Chapter 34 #2
“Are your family dinners always this entertaining?” Elle asks Asmo, a smile on her face. She’s trying to lighten the mood, but Minerva whips her head toward her and glares at her.
Vasuki answers her and says, “They grew up fighting each other. Asmo was always the winner, though, so consider us surprised when we heard that it was Marik who ended up with the girl…and with the crown.” His tone is almost mocking, like he truly couldn’t believe Marik could do anything right, let alone next in line to be High King.
I feel sorry for Marik. I knew that his parents were tough on him and Asmo, tough being an understatement. I think the better word is abusive. But to be so blatant in your disapproval of your son in front of people who you just met…I’m too shocked to even say anything at first.
I make eye contact with Vasuki and say, “Consider me surprised when I decided that either of your sons would have been great husbands and High Kings, despite the way they were raised.”
The room falls in a jarring silence, no one daring to say a word. I don’t take my eyes off Vasuki. His eyes turn completely black as he stares at me.
When he finally does speak, his voice is low.
“I would be very careful, Your Highness. You’re new here, and maybe you don’t know how this world works, but you need our support.
The kingdom is already growing restless with you on the throne.
I would think before you damage any relationships that may behoove you to have. ”
Before I can respond, Asmo says, “She has the support of our court, Father. And Mae will be a great High Queen—with or without your support.”
“She does not yet have the support of our court. You’re not the Serpent King yet, Asmo. If she continues to disrespect our family, she will not have our support.”
“If I may,” I say before Asmo can respond, “I would love your support. I’m not an idiot, despite what you may think.
I know what your support, or lack thereof, means for me.
But as someone who’s marrying your son, I would like your support as a part of our future family.
You should know, however, that as High Queen, I’ll be putting laws into place that make your childrearing practices illegal.
If you have a problem with that, I don’t particularly care about your support. ” I take a long sip of my champagne.
Marik sits frozen in place beside me, but Asmo gives me a grin before taking a sip of his champagne, hiding his mouth behind the glass. Vasuki gives me an appraising look but doesn’t respond.
“So, Mae, please do share how you came to choose our Marik,” Minerva says coolly, changing the subject. Smart move on her end.
Smiling at her, I say, “He was my first official date, and we bonded immediately. He was very open with me and vulnerable, which is difficult to do after only knowing someone for a day, but it paid off.” I look at him and find that he’s looking at me, but he’s not smiling. “It just felt like the right decision.”
I don’t tell them that he saved me from almost killing myself, and that’s why he was chosen to be my first date.
In some ways, I think that night was the catalyst for all of this.
If Asmo hadn’t upset me so much, I wouldn’t have had a mental breakdown, and Marik wouldn’t have needed to save me.
If Marik hadn’t saved me, I can’t say for sure that I would have put him first or sought him out so much.
I can’t say that I’d be sitting here beside him.
After the first course is cleared, I excuse myself, feeling like I need a moment to breathe. I make my way to the closest bathroom, nodding at each guard that I pass, one stationed nearly every six feet.
On my way back, I run into Marik. He’s approaching me, but he’s not smiling. “Hey,” I say, a smile on my face that slips as he gets closer, at the expression on his face.
Cold fury hardens his features, twisting them into something ugly and cruel. “Do not talk to my parents like that,” he says, his voice low. “That was out of line.”
My smile fully disappears. “Marik, they were rude to you,” I say defensively. I look around to the guards closest to us, but they’ve turned away to give us privacy.
“I can handle them on my own. I don’t need you to defend me,” he snarls.
His response feels like a physical blow, and I take a step back from him. “I’m sorry, but I will not just sit there if they’re rude to you again. It feels like a test for me—like they’re trying to see how I’ll respond. I’m not just going to roll over,” I say, then stalk toward the dining room.
Marik grabs me by my forearm and whips me around to face him. “Do not walk away from me. This conversation isn’t over.” His grip on my forearm is tight and painful. I try to pull my arm away, but he holds it tighter. His eyes are black, no silver to be seen.
“What the fuck is wrong with you right now?” I whisper-shout at him.
