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“I said I would try… but, I’ve been thinking about it, and I shouldn’t.”
I frowned at her. “What? Why?”
She shook her head. “I know we’re asking a lot of you. We’re asking the world of you. But it’s better if you just trust us. We are only trying to do what’s best for you.”
“And for the Kingdom, right?”
“It helps the Kingdom, yes,” said my father, “But recent developments have reaffirmed my belief that this is the best thing for you, and for our family.”
A cold pulse of anxiety and panic moved through me. It wasn’t enough to shake me entirely, but it was strong enough… and it had left a mark. My eyes narrowed. “What aren’t you telling me?” I ventured.
“Nothing you need to know,” said my father.
“So, there is something!”
“Snowdrop, please,” said my mother. “Lord Cyr is a good man at heart. I’m sure once he’s out of the limelight, he’ll settle.”
“And if he doesn’t?” I asked.
“I’ll break one of his fingers by accident,” said my father.
I rolled my eyes. “You’re asking me to give my whole life to a man I don’t know, and don’t want to marry. That’s… so much. It’stoomuch. You have to agree.”
My mother approached. “And I do. Trust me… this hurts me as much as it hurts you, but it’s the only way.”
My frown deepened, and I backed away from her. “I didn’t like the sound of that,” I said, my heartrate quickening.
“Dahlia,” said my father. “Compose yourself.”
“She’s our daughter, Cillian. It’s her life, and she has a right to know.”
“You and I both know how incredibly dangerous that could be. Let’s bury this now and be done with it.”
I gave my father my grave, panicked eyes. “Dad… what are you talking about?”
“Nothing,” he barked, and he stepped aside. “Return to your room, Amara. I will send for your dinner.”
I was scared, now. Something had happened, the mood had changed. It had gone from calm, and comforting, to entirely worrying in the space of a few seconds. I stared at my mother, then my father, as I slowly side-stepped toward the archway that led back into the palace.
“Tell me,” I said, “Whatever it is, I need to know.”
“I can’t,” said my mother, clasping her hands to her mouth, her eyes welling up with tears.
“Nor can I,” said my father. “Fate will not allow it.”
“So, first you force me to marry someone I don’t want to marry, and now you’re hiding things from me too?”
“To your room!” my father snapped, his voice like the boom of an avalanche.
I didn’t question them any further. Instead, I turned around and started running down the hall where I found Tallin waiting for me.
“Princess,” he said, “Are you—”
“—leaving,” I hissed, as I ran past, “And this time, I’m not coming back.”
CHAPTERTEN
“Leaving?!” Tallin asked as he caught up with me. “What are you talking about?”
