Melora's father stood to the right of Carwel. He wore his usual brown armor as he scowled at her. His arms crossed over his chest as his eyes snapped up at Drystan. "You disobeyed my orders, Drystan."

The grip Drystan had on her shoulders tightened. "I couldn't go through with taking her to Alathic. You know what type of monster he is," he growled. 

Ba Coford scoffed as he rolled his eyes. "Aren't you the same? I hired you because of what you are, Drystan. I hired you because no harm would come to my daughter if they knew that a monster stood behind her."

Melora couldn't help but stiffen at her father's words. If he thought that Drystan was a monster, he was going to think the same about her now. She started to open her mouth when Drystan interrupted her.

"I am not the same as my father," Drystan growled. Melora was flushed to his chest and could feel the growl reverberating in his chest.

Ba Coford scoffed and rolled his eyes. "I'm sorry, Drystan, but you are." He looked around the room and raised his hands. "No offense to the rest of you, but you all are monsters. You drink human blood."

"They drink animal blood," Melora huffed. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

Ba Coford's eyes snapped over to his daughter. "What did you say?"

"These people drink animal blood, father," Melora repeated herself. "The monsters you are referring to are the ones that drink human blood. Alathic is a monster, father. You sold me to a monster." She relaxed as she felt Drystan's arms wrap around her waist, pulling her closer to him. 

"How did you know that we were here?" Drystan asked roughly. 

Ba Coford's eyes traveled down to where Drystan's arms were and narrowed. "What have you done to my daughter?" his voice was full of venom. 

"One of our monsters asked you a question," Draco sneered. "Answer him first." He bared his vangs. 

Ba Coford shook his head. "Fine." He turned his attention back to Drystan and Melora. "I got a message from Alathic," He moved his disappointed gaze over to Melora. "Remember your husband?"

"I never married him," Melora reminded him. "He's not my husband."

Ba Coford shrugged his shoulders. "That's true that there wasn't a ceremony, but you are his wife. You're his wife, Melora. Whether you agree with it or not."

Melora shook her head. "You sold me to him, father. Are you in that much trouble that you have to sell me?"

Ba Coford looked over Melora's shoulder at Drystan before he answered. "You wouldn't understand."

"Try me."

Be Coford walked over to a small stool and sat down. His hand motioned for Melora to move closer to him, but she stayed where she stood. She didn't want to be near him. She didn't want to leave Drystan's side. Ba Coford, seeing that she wasn't going to move, sighed. "I had to give you to that monster because of what he could do for our small kingdom. You've seen the way that the land has been looking, Melora. You know as well as I do that we are running out of supplies."

Melora shook her head. "We are not. Besides, there were other ways of providing resources for your people without selling your only child. Your only daughter."

Ba Coford shrugged as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "There might have been, but it doesn't matter. I had made my decision. Alathic's offer was more than generous to have your hand in marriage. He was promising me my people's safety and supplies to keep us comfortable for generations."

Drystan growled. "You knew what Alathic was and you still gave her to him. You still sold your daughter to a monster with a horrible reputation." 

Melora's shoulders sagged as she watched her father's face. He never changed expressions. He looked annoyed that they were talking about this. It was as if he didn't understand the problem that this was. He didn't understand that what he did was wrong. 

Relax, my love, Drystan's voice sounded in her head. Lean against me. 

Melora obeyed him and relaxed. She knew that he would fight for her, but she didn't want a fight. She wanted her father to understand. "He would have killed me, father," her voice was strong. She cursed herself for not being stronger than she was. Her body felt weak. I'm too tired to do this, she pleaded with Drystan. 

I've got you, my love. Melora felt Drystan's lips brush against her temple. She leaned against his hard body for support. 

Her father's eyes narrowed, but she didn't give him the chance to make any comment. "He would have used me to produce an heir, father. After I give him what he wanted, he would have killed me." She paused slightly. "That is if his venom didn't kill me first."

"What?" her father snapped at her. 

"The only way for vampires to breed is if their mate is changed," Dante stepped forward from standing behind Drystan. He looked over at Melora and gave her a small smile. "Alathic was planning on changing her before they were wed. As Melora said, he would have killed her once she produced him an heir."

Ba Coford's face twisted into confusion. "He promised your protection."

Melora shook his head. "There's only one man that has sworn my protection and meant it." She reached in front of her and pressed her hands over Drystan's. "The man that you hired is the only one who has protected me. He's the only one who has kept me safe. He knew that it wasn't safe to take me to Alathic. When I was taken from him, he came and rescued me bringing me here." 

"He was selfish," Ba Coford glared at Drystan.

"You're not listening!" Melora pushed off of Drystan and stepped toward her father. "The man was never going to give you what you needed. You were so greedy you forgot to look at the man. You didn't care about what would happen to me. You didn't care about if I was going to be happy in the marriage."

"Happy?" Ba Coford stood up quickly. "Do you think you would have been happy with anyone that I choose for you?"

Melora opened her mouth to answer when her father interrupted her. 

"You don't understand, Melora. How could you? You're just a child." Ba Coford sighed and shook his head. "People in high positions don't marry for happiness, Melora. They don't get to marry for love. I'm sorry, my daughter, but I didn't love your mother. I learned to care for her, but it was never love."

Melora shook her head and looked back at Drystan. 

"I knew that you would never be happy with anyone that I choose for you." He pointed at Drystan. "I've seen over the years how you looked at him and I've seen how he looked at you. I didn't know much about vampires when I hired him, but over the past couple of years, I've been doing research. They mate for life. I've seen the way that he's looked at you since I hired him. I had a suspicion of what he was thinking, but now I see that it's true." He looked back at Melora. "He's convinced you that you are his one true mate. He made you forget about your duty to your people."

Melora crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "You are the one that doesn't understand, father. I am his mate. He didn't have to convince me." She paused for a moment. "He wasn't going to ever touch me because of your rules for him, but I convinced him."

"Melora," Drystan warned. 

Melora whirled around. "No! I'm not listening to him anymore. He fucking sold me to a vampire who was going to keep me around as a pet until I gave him what he wanted. He was right. I would have never been happy with anyone he would have picked for me." She turned around and looked at her father. "I had to convince Drystan, father, to even touch me." She took a strong step toward him, her blood boiling. "He is my mate, father. He's my protector." She couldn't stop herself from baring her fangs at him. 

Drystan's arms wrapped around her waist quickly and pulled her back. "Melora," Drystan's breath was hot against her ear. 

Melora was seeing red. She was so angry, she couldn't concentrate on anything. She wanted to tear into her father. She hated that he was here. She hated that he sold her. She hated that he wanted to separate her from her mate. 

A sharp pain came from her neck as her vision started to darken. Her body started to feel weak again and she slumped against Drystan. The last thing she heard before she blacked out was Drystan's voice in her head. 

Forgive me.