“This conversation is over, little brother. That’s enough,” Asmo’s deep voice commands from behind me.
Marik lets go and says, “We’ll discuss this later,” then walks away back to the dining room.
I rub my arm and look at Asmo. “Thanks,” I mutter.
“You okay?” he asks, looking me up and down as if he’s checking to see if Marik actually hurt me. I nod. Physically, I’m fine.
“He’s sensitive about our parents. I thought you were amazing, though,” he says, a grin on his face as he remembers the exchange. I rub my arm and his grin disappears. “Marik also has a temper. Don’t let him touch you like that again.”
I nod, not trusting myself to speak.
He takes a step closer to me then, our bodies now inches apart. “I’m serious, Mae. The only way you should be touched is the way I touched you. You should be worshipped. Don’t tolerate anything less.”
My blood heats at his words, and I can’t seem to step away.
Marik and I don’t have this chemistry, but then again, I’ve never had this chemistry with anyone.
Before I can react in a way that I shouldn’t, I step away and head back to the dining room, my head spinning from the rollercoaster that my emotions have been through in the last twenty minutes.
When I get back to the dining room, Marik’s eyes are back to normal, and he looks like his usual self.
He smiles when he sees me walk in, and it confuses me even more.
I walk over to him and sit, joining his conversation with Willa about where we’d like to live once it’s safer to move off the grounds.
I feel like I have emotional whiplash, and it takes me a second to fully join the conversation.
The rest of the dinner is tame, filled with surface-level conversation. After dessert, we say our goodbyes, Marik’s parents marveling at the engagement ring Marik proposed with, approval glistening in their eyes. I give Willa a tight hug, holding onto her longer than usual.
Her eyes glisten when she pulls away, and she says, “I’m so proud of the female you’ve become.” I kiss her on the cheek, and then she leaves, heading to the portal Ivan approved so she could travel safely to and from her house.
Before I head back to my wing, Marik pulls me aside, and I steel myself. He runs a hand through his hair, messing up the way he had styled it. He seems to search for the words, shifting on his feet.
I wait for him to say something.
“I’m sorry,” he finally says, like I was asking him to pull out one of his teeth.
But I’m not satisfied. I raise an eyebrow, indicating that he’s not done yet.
He catches on and says, “I’m sorry for the way that I reacted earlier.
” I wait, still not entirely satisfied. A silence falls between us.
Finally, he says, “I’m sorry for grabbing you. ”
“Thank you,” I say curtly. “If it happens again, I’ll sever your hand from your body.”
“Understood,” he says. “I shouldn’t have reacted like that. My family is a sore spot for me, and I just… I didn’t appreciate the way you responded. I should have warned you that they may go for me, not you.”
I eye him. “What do you mean?”
“Well, I warned you not to take anything personally. I should have included in my warning that it may be an insult thrown toward me, not toward you. Comments like that are typical in my household, so it’s normal to me.
I forgot that they’re not normal to you.
” He sighs. “My father has a temper, and I didn’t want you to potentially jeopardize your relationship with him in defending me. ”
“You’re about to be my husband, but I wouldn’t tolerate underhand comments like that from him about anyone, regardless of their relationship, or lack thereof, to me.”
He nods once like he has a different opinion than I do but doesn’t want to argue.
“Look,” he says, reaching for my hands. “I’m sorry.
I’m excited for tomorrow, to make you my wife.
” His smile is genuine, and my heart responds, beating a little faster.
I can’t help the smile that spreads across my own face.
I squeeze his hands and say, “I am, too. Let’s get married.” He reaches down to kiss me. It’s gentle, sweet, and makes me feel genuinely happy. I pull away and can see the smile form on his face as I do.
“Sweet dreams, future husband,” I say, turning to leave.
“Sweet dreams, Mae,” he returns, the smile still on his face.
All night, all I can think about is the way he transformed into a darker version of himself. I’ve grown used to his brother’s sudden shifts, but not Marik. Is there a darker side to Marik that he’s been careful to keep hidden from me? Just who is the male I’ve chosen to marry?