queen Babree was hard on him.” She did not sound sure. Nothing anyone could say would make me believe he had any tender feelings left for me. What did it matter anyway? I pulled away and wiped at the tears on my face.

“Mini, what am I going to do about tomorrow? I am not ready for this. Nothing has been planned, I have nothing to wear. I suppose I will need to walk over to the chapel and let the vicar know. Father refuses to step foot in the church, and he will not allow the vicar to come here. I have no idea how this will all come together. Not to mention the fact that I must write my own vows for this loveless marriage. What am I going to say?”

She reached for my hands that were still shaking. “Perhaps more has been planned than you realize. The king has asked your uncle to perform the ceremony. In Cordelia, we do not make up our own vows. Everyone uses the same words, and they may be spoken in front of any man older than the groom. Your uncle will tell you what to say when the time comes. As for what you will be wearing, your father is having your mother’s wedding outfit prepared. He expects you to wear that.”

I remembered her wedding dress. Mother would take it out occasionally to show it to me. I could still remember the feel of the ivory silk covered in golden beads and embroidery. She had told me the story of her wedding day many times. Always, she spoke of how happy she had been, while saying nothing of the fear she must have felt.

Would this wedding be any different if she was still here? She had no more control over the happenings in her life than I had in mine. But maybe Father would not have the bitterness he carried now. And if she were still alive, I may not have been so vulnerable to Brett’s persuasion. There was no use lamenting my mistakes. I could do nothing to change the past now. The future was out of my hands as well.