Chapter 8

~Tony’s POV~

“Sit.” Rien ordered as soon as we entered the room and for a second I thought to defy him but the almost murderous look in the vampire’s eye could get anyone to obey.

I dropped into the seat to watch it play out.

The room, as expected was large and spacious. Gray stone walls, cold stone floors, wooden and polished furniture from some other era with blank walls and not a touch of personality. I felt almost claustrophobic in the lifeless room.

“One thing I asked your brothers to do and as expected they have failed me.” his father was going on about something.

“I am not a child father, you cannot expect them to follow me about, trying to make decisions for me.”

“They were always a useless lot, a complete disgrace to this coven and now they have allowed you to take on a human mate-“

“As I have said I am free to make my own decisions and it would do you well not to continue treating them that way; they despise me enough as it is and they are undeserving of such a treatment from their own father.”

I watched them with furrowed brows, confused by the direction their conversation had taken. The guy had all but ripped his neck from his body and here Rien stood having a civil conversation with the man as if nothing had happened. I couldn’t understand it.

“They will not even take a step without an order from me. They hold their tongues when I command it, they run when I say and bend over backwards to do my bidding. They fear me, they are weak”. The vamp spat, clearly disgusted.

Rien moved to place a hand on his father’s shoulder and I shook my head. I’d never understand vamps.

“You do not make it easy for them.”

“Yet you manage to defy me at every turn. You have never been one to obey my orders or to take my words as they are, it is why you are my beloved son.”

And here was a father playing favorites. I took a breath.

“It has been rare that I have expressed any disappointment in you Riener, but today you stand before me challenging my authority, disgracing the court with your human, calling him mate, letting him speak out of turn, it is repulsive and had it been any other, I would have had them punished severely for such a grave error.”

Rien’s hand dropped to his side and he moved to stand beside me.

“And what will you do now father? Do remember that it was your wish that I present my mate.”

The father finally lowered himself into the chair across the room, he watched Rien for a second then his black cold eyes turned to me, piercing my gaze with their ruthless intelligence and I held them until my eyes watered and I had to blink. He didn’t look pissed anymore but neither did he look particularly pleased and I wondered which was the lesser evil.

“What are you called?” it took me a second to realize he was talking to me and with narrowed eyes I addressed him.

“Ask your son, you’ve been doing a pretty awesome job of ignoring me so far, don’t stop on my account.” I issued in annoyance and I felt Rien stiffen beside me.

The leader’s eyes darkened if that were possible and I glanced briefly at Rien, then back at him.

“I suppose I can see why you chose him. He’s not very different from you is he?”

Rien spared me a glance, “On the contrary, he is almost the total opposite and I did not choose him. He chose me.”

I rolled my eyes at the bullshit he was spouting.

Your brothers have issued a challenge, are you aware of that?”

Rien took a breath.

“I am not particularly surprised, they had warned me they would. I decline of course.”

“You have not the authority to decline, however in light of what you are to me, I shall spare you just this once.” He began, “You are my son. I respect you and I love you as much as any father could love a child. I understand how it feels to hold such emotion for another, so who am I to deny the very same to you.” He spoke softly.

“If your human can vouch for your love to one another, you shall be free to live your lives together as you choose. Of course with the view that you shall change him when the time presents itself. If not, then you must discard all thoughts of this ridiculous mating and I shall choose a mate for you.”

Then the leader turned to me, a strange glint in his eyes.

“So human, do you profess to love my son, you need only say the words and you belong to him.”

“Father wait, you must give me some time to-“ Rien began but I cut him off with my next words.

“No I don’t love him, give him a mate, I don’t care, just get me the fuck out of here.” No one would own me. Rien could get his mate for all I cared and I could go free.

I watched as Rien spun to look at me, horror written all over his face.

“Very well then, you have his answer_”

“No, you heard his heartbeat, he has lied.”

“No matter, I asked him to say the words and he has.” His father appraised me, “My son should not have to beg for the affections of anyone. He needs a mate who will take his or her rightful place by his side. You will be escorted from the coven grounds after the mating ceremonies are completed.” He said all this with a smile, his eyes unblinking as he watched me and in turn I watched him without a word.

“I cannot accept this, he is my mate and I assure you I will-“

“That’s enough.” The vamp interrupted Rien, his voice low but firm. “I have offered you enough courtesy. I shall find you a suitable companion and the human shall be on his way.”

Rien shook his head, mouth tight, “Then I shall leave this place and this will be the last you see of me. I will not be forced to bend to your will. Not in this way.”

His father slammed his palm onto the surface of the desk and regarded Rien with a cold look.

I stood up then, unsure what the vamp would do.

