Finished

Cillian’s POV
The conversation I had with Rosalind was still stuck in my head playing on repeat.
I had been unable to sleep, to stop thinking about her and rethinking all the things I could have said or done to effect a different outcome.
I was wrong, Prince Cillian. When I said seeing you mated would kill me. It won’t…I don’t like you the way you like me, Prince Cillian.
I refused to believe her words. Not when she had looked at me with those blue eyes filled with pain.
The root of our problems was this damn princess selection so I would get rid of it. I knew there would be repercussions but nothing mattered to me more than Rosalind at this point. I would deal with the rest later.
“Cillian?” Adelyn looked at me questioningly and I returned to myself.
“I can’t do this.” I faced someone who had once been my friend, confidante and more before the years and growth had torn us apart. “I am sending all the brides home. I thought I would tell you for old times’ sake.”
Adelyn’s eyes were wide in shock then her lips twisted in annoyance.
“For old times’ sake? Cut it out. Why don’t you want me?”
I didn’t respond to her. She could do with the news what she wanted. It wasn’t until I sat with her for this matching date that I realized that this was my nightmare.
To be so chained down by my duty that I settled down with someone who cared more for the inner court politics than she did for me. For us.
To allow myself to begin to hate my partner and myself fit staying with them. I refused to subject Rosalind, Adelyn and myself to that.
Adelyn’s voice cut through my thoughts.
“Is it because of her?”
Her? Did she know about Rosalind? How? It would seem that Adelyn had matured into someone worthy of her family’s shrewd reputation.
Adelyn grew angrier at my silence. “Just because of the help?”
Anger suffused me and I hit my fist on the table splitting the expensive wood down the middle.
“Rosalind is not just a help!”
Adelyn was taken aback by the intensity of my reaction and I stood from the table suddenly feeling suffocated by all this.
“When it comes to matters concerning Rosalind it is best you keep your mouth shut or I will forget we were once friends.” My voice came out lower and more threatening than I was used to. I realised that I sounded like Killian.
I felt ashamed instantly. I almost apologised but Adelyn interrupted me before I could.
Her face was suddenly filled with remorse. Her lower lip wobbled as she struggled with the tears in her eyes.
“I’m so sorry, Cillian. I had no idea she meant so much to you.”
I didn’t regret what I said, I meant every word but I didn’t want to hurt Adelyn’s feelings if it could be avoided.
“Sorry, Adelyn. I didn’t mean to yell at you. I”
She didn’t let me get a word in as she shook her head.
“It’s alright. I was the one who misunderstood everything.”
I was shocked at how quickly her tins had changed but right from childhood, she’d always had a very mercurial attitude, always switching between extreme behaviours.
“Adelyn.”
She sniffed and wiped away the tear that had dropped to her face.
“It’s okay, Cillian. I won’t pretend to understand where this is coming from but I care about you so I just want you to be happy.” She gave a little laugh before meeting my gaze. “Don’t worry I won’t tell my dad.”
That was unexpectedly thoughtful of her. I wouldn’t want the council to be prepared when I stood against them not that it would change anything, I had already made up my mind. But it felt nice to know that I hadn’t completely destroyed my friendship with Adelyn.
“Thank you, Adelyn.”
*****
I hesitated before knocking on the door of my brother’s room. I recalled the information I had been keeping myself from thinking about.
The fact that he liked Rosalind. I hated the fact that it made me feel so jealous. I was sure of her feelings for me. Even if she said otherwise, there was this bond between us that couldn’t be broken by mere words.
Killian made me feel like those thoughts existed only in my head. I recalled the flash of guilt in Rosalind’s eyes when I mentioned Killian fighting me. I waited for her to bring up the kiss they had shared but she was quiet.
I recognized the fact that in the end, she would be the one to choose who she wanted her mate to be but if I didn’t get this damn selection called off I wouldn’t even be in the running.
I knocked.
“Killian we need to talk.”
There was a pause then Killian cracked the door open, he was shirtless and he didn’t look any less angry. In fact, he looked like he was gearing up for another fight.
