55

Obey him? As if.
I don’t care if Ruarc’s a fucking prince. If he treats me like shit again, I’m going to bash him on the head. I don’t bother getting the towels, choosing to admire Massa’s kitchen instead. The decor is lovely, and it’s not extravagant as I expected it to be. An electronic cooker here, a freezer there, his kitchen is pretty simple. I don’t see what he will be doing with the innumerable counters though.
“I knew you wouldn’t get the towels”, Sia said, walking to me. I smile. “He is not my boss. Is Massa going to be fine?”
“The bruises are nothing he cannot handle.”
“Sia, can we talk?”
“We’re talking now, aren’t we?”
I scowl. “I just need your confirmation on something.”
“Okay…”
“Your father paid me a visit and…”
“I know. I’m still trying to figure out why you kept such information from me.”
“I didn’t want you to know that I know your secret.”
“So, what did you find out?”
“I’m the one supposed to be asking the questions here. Why did you lie about sleeping with me Sia?”
His expression changed, but he remained quiet.
“Exactly what I thought. Am I boring? Is that it?”
“No Crinka.”
“Then why? Why won’t you sleep with me? Why won’t your brother? I hate to sound this way, but I am beginning to feel like you secretly don’t want me, and not sleeping with me is your way of saying it.”
“Stop! Just stop it! You sound like a whore!”
“But that’s what I am Sia! That’s what you assholes have turned me into! Tell me the truth. Would it have killed you to bring me into this palace as the woman you share a bond with? Would it have killed Ruarc? No! So don’t you dare act like…”
He kissed me. I kick him in the knee and he pulls away, cursing under his breath.
“This is not what I want. You don’t have…”
He cuts in. “Then what do you want Crinka, because I can’t seem to figure it out. Talk to me, baby.”
“I want a man who would treat me like his equal. I want a man who would treasure me. I want a man who would hold me when I’m down. I want a man who wouldn’t force me to be something I’m not. I want a man who wouldn’t wave me away because I can’t control my hormones. I want a man who would take good care of me. I want a man who will treasure his love for me and love for me is something you don’t have Sia because if you had it, you would have given me a long time ago.”
“I can’t love Crinka. I have tried, and I have failed. What you’re asking me for is simply impossible, and a bit ridiculous.”
I scoff in disbelief. “Ridiculous? Asking you to love me is ridiculous?”
“No not that. Asking me to be something I’m not is ridiculous. Asking me to change my personality for you is ridiculous. And even if I could, I don’t know you enough to love you. I certainly don’t want a woman, who can’t decide what she fucking wants.”
“I have already told you what I want! I want you!”
“If you want me, then earn me. You can’t say stuff as I want you, and still, snog faces with my brother the next, or moan when my younger brother fingers you. I’m not the best male out there Crinka. I haven’t loved another woman in like fifty years, so if you think you could be different, then prove it. I don’t know how you want to do that, and I don’t care. I am not the right one for you, and deep down I think you know it. This is what the bond does you know, try to bring two unwilling hearts together, even though they are not meant to be. I can’t love you, even if you’re madly in love with me, so don’t waste your fucking breath on me, darling. I am not worth the wait; neither am I worth your time or worthy of your love or affection. So do us a favor, and wake the fuck up.”
….
Today is the day.
Today, the council will pass their judgment regarding Massa’s case but that’s not what has shaken me up. I don’t think I’m still going to have a beating heart after today. My conversation with Sia last night is still hanging in my thoughts, and I tried my best not to cry over the mean things he said to me. I have tried to forget them, but I can’t.
“Put the damn cloak on Stormie. We have already missed breakfast. I can’t afford to be later than I already am.”
“Is it okay to wear your cloak? It’s a part of regal attire and I’m not royalty.”
“It’s either that or nothing.”
I hurriedly put it on. The cloak feels nice but I wish Massa would have let me wear underwear. I put on my boots and looked at him. For someone who is about to meet the council, he doesn’t look quite dressed. Massa is sporting beach shorts and a white vest. His hair is messy and I fight the urge to comb it with my fingers.
“I’m ready.”
“Good now let’s go.”
But this time, Massa asks me to walk beside him and he doesn’t care about my protests. I give up and just obey his command.
Massa stopped before huge iced doors, and the guards bowed to him. He waved them away before turning to me.
“Remember all I’ve told you, Stormie. You have to show them…”
“That I can be controlled,” I finish for him.
“Good,” he said then pushed the doors open, and I walked in with him.
The hall was vast and grand, with a high ceiling that arched upwards like the inside of a frozen dome. The walls were made of thick sheets of ice, and sunlight filtered through them, casting a soft blue glow throughout the room. The floor was also made of ice, but it was polished and smooth, making it easy to walk on.
There were long, icy benches along the walls, and a throne made of ice at the far end of the hall. The throne was intricately carved, with intricate patterns and designs etched into the surface.
There were also several smaller ice sculptures scattered throughout the room, each one depicting a different mythical creature or legendary hero. The air was crisp and cold, and a gentle breeze blew through the hall, causing the icicles that hung from the ceiling to jingle softly.
Overall, the hall had a majestic and otherworldly feel, as if it were a place where magic and wonder were just waiting to be discovered.
The royal princes sat on the benches, in their full regalia. Their faces are blank, and I’m eager to know what thoughts possess in their minds. Thjis sat on the throne, jaw set in seriousness. To his right sat another set of people. They are all pale-skinned, and six in number. I wonder who they are. Behind the princes, I could recognize Lady Thelia, Lord Farouk, and Rifera. There were three other people among them, whom I hadn’t had the privilege of meeting.
“Those are the elders,” Massa whispers. I nod. I turn slightly to my right and that’s when I see them. Eloive and a girl. I’m going to assume that she is Cecilia. They too are dressed casually like Massa.
The elders stared pointedly at me. I stare back.
“Is your waist broken child from regular fun nights or did your master not teach you how to bow before your elders?”, a cool voice asked. A man from the council. He has a burn on his forehead, a perfect contrast against his fair skin.
“It broke like that acne on your sister’s face”, I bit out. Massa choked and Eloive smiled.
And here I was thinking super naturals are beautiful. The acne girl changed that.
“Nonsense! What sort of child is this?”, the man bellowed. “That a mere wolf could insult Icelanders! Thjis why does this nonsensical being still breathe?”.
“And why does your heart not beat?”, I shot back.
“Stormie enough! Now apologize,” Massa says.
I remain silent. I didn’t plan to be rebellious, but what’s the joy in being submissively stupid?
I glare hotly at Massa. “If you expect me to be submissively stupid, think again. My name is Stormie, not Submi.”
Eloive laughs. This earns him a glare from the council.
“We’ll get back to the wolf later. But now, let’s focus on the matter at hand. Weeks back, a case regarding our princes what brought before us, and we had to intervene in the matter. Cecilia here, daughter of Heshina a commoner, allegedly accused Massa Lancaster, the last son of Thjis Lancaster of raping her. And Eloive Lancaster, the first son of Ruarc Lancaster, defended the victim in this case. Massa was tried last week, but before we take our final decision, we would like to hear from both parties one more time. The prince would go first.”
Massa straightens, meeting their stare head-on.
“When Heshina was still alive, she asked me to take care of Cecilia. I gave her my word and took her in as my ward. I made sure her every need was taken care of but it turns out that my little acts of kindness were not enough for her. She wanted more. She wanted me.”