10. Can’t Drink Away the Memories
Chapter 10
Can’t Drink Away the Memories
CHARMING
A fter enduring hours of polite congratulations on my fake engagement, we retire for the night. As my father decreed, Cinder would stay in the castle. She was set up in a room adjoining mine, though no one would be likely to hand me the key to open that door anytime soon.
Like I need a key. Ha!
Turning down a corridor, I nearly run into my father. He’s shed his public persona, his face now mottled with untamed rage.
“I know what you are doing.” He seethes the words, but his eyes are cold and merciless.
“Picking a bride, just as you asked, father?—”
The impact of the blow to my face reverberates through my whole body, sending me stumbling backward. The force of his hit is a cannonball of fiery pain.
My vision blurs as I struggle to regain my balance, frantically reaching for the wall to steady myself. For a moment, I’m sure my eyeball has exploded into jelly.
“You think you can outsmart me?” His words are now as cold as his gaze. “You want to start a pissing contest to see who will win, but I don’t play games, son.”
Unlike Cinder, my father can pack a punch. I already know my skin will darken and bruise, my eyelid will likely swell. Yet another of the precious gifts I receive from dear old dad on the regular.
A bit of blood and it will heal right up. Like it never happened.
I wish I could as easily drink away the memories.
“You really should indulge in a game or two. It might lighten you up.” I can’t help but mouth off.
His fist connects again. My lips cut against my teeth, filling my mouth with the metallic taste of my blood.
I rub my crackling jaw as he bears down on me.
“You’ve created yet another mess,” he spits the words out with distaste and disappointment, but he’s spoken to me like this since I was a child. “Now you will follow my every order. You will not leave the kingdom, nor leave this castle until further notice. Do you understand me?”
Before I can respond, he grabs the chain around my neck, breaking it away with ease. The opal stone embedded within glints in the dim light as he snatches it, leaving me without my means of traveling between realms.
Fury simmers inside of me, but I’m not surprised by his actions. This is how it’s always been. Still hunched over, nursing my wounds, I find myself at the mercy of this diminutive man who dominates almost every part of my world.
Everyone always comments that I have my father’s eyes and his high cheekbones. They say it as a compliment. The constant reminder of our similarities once drove me to press a sharp pen knife against my skin as I faced my reflection. It took all my willpower to resist the urge to mutilate myself, to erase the resemblance.
Slowly, I’d shifted my focus from all the things that made me like him to all the features that weren't his. Where his chin is weak and narrow, mine is squared, and I have my mother’s nose, ears, and smile.
After shifting the perspective, I was finally able to unclench my fist and release the knife from my shaking fingers.
“You both will do exactly as I say when I say it. If either she or you attempt to leave the premises, the guards are instructed to stop you both by any means necessary. If you don’t abide, someone might get. . . hurt.”
I am in no doubt as to what he’s implying.
My father turns on his heel to leave.
Still holding myself up against the wall, I call after him. “So you’ll permit it? The marriage?” I can’t help my surprise or skepticism. It’s too much to hope his only retaliation will be a house arrest.
He pauses, looking over his shoulder but not back at me. “This union would be an abomination. The day this kingdom is handed over to a lowly human will be the day I’m rotting in the ground.”
My lips curve up in a grimace. That’s the general idea.
“Don’t worry,” he sniffs, “I’ll take care of your mess like I always do.” A chill runs down my spine at those final words. I know him and can anticipate his intention all too well—stopping the wedding at any cost, even if it means targeting Cinder.
Doubts flood my mind and guilt gnaws at me for bringing her into such danger. Unlike my father, I’m not willing to hurt others to further my agenda.
But deep down, I also know that I couldn't resist the opportunity she presented.
A human bride will help everything move along quicker and sway the odds in my favor.
I just need to make sure she survives long enough to fulfill her purpose. Which means I can’t let her out of my sight.