“If you dare to leave this coven, abandon your people for this… this…. human, I shall hunt you both down and I shall make you watch him die by my hands.” The tension in the air was suffocating as I processed the words. I found it hard to believe that I’d actually wanted to be a part of this life with Rien years ago, that I would want to live among these blood thirsty animals.

It pissed me off that he’d actually thought to drag me into this and I wondered if this ‘love’ he professed to have for me was nothing but a need to be in control.

“Now leave me, I wish to be alone.” The vamp said then, turning his back to us and without glancing my way, Rien turned on his heel and left the room. I followed at a safe distance, taking in the now empty court; now even more lifeless that when we’d first entered. Rien said not one word to me as we made our way across the vast expense of tile and even as we exited the place, walking across the yard.

I noticed though, that as we walked no matter what they were doing, the vampires close by turned to watch us...or at least they watched Rien as if fascinated by his very presence, as if he was a celebrity or…a God. I moved so that I was walking alongside him and allowed myself to take in his appearance.

I suppose he looked the part; if being strikingly beautiful somehow made you Godly. It was of course of no surprise to me when he ignored their stares and continued on his way, jaw clenched, posture perfect, feet drifting gracefully over the concrete without a sound.

A servant opened the door for him when we got to the place we would be staying and as swiftly as he had entered he dismissed her, turning to face me, his expression unreadable.

“Do you have any idea what you have done?”

I grabbed a seat because something told me we were about to have one of those conversations.

“I’ve got a vague idea, why?” I offered cheekily and I could have sworn I saw the fire in his eyes.

“You are the most unforgiving, uncaring little human I’ve ever had the misfortune of knowing!”

It was the first time he’d ever actually raised his voice at me but it was the words that stung and I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t just look at him and feel nothing.

I said nothing. I just folded my arms and watched him school his expression into one of contempt.

“Well I suppose you finally got what you’re after. You’re free to live as you choose now. You’re free to enjoy your life without me.”

I snorted. “Always wanted? The only thing I’ve ever wanted was for you to come back and take me from that hellhole they call the army. You left me there for five years saying I need to learn responsibility, then as soon as you felt like it, you came back and pulled me from battle, pulled me away from my men. I’m a deserter because of you and you have the audacity to talk about responsibility.” I would have spat at his feet if I’d been so inclined.

“You wanna know the truth? Fine. Yes I love you, I’ve always loved you, even when I hated you I loved you, but now I just want to live my life for me. I’m sick of my world revolving around you, my every thought being about you. I feel like I can’t even breathe!”

He stood in silence and watched me rant.

“I’m glad your father gave me the choice. I’m glad I was finally able to make one fucking decision for myself, for once without your damn interference. You’re in love with control Rien, not me.” he opened his mouth to interrupt and I pushed on, “and even if you really are in love with me, that means nothing without respect and that’s one thing you don’t have for me, otherwise you’d have given me a choice, you’d have treated me like your equal rather than dragging me around and ordering me to bend to your will like I’m your annoying kid brother.”

“I see.” Was all he could say and I took a breath and let it out slowly.

“You pulled me out of battle, now I’m a wanted man. You need to fix it. You owe me that.” I didn’t want to talk about us anymore.

“Very well.”

Suddenly I felt very tired. Tired of fighting

“It’s been years, I’m tired of being angry with you. It doesn’t matter how much you think you can change me or that you love me and I feel the same…what matters is that this is my life and I want to be able to choose my own fate…for once, I need to do what’s best for me.” I watched him carefully as I said the words, needing him to understand me and what I needed.

“Your father’s gonna choose a mate for you and I understand how you feel, having someone forced on you like that, because that’s exactly what you’ve been trying to do to me.”

He looked up at me then and I finally saw a flash of understanding in his eyes; understanding and regret.

“The mating ceremony will take up to a month until its completion. As my father promised, you will be able to leave as soon as it is over and I’ll take care of your predicament.” He seemed to think on his words then, gazing at me with so much longing I had to turn away. “Then you shall be on your way, free to decide your own fate.”

I watched him walk away and for once since that fateful day he’d rescued me from battle I didn’t feel anger, instead I felt a load on my shoulders, threatening to pound me into the ground and even though it was my very own decision and I was finally having my voice heard, I felt like I’d made a huge mistake. I felt utterly confused.

                                          AUTHOR'S NOTES

EXTREMELY SHORT I KNOW, I APOLOGIZE I'VE JUST BEEN TOO BUSY TO WRITE MORE BUT I PROMISE TO TRY HARDER AND WHEN NEXT I DO UPLOAD IT WILL BE A FULL LENGTH CHAPTER.

THANKS FOR READING AND THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

If you do any fan art for any of my characters lemme know so we can all fangirl over them!

-DoUbLe.A

-unedited.