Page 36 of Lost Heir
Orion sighed. “I wastryingto tell you,” he mumbled.
I glared up at the fae. “Well you could have tried harder!”
My father’s expression tightened as he attempted to maintain the smile on his face, but it was obvious he was having difficulty.
“Well …” he started, but his words were cut off by my mother.
“That’s a wonderful proposition!” my mother declared cheerfully. “How joyous, and a magnificent prize for Valoria’s savior!”
If looks could kill, my mother would be dead from the force of my glare. Marry Caelan? No fucking way!
I quickly searched the crowd for Ronan and found him standing stoically beside his father and Silas across the room. The veins in his neck bulged as Silas held him back from bursting through the crowd to throttle Caelan. I wanted him to look my way so I could reassure him that I would never marry Caelan, but he was too distracted. Too angry.
“Uh … well …” my father faltered, a tight smile on his face as he attempted to play the diplomat.
“Father!” Marcellus emerged from the crowd to the center where Caelan stood, leaving Selene behind. “Thisisn’t a decision that can be madehere.” He glared at Caelan, then turned back to my father. “Lyanna’s input matters, and I don’t think—”
“As her parents,wemake the decision on her marriage,” my mother chimed in. “Lyanna’s thoughts do not matter. She will do as we say.”
“Mother!” Marcellus pleaded, but she sent him a look that shut him up quickly.
My father cleared his throat. “While Derinda is technically correct,” he glanced toward my mother sheepishly, “I agree with Marcellus on this. This decision isn’t one to be made on a whim, or in a public forum. Especially since Lyanna has just returned to us. I don’t know if I’m ready to part ways with her just yet.” He chuckled.
I breathed a relieved sigh. Thank the goddess for my father and oddly enough, Marcellus.
Petulant, my mother crossed her arms over her chest and plopped down onto her throne in muted anger. My father tried to regain control of the situation.
“We will continue this conversation some other time. For now, let’s continue the celebration!” he said.
The crowd awkwardly clapped and mingled as if they hadn’t just witnessed the biggest news of the century. Softly at first and then gradually increasing in volume, the musicians began to play.
“That Caelan is absolutely mad!” Orion murmured as he grabbed a cup of wine from a passing servant. “After all he did, he has theaudacityto actually ask for your hand in marriage?”
I peered over at him. “How did you know he was going to request it?” I asked suspiciously.
Orion shrugged and offered a smirk. “Call it intuition.”
But I wasn’t buying it. He knew more than he was telling,which made me wonder if Caelan had some dealings with Ellyndor that we weren’t aware of.
“Well, Lyanna, it’s been lovely, but I must mingle. Be safe!” With a wink tossed over his shoulder, Orion disappeared into the crowd.
I rolled my eyes. There really was no telling what was going on in that fae’s mind. I still wasn’t sure if he was friend or foe. Casting my eyes over the crowd for Ronan, I saw him standing in the same space as before. I’d taken three steps in his direction when I was stopped by Mykal.
The commander grinned as he intercepted me. “Congratulations are in order, Princess. Who would have thought you’d end up marrying the Prince of Eldwain?”
I scoffed and crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m not marrying anyone.”
He smirked. “Is that so? Could have fooled me. Your mother all but agreed on the spot.”
“Don’t believe everything you see or hear,” I snapped. “What do you want, Mykal?”
He chuckled and brushed a strand of my hair away from my face. I quickly slapped his hand away and stepped back. “Touchy!” He held his hands up in mock surrender. “I thought we had a connection,” he whispered as he leaned toward me. “I mean, wedidkiss …” He let the sentence linger.
I glared. “I never kissed you,” I gritted between my teeth.
He shrugged. “If you say so, Princess. It was very memorable for me, in any event,” he offered cheekily. “Since Eldwain is entertaining thoughts of marriage alignments with Valoria, maybe I should throw my hat into the race as well. I think we’d be lovely together.”
I pushed him away. “Don’t even think about it!” I growled. “I would rather marry Caelan than you.”
