Page 32 of Undeniable

Lord Talox finally reaches the vases and places his hand over the top of my father’s vase. My heart seizes inside my chest as he opens his hand one finger at a time. He holds his marble between his index finger and thumb, dipping them downward but never letting go of the marble. Instead, he pivots around an irritated looking Iris, paying no mind to her death stare. Nevertheless, he doesn’t appear to be a complete idiot by testing her patience with him. He promptly drops his marble into Oberon’s vase.

My body feels numb. As half the crowd cheers for Oberon’s win, the other half remains stoically silent.

“We won,” I say, dumbfounded that Oberon was able to change not only one lord’s mind but two. “We won!”

I throw myself into Oberon’s arms, feeling as light as a feather.

He holds me tight and whispers in my ear.

“I’m so sorry for what’s about to happen,” he says. “Just know, that everything will be all right. We’ll go along with your father’s demand for now, but I need you to trust me. I have a plan.”

My happiness slowly evaporates. I unwrap my arms from around Oberon’s shoulders to look at his face. His expression is a mixture of emotions. I can only assume the happiness in his eyes is due to our win, but there’s also a tense worry in the set of his shoulders.

“Trust me,” he says again.

“I do trust you.” But what isn’t he telling me?

“Friends,” my father says.

I turn to see him holding his hands in the air to gain everyone’s attention.

“Now that the voting is over,” he says with a fake smile, “I suppose there’s only one thing for us to do. Tomorrow my daughter will wed King Oberon and become queen of New Aos to rule by his side. Then the next day we will have the official coronation so they can start their reign as soon as possible. However . . .”

Here it comes. After hearing Oberon’s warning, I brace myself for whatever it is my father is about to say.

“I am still king for two more nights,” he points out, “and since Oberon and Emily’s nuptials are meant to truly bind the ties between the light and dark fae, I think it’s time we resurrected a tradition that my own father and mother took part in on their wedding night. There should be no doubt left in anyone’s mind that the marriage between our new king and queen is a true one. In order to ensure an heir to the crown will be born, we should all witness their first coupling in a bedding ceremony.”

Hushed but excited whispers can be heard from those gathered. I seem to be the only one who gasps in surprise. Oberon instantly grabs one of my hands. When I look at him, he mouths the wordstrust me. Before I know it, he is leading me through the crowd to my father’s side.

The smug look on my father’s face makes me want to slap him as hard as I can. There’s no love lost between us, but how can a man with a conscience force his daughter to have sex in front of everyone of importance in the city. It’s not only degrading but it’s also disgusting.

“Emily and I will gladly take part in the bedding ceremony,” Oberon says as he squeezes my hand reassuringly.

I have no idea why he believes his words reassure me of anything. Why is he giving into my father’s sick demands so readily? Why isn’t he fighting to uphold my honor?

“In fact,” Oberon looks my father straight in the eyes, “you need to be there, King Elrod, since you’re the one who suggested it. I would hate for you to second guess whether or not I’m able to satisfy your daughter’s needs. Every father should have the peace of mind that their son-in-law is well endowed enough to pleasure his daughter in every way a man can. Besides, I would hate for you to miss the opportunity to watch the creation of your second grandchild.”

A few of the smarter people in the room snicker at Oberon’s blatant dressing down of my father for his crassness in front of everyone. From the look of anger on my father’s face, it’s obvious my future husband hit all the right buttons with his open acceptance of the bedding ceremony.

Even though Oberon seems to have a plan, my insides still feel twisted in a knot. There’s no way I’m having sex in front of these people, much less my father. Whatever Oberon’s scheme is, I hope he shares it with me soon to put my mind at ease.

“Since the wedding is tomorrow,” my mother says, looking like an angel coming to my rescue, “I believe Emily should stay with us in the castle tonight. You look tired from all the excitement, dear. Why don’t we both say our goodnights and retire to our rooms?”

The last thing I want to do is stay at the castle, but my mother has provided me the best escape of the situation.

“I suppose I’ll see you at the alter tomorrow,” I say to Oberon.

“I’ll be there, and I have everything under control,” he says with zero doubt.

“I am truly placing my trust in you,” I whisper as he leans in to kiss me on the cheek.

“I know,” he whispers right before his lips press against my flesh. He takes a step back and releases his hold on my hand. “Sweet dreams, Princess. Tomorrow, I’ll make you a queen.”

“Goodnight, all,” my mother says before placing a hand on my back and pushing me forward with slight force.

Once we exit the ballroom, she leads me up the grand staircase to the second floor.

“Your father is a poor loser,” she says with a shake of her head. “When we married, he talked his parents out of the bedding ceremony for us. He said it was degrading and that no king and queen should have to prove the consummation of their marriage.”

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