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Mother rounded on him. “So, you’ve discussed this already?”
“We were… ironing out the details.”
Her brow scrunched into her hairline—a reaction I had adopted. “I see,” she said in her condescending, pissed-off tone.
I swallowed and searched my father’s face, but he said nothing more.
“Let’s make a deal, Daughter.”
I jerked, and my attention returned to her. My heart thrummed. Deals were dangerous, even with family. It had been ingrained in me long ago never to make a deal. That was what had gotten our country into this mess. It was what had ended the dwarves. It ended a dynasty of kings that had ruled Catalan for centuries. A deal made by a desperate king to a witch, who was now queen.
“I…”
“Love—”
“No, Brigham. We have been letting her run rampant for years. I’ve sat by while she’s learned weaponry, blade making, and everything else, yet she has no responsibility. No duty. She hasn’t even married. She’s twenty-four and not even courting!”
I internally grumbled.Thanks for that, Mother. But I kept my mouth shut.
My father’s eyes cast to the floor. He enabled my rebellion and blatant disregard for society's rules, allowing me to skip balls and parties. Just the thought made me itchy. My mother’s dream was for me to take over the tannery, my future husband to run the weaponsmith shop, and for us to produce a horde of grandbabies.
I craved an adventure, but at what expense? Was I willing to barter my freedom?
“When you return, you will attend the socialite of Xev.”
“Xev? But that’s so—”
“You will act like a lady and find a husband, then settle here and learn the tannery.”
My stomach tightened with an uncomfortable knot.Ugh.I hated acting like a lady. I detested the fluffy men and the etiquette of society. “Mother—”
“That is my stipulation for allowing you to go. Take it or leave it, Autumn.”
“Kira, my love—” Mother cut Father a glare that froze him.
“Why can I not marry one of the village boys?” I should have shut my mouth because it shocked me they were even considering letting me go, but I couldn’t.
“Are there any you have not bested in a fight who would take you as a wife?”
There was that. “I can speak to Gregoire. He is my friend. He has loved me for as—"
“Gregoire got engaged today, Autumn. Didn’t you know?”
My brows scrunched into my hairline—a Mother-like response. Gregoire had pined over me all these years, and now I was too late.
“But—”
“Gregoire was tired of waiting for your restless heart, my dear. Men dislike waiting for women.”
“The right one will,” I said with my arms over my chest.
This couldnotbe happening.
“Perhaps. But you would wait until you’re an old maid before looking for him.”
“Why canhenot findme?”
My mother cocked her head. “Because you’ll threaten him with an arrow through his heart when he does.”
