Chapter 25 #2
My father steps in, his presence a beacon of stability amidst the chaos. “Heard you’ve postponed the wedding?” he asks, the corners of his mouth twitching upward.
“News travels fast,” I reply, a hint of a smile playing on my lips despite my turmoil. “Did mother send you to berate me?”
“Quite the situation you’ve found yourself in, my boy. Your mother is fuming, so I thought you could use some company. Misery loves company, doesn’t it?” He pours himself a glass of whiskey, the amber liquid swirling in the crystal tumbler.
“Bring another bottle then, Father. This one,” I gesture to the half-empty bottle in front of me, “is reserved for my sorrow.”
He lets out a hearty laugh, reaching behind him to grab another bottle from the bar. “That sounds like a plan, son.” We sit here, in the quiet, nursing our drinks and unspoken thoughts. Despite everything, I can always find reason from my father, even if it is only behind my mother’s back.
As we enjoy our drinks, the comforting silence between my father and me gives way to a heavy atmosphere after a while; he’s holding back.
“You’re doing it again, old man. Holding out on me,” I prod.
“Just spit it out. Unless it’s about mother withholding…
well, you know. That’s a mental image I’m still trying to erase after your last over-sharing of your bedroom horrors. ”
His low chuckle reverberates around the room. “She does hold quite the grudge,” he quips, sipping his drink. I agree, knowing my mother all too well.
“Look, if you’re here to talk me into marrying Carina, save your breath.” He shakes his head, making me sit back, confused.
“No, son. I’m here to tell you not to discard the mate bond.
It’s killing you, and I can see it.” I instantly stiffen, ready to argue about the necessity of the treaty, when he interrupts me.
“The treaty has loopholes, son. Mates are one of them. The marriage to Carina isn’t public yet. We can still fix this mess.”
I raise my eyebrows, taken aback. “You want me to call off the wedding?” I ask incredulously, his words in front of my mother say the opposite. His soft sigh brings a wave of defeat through me.
“I just want my son to be happy. As for your mother, she won’t accept Sienna… not yet. Give her time. She needs to see past Sienna’s parents’ sins. I know it’s hard, and your mother has a knack for making things more complicated than they need to be.”
“And this loophole?” I ask, still unsure of his proposal. His eyes glint, a sly smirk pulling at his lips. “If the mate is found before or after the marriage, she can still fight for you. It won’t breach the contract or the treaty if she fights for your hand.”
The notion is preposterous. “Carina will kill her.”
“Then train her,” he retorts simply with a shrug.
“How can I train her if I’m not even allowed to be near her until after the wedding?”
“Find a way, Xandros. Or get Carina to accept the divorce. Just… figure it out.” He rises, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder before heading to the door.
“And mom?” I call out, my heart sinking at the thought of confronting her again to tell her I won’t go through with marrying Carina.
He pauses, turning to me with a knowing smile.
“I’ll handle your mother,” he says, turning and pauses again.
“Xandros,” my eyes meet his, “your mother isn’t the only one who needs to see past Sienna’s parents.
She may be their daughter, but in my observations of the girl, she is not them.
You were never asked to forgive her parents, so maybe you can forgive yourself; their deaths weren’t your fault, just like they weren’t Sienna’s, so blaming her won’t ease your guilt.
Just like you, she is a victim in all this,” he adds. I swallow guiltily and nod once.
As the door shuts behind him, a whirlwind of thoughts start spinning in my head. Yet a glimmer of hope flickers amidst the chaos. The fear of the unknown is far too crippling, if only Carina would accept the divorce, this would be so much easier on everyone. I also know that will never happen.
Chugging the rest of my drink, I get up and leave my office.
Returning to my room, I find it empty. Carina is nowhere in sight.
With a sigh, I throw myself onto the bed, my thoughts wandering toward Sienna.
The bond buzzing between us, alerting me she’s awake.
A pull I can’t resist tugs me toward her, leading me to the other side of the castle, right outside her door.
I knock lightly, but when there’s no answer, I go to unlock the door only for it to push open.
It’s always locked. Opening the door, I find the room empty.
A surge of panic courses through me. My heart beats a frenzied rhythm in my chest as I take in the empty room, the untouched bed.
“Sienna!” I call out. No answer. I rush into the bathroom, calling her name, yet she is also not in there.
“Sienna!” The silence that follows is a haunting echo of my worst fears when I catch a hint of familiar perfume.
Carina’s perfume. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I dial her number.
The phone rings out, so I try again while walking out of the room as I hunt for them.
Once again, I get her voicemail and a snarl leaves my lips.