Exasperated, Father gestured wildly to me, turning to his son-in-law.
“Look at her!Lookat her! I can understand why you stole Sorcha, and even Roxanna! They have their mother’s beauty!”
“Rude,” muttered Roxanna.
“But Lillian?” Father continued to rant. “She’s worthless as a wife. Weak, mousey, doesn’t fire a man’s blood! She’s broken, for fuck’s sake! Why do you think I kept her close all these years? No man would want her, and I found her useful!”
Oh.
I was surprised to discover that Father’s words…didn’t hurt me. I’d spent so many years fighting for him to notice me, working my fingers to the bone to earn his approval…only to now hear what he really thought of me.
AndI didn’t care.
Because I’d found a place. I could be useful in my new clan. Kragornhadchosen me, despite my faults, and?—
“Lillian might be shy, Father, but that does not mean she isbroken.” Sorcha’s voice vibrated with anger as she glared up at our father. “She does not have to accept a life slaving for you because of a lack of options!”
I was touched by her defense and realized I’d spent my life hiding behind her and our other sisters; more beautiful, more outgoing, moreeverything. But once they’d left, and it was just me…I’d learned to stand on my own.
I stepped forward and touched her elbow. When sheglanced at me, her brows drawn in concern, I offered her a little smile.
“Thank you, Sorcha, but his words do not hurt me.” Taking a deep breath, I straightened my shoulders, tipped my head back, and met my father’s eyes.
“Iamthe lady of Bloodfire clan, and Icannegotiate on their behalf. As long as the Bladesedge chief believes my claim, that is all that matters here.”
“Aye!” Roxanna blurted, moving to my side. “Her Mate has claimed her, and loves her the way our Mates love us!” She turned to me. “Aye?”
Doubt swirled around me, threatened to pull me beneath the thunderous look of Father’s disapproval. I clung to the knowledge I no longer was subject to his whims, but it was hard – so very hard.
“Lillian?” she prodded, dropping her voice. “Right?”
I swallowed, offering her a little smile I hoped looked knowing…but judging from the sudden horror on her face, looked more like an ill bowel.
“Lillian, is Father right?” she hissed. “If he does not love you, how do you know he is not just using you?”
My certainty wavered, the walls I’d slowly built to hold all that back cracked under the pressure . . ..
Dkaar.
Mates.
Love.
“We are Mates,” I whispered, more to myself than to her. My eyes closed. “I am his, he is mine.”
“But—” Roxanna began but was interrupted.
“Ye can ask him yerself,” Drakolt announced, and when we glanced up at him, he nodded behind me.
I wasn’t the only one who whirled about to see the Bloodfire army approaching, but I was likely the only one to feel such a sense of relief.
Kragorn was here, and now my Father would see the truth. My Mate had chosenme, thought me worthy…and he would prove that to my father.
Right?
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Kragon