“You want another beating?” He drawled.
I prayed for patience. This was necessary for Rosalind.
“I want us to send away the prospective brides. I have already called the council.”
Killian tilted his head to the side, observing me curiously. “And why would I follow you to any council meeting?”
Naturally, Killian had to make even the easiest conversation difficult. Luckily, I was well prepared for this turn of events.
I shrugged and turned as though I wanted to leave. “I thought you might be tired of your fan club but if I was mistaken then”
“I’m in.” Killian said gruffly and I hid a smile.
*****
The council members seemed anxious about this sudden meeting. I was beginning to see what Killian was always complaining about.
They had no problems arranging impromptu meetings for us so that we would be unprepared for whatever they threw at us and they could push their individual agenda instead of one that would benefit the entire population.
Even this so-called recruitment of our brides was a part of it. Another attempt to tame more and more power from themselves. When would it ever end I wondered.
Arthur frowned.”What could be the reason for this impromptu meeting?” He looked to his fellow council members then to Killian and I. “Have you perhaps chosen a mate?”
I stared him down letting my dominance loose.
“No. We will not take our mates from the girls you have selected.”
His eyes widened in shock and Killian smirked looking far too pleased for someone I had to twist his hand to be a part of this.
“What?!”
Before I could explain myself, the door slammed open.
*****
Rosalind’s POV
The door of my room slammed open and I jumped, my hair still damp from the shower.
Adelyn, the woman who had been kissing Cillian and Councilmember Arthur’s daughter, walked into my room with at least a dozen guards.
“Seize her!”
As I looked on in shock, two guards left her detail and came to either side of me grabbing a hold of both of my arms.
Finally, I found my voice again as I began to struggle again at their hold.
“What did I do? Let go of me.”
It didn’t do any good. I was way weaker than any of them being an omega and whatnot.
Adelyn sidled up to me, her eyes blazing with anger.
“Shut up, slut. Are you in charge of cleaning the royal suites?”
I was confused. She had barged into my room to ask me what she could have found out from anyone assigned to cleaning the royal suites. I returned back to my work in my bid to avoid the princes.
And it had worked splendidly only now I had drawn the notice of Adelyn again.
My words came out hesitantly.
“Yes.”
Adelyn gave a triumphant smile and then turned to her guards.
“Search this room!”
They began ransacking my room, flipping up my bed, breaking apart my bedside drawers, throwing my clothes to the ground and trampling in them in the means to search for what?
My heart broke at the destruction of the small space I called my own and I turned to Adelyn who was watching everything go down with a small smile on her lips.
“What are you looking for? What can I have that you could possibly want?”
My ears rang as her slap landed right across my face then her beautiful face was inches from mine as she bent to my height.
Her voice was syrupy and sweet as her words were bitter. “You seem to have forgotten your place, runt. Your greed and jealousy have made you steal my jewellery.”
Jewellery? What jewellery was she talking about?
There had to be some misunderstanding.
“Jewelry? I didn’t steal anything.”
One of her details called out.
“I’ve found something, Lady Adelyn.”
The man approached with two unfamiliar bags that tickled as he moved.
He dropped them to the ground and the bags gaped open. They were filled with gold.
Gold. Real gold that could buy the entire Northern Districts along with the people in it. Gold that could take me and Bast across the oceans.
My eyes widened and my knees wobbled.
Adelyn noticed my reaction and smirked.
“Vermin like you will always aspire for what you can’t have and for that, you must be punished so severely that you will never dream above your station.”
Her words drew my attention from the gold to her face. Was it just me or did it feel like she wasn’t talking about the jewellery?
I dropped to my knees.
“Please have mercy, I”
Her voice was merciless, her eyes cruel.
“You will plead your case to the council.”
She nodded and her men dragged me out of my room while the staff watched with their hands over their mouths whispering and exchanging furtive glances.
If Adelyn convinced them that I had that much gold, they would kill me. I was a nobody with no power that had alienated the one person who would move mountains to help me.
I was finished.
The door slammed open.