Chapter 4: Chapter 3
I watched our cook as she prepared dinner, trying to focus on something that wasn't my churning stomach and my overwhelming fear.
Uncle Raven scanned my face. "He's a good catch. He'll be the most powerful man on the East coastal soon enough. He'll protect you."
"And who will protect me from him?" I hissed.
Uncle Raven didn't say anything because the answer was clear: nobody could protect me from Crown Prince Nikos after our wedding.
Not Uncle Raven, and not my father if he felt so inclined. Women in our world belonged to their husband. They were his property to deal with however he pleased.
This thought or should I say truth angred me to death.
The last couple of months had gone by too fast no matter how much I wanted time to slow, to give me more time to prepare.
Only two days until my engagement ceremony. Mother was busy ordering the servants around, making sure the house was spotless and nothing went wrong.
It wasn't even a big celebration. Only our closest family, Crown Prince Nikos's family and the families of the respective minister heads of Rousseau and Chantelle were invited.
Uncle Raven said it was for safety reasons. The truce was still too fresh to risk a gathering of hundreds of guests.
I wished they'd cancel it altogether. For all I cared, I didn't have to meet the Crown Prince until the day of our wedding.
Emyrs jumped up and down on my bed, a pout on his face. He was only six and had entirely too much energy. "I want to play!"
"Mother doesn't want you to race through the house. Everything needs to be perfect for the guests."
"But they aren't even here!" Thank God. Luca and the rest of the New York guests would arrive tomorrow. Only one more night until I'd be meeting my future husband, a man who killed with his bare hands. I closed my eyes.
"Are you crying again sister ?" Emyrs hopped off the bed and walked up to me, slipping his hand into mine. His dark blonde hair was a mess. I tried to smooth it down but Fabiano jerked his head away.
"What do you mean?" I'd tried to hide my tears from him. Mostly I cried at night when I was protected by darkness.
"Lily cousin says you cry all the time because Crown Prince has bought you."
I froze. I'd have to tell Lilian to stop saying such things. It would only get me in trouble. "He didn't buy me." Liar. Liar.
"Same difference," Victoria said from the doorway, startling me.
"Shhh. What if Father hears us?"
Victoria shrugged. "He knows that I hate how he sold you like a cow."
"Victoria," I warned, nodding toward Emyrs. He peered up at me. "I don't want you to leave," he whispered.
"I'm not leaving for a long time, brother." He seemed satisfied with my answer and the worry disappeared from his face and was replaced by his up-to-no good expression. "Catch me!" he screamed and stormed off, pushing Victoria aside as he darted past her.
Victoria ran after him. "I'll kick your ass, you little monster!"
I rushed into the corridor. Lilian poked her head out of her door and then she too ran after my brother and sister.
Mother would have my head if they smashed another family heirloom. I flew down the stairs.
Emrys was still in the lead. He was fast, but Lilian had almost caught him while Victoria and I were too slow in the new footwear my mother forced us to wear for practice.
Emyrs dashed into the corridor leading into the west wing of the house and the rest of us followed.
I wanted to shout at him to stop. Father's study chamber was in this part of the house. We'd be in so much trouble if he caught us playing around.
Emyrs was supposed to act like a man. According to Royalties do'es and don't. What six-year-old acted like a man?
We passed Father's door and relief washed over me, but then three men rounded the corner at the end of the corridor. I parted my lips to shout a warning, but it was too late. Emyrs skidded to a halt but Lilian ran into the man in the middle with full force. Most people would have lost their balance. Most people weren't six foot three inches tall and built like a bull.
I jerked to a halt as time seemed to grind to a stop around me. Victoria gasped beside me, but my gaze was frozen on my future husband.
He was looking down at the blond head of my little sister, steadying her with his strong hands. Hands he'd used to crush a man's throat.
"Lilian," I said, my voice shrill with fear. I never called my sister by her full name unless she was in trouble or something was seriously wrong.
I wished I was better at hiding my terror. Now everyone was staring at me, including Crown Prince. His cold blue eyes scanned me from head to toe, lingering on my hair.
God, he was tall. The men beside him were both over six feet but he dwarfed them. His hands were still on Lily's shoulders. "Lilian, come here," I said firmly, holding out a hand. I wanted her far away from Luca.
She stumbled backward, then flew into my arms, burying her face against my shoulder. Crown was raised one black eyebrow.
"That's The Crown Prince Nikos!" Victoria said helpfully, not even bothering to hide her disgust.
Emyrs made a sound like an enraged wildcat and stormed toward Nikos, and started pummeling his legs and stomach with his small fists. "Leave my sister alone! You don't get her!"
My heart stopped right then. The man to Luca's side took a step forward. The outline of a sword was visible under his vest. He had to be Luca's bodyguard, though I really couldn't see why he needed one.
"No, Alexander," Crown Prince Nikos said simply and the man stilled. Crown Prince caught my brother's hands in one of his, stopping the assault. I doubted he'd even felt the blows.
I pushed Lily toward Victoria who wrapped a protective arm around her, then I approached the CrownPrince. I was scared out of my mind, but I needed to get Emyrs away from him.
Maybe Chantelle and Rousseau were trying to lay their feud to rest, but alliances could break in a blink. It wouldn't be the first time. Crown Prince Nikos and his knights were still the enemy.
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