Page 40 of One Last Promise
“Have I not given you everything you’ve ever wanted, Alora?”His eyes were wide with emotion as he turned towards me once we were alone.“All I am asking is for respect as your fatherandking!I do not think I’m being unreasonable!”
“If you made decisionsalone, Iwouldrespect you more!”
“What are you trying to imply?All my decisionsaremy own.”
“Elin is in your ear and you know it!She doesn’t simply warm your bed anymore.She’s in your head, making decisions aboutourkingdom!You have hardly spoken to me since I returned from the Barren Lands!You spend every waking minute with Elin, allowing her to poison your mind.”
“The relationship I have with Elin is none of your concern.When I lost your mother, Elin was there for me.I could confide in her like no one else.”
“Don’t you dare bring my mother into this!Her side of the bed was barely cold before Elin replaced her.”
“Alora, no one could ever replace your mother.Duska...she was the best of all of us.There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t regret what happened in Cataha.”
“You never speak of her anymore.When she died, I felt like you simply forgot her.How could you?She was everything to me!”
“Because it was too painful.It still is.”My father’s eyes were wet with tears as he reached out to stroke my face.“I see so much of her in you these days.Your beauty is the same as hers.You’re rebellious like her, too.”
“I’ll never be as beautiful as her.”My mother’s beauty had been as unique as her powers.She’d been flawless.
“Why are you constantly going against me?”My father asked, his eyes pleading with me to be truthful.
“I feel betrayed by you,” I admitted as a single tear trickled down my face.“You didn’t even consider me for warrior training.I completed that pilgrimage on my own, and you didn’t even commend me for it!It was like I had donenothing.I survived an attack from anoc beast,and still received no praise!It was clear that you and Elin had already made your minds up before I’d even left.You were never going to allow me to train, were you?”
“There were bigger things to consider if I had allowed you to train with the warriors.Politics is something you have no experience in, Alora.If you trained as a warrior, how many other female Dylins would want to follow suit?”
“Why is that such a bad thing?You could double your army.”
“A male Dylin’s purpose is to protect its female.How do you think our warriors would respond to the females joining them on the frontline?It will distract them from their purpose.An even bigger threat would be Noxlin’s capturing our females.You know what happens if a Noxlin gets his hands on a Dylin female.She will be defiled.Is that what you want for our race?Is that the future you want for our females?You must look at the bigger picture.”
“I wasn’t defiled by the Noxlin male that saved me.”
“If he hadn’t been battling with the noc beast, I have no doubt that he would have taken you.That is all those vile creatures do.They kill and fornicate!”For once, I knew my father’s words were incorrect.Darce had made no attempts towards me.Strangely, I felt safer with him than with Xavier.“You have no idea how lucky you were that Holy Ether took it upon herself to protect you and bring you home safely.”
“Holy Ether might have helped to guide me, but it was my courage that got me home safely.”
“I know, and I truly am proud of you for it.With the right guidance, you will achieve great things.”It was the closest thing to a compliment I would ever receive from my father.
I knew he was expecting me to apologise, so I took a deep breath and began.“I’ll never understand your decision to not allow female Dylin’s to train in combat, but I’m sorry for shaming you in the temple.You are my father and king.I will try to do better.”
“I don’t want you to change from being the headstrong creature that you are, but a little more understanding of my needs would go a long way.You and Xavier will be king and queen one day.Leading by my example would be a wise choice for you.”
“Xavier is a conversation for another day.”
“Once your sexual awakening happens, you will see Xavier in a different light.He is desired by many females.He is a strong match for you.Believe it or not, your happiness is important to me.I am sure when the time comes, you both will do exceptional things with Dallethas.It might even be during your reign that we destroy all the Noxlin.”I couldn’t see myself ever being attracted to Xavier.His need to control my every move was too off-putting.My sexual awakening wasn’t ever going to change that.In my eyes, there was never a scenario where Xavier and I would ever work.Why couldn’t my father understand that?“That being said, if I ever hear you disrespecting my actions again, I will give you ten lashings.”My eyes widened in shock at his threat.He would have his own blood lashed for having an opinion.“I will not be seen as a weak king, Alora.You wanted to be treated like a warrior in the army.As a lesson, you will suffer the consequences of going against me as if you were a warrior.That is only fair.If you stop this nonsense about training for battle, no lashings will be given.Your place as the princess will be standing by Xavier’s side when your power materialises.He will keep you safe until you unleash your light on the Noxlin.I have no doubt you will destroy them one day and take the revenge you seek for Duska’s death.Xavier himself will become stronger as you bond yourself and your power to him.That is your purpose and the path youwilltake.”
“Has Uri seen this?”I questioned.Did I really have no choice?
“Uri has had visions of many outcomes for you.They all end with you having unbelievable power.”
“What if I do not wish to bond with Xavier?Do I have any other choice?”
“No.You can not harness the light power on your own.Itwilldestroy you.”
“You took it all when mother died.”
“That was different.There was nowhere else for it to go.It tookcenturiesfor me to control it.The unlimited power would drive you insane.I do not wish that for you, my daughter.I need you to understand that everything I have done is for your protection.With you, our bloodline will continue long after my death.You are mylegacy.I can not afford for you to be sidetracked.You are too important.”Kissing the top of my head, he pulled me in for an embrace.“Stop fighting against me.I don’t wish to harm you, but if you will not yield, lashes are the only thing I will be able to offer.I will have no choice but to discipline you.Do not force my hand.Back down and step in line next to me.”It was a threat—I could hear it in his tone—wrapped around a confession of love.Lashings wouldn’t help my training with Darce.
“I’ll fall back in line, Father,” I muttered into his chest.
