“Let’s just enjoy the food and not talk for a while,” I say. “The two of you are acting like barbarians.”
They both laugh at that and I lean back in my chair, wishing I could be anywhere but here.
“It’s almost time for my announcement,” my father says when he takes one last swig of wine.
“Do you need help getting to the microphone or will someone bring one over?” I look toward the area that usually has the sound equipment.
He points to a mic stand next to our table and smiles. “It’s moved closer and I’ll be fine to walk that distance on my own. But stay close,” he says.
He winks at Caulder and looks around the room to see if everyone is still eating or not. A few minutes later, he stands and walks to the mic. The room quickly silences.
“Welcome to Alidonia! I hope your evening in the Farthing castle will be a pleasing experience. On behalf of myself and my family, I would like to tell you how fortunate I am to have all of the kingdoms here to witness how healthy I am!” He raises his fist in the air and a polite applause goes around the room. “But that is not why I gathered you all here tonight.” He looks at me and grins, the pride in his eyes making me smile back. “You all know how lovely my daughter Delilah is—and doesn’t she look especially lovely tonight in her Alidonian headdress worn for generations before her—but I assure you, she will only get more beautiful as she blooms into womanhood.”
I clasp my hands tightly together, uncertain of where he’s going with this but not liking the direction. I feel conspicuous enough in this dress.
“She has always made me so proud. I’ve guarded her with my life, believing that no other could ever possibly take care of her as well as I can.” He chuckles and shakes his head, looking at me fondly. “But there comes a day when every father must give up a small amount of control. At least enough for a husband to take charge, right?” He laughs again and I cringe inside, his ideas about a woman’s place being the one snag we never seem to quite agree on. “So, with that thought in mind, I’d like to announce my daughter’s engagement to none other than King Avaban of Blorl.”
What? A cry escapes my mouth and I cover it, staring at my father in horror. He holds his arm out for me to come forward and on the other side of him, King Avaban is also stepping forward. Caulder nudges me from behind and when I turn and see the guests clapping, it all sounds very far away. Jadon is the only one I laser in on, his expression unreadable. My arm is suddenly gripped tightly and I turn in slow motion as Caulder forces me to walk to my father.
When I reach him, Papa holds out his hand and takes mine, firmly placing it over King Avaban’s. With all three of our hands clasped together, he lifts them up in triumph.
“To this new union. Long may they reign!”
Cheers ring out throughout the room, while I stare on in confusion. I can’t believe my father has done this to me. I try to rip my hand away, but he holds it tighter.
“Papa, I cannot do this,” I hiss under my breath.
“Do not embarrass me, child. There are some things you have no control over, this is one of them,” he says with gritted teeth.
King Avaban’s eyes glitter as he stares at me, his expression a combination of contempt and arrogance. I don’t even know this man’s first name or anything about him other than the fact that he makes my skin crawl, and my father expects me to marry him.
I turn and my eyes meet Jadon’s again, I need to see anyone other than the family who has betrayed me and the man they’re auctioning me off to. I lift my head high and force myself to calm inside.
I will not succumb…I refuse to bow to this.
When the cheers die down, my father keeps talking. It’s like a drone in the distance, his words meted out in my head.
My world has suddenly turned bleak.
I am terrified.
And my beloved father has broken my heart.
Chapter Nine
Jadon
I had no idea of what to expect at this ball, but hearing that Delilah is engaged to King Avaban of Blorl—I did not see that coming. When I first hear Farthing speak the words, an immediate rage comes over me that is completely unwarranted. For all I know, this could have long been in the works. But why then, have I felt any connection with Delilah at all, if that were the case?
Maybe she is used to toying with men’s affections and I was merely something for her to bat around for fun.
It’s not like anything beyond a mild flirtation happened anyway.
Even that was probably just her fishing for something to use against me.
But one look at the utter desolation on her face, her shock more apparent than anything, and I am filled with the urge to fight. Anyone will do, but at the moment, both King Farthing and King Avaban look like good options.
I try to focus on what Farthing is saying, but my eyes are glued on Delilah. A transformation takes place while we’re standing there. She stands more noble than anyone I’ve ever seen, her neck like a swan and her head held high. She is a goddess and I believe that nothing could destroy her, except when her eyes reach mine…the truth is there for all to see. She would sooner die than marry this man.
I lock eyes with her and hope that I can convey to her even a small amount of peace. Not that anything I do could help her—who am I to her? But it’s all I have. If I could hoist her over my shoulder and run out of here like a man on fire, I would do that in a heartbeat. I’m tempted to do just that. But I’d be dead in an instant and she’d be left to fend for herself anyway.
They go through a couple of customs I’m not familiar with, pouring sand on the ground for them to walk over and then lighting candles underneath Delilah and Avaban’s joined hands. I don’t like the smug look on Avaban’s face; the contempt I’ve had for him is not quite up to Farthing’s level, but it’s right up there. He’s an arrogant bastard with little to show for his attitude. He runs Blorl with an iron fist, with little regard for the less fortunate, which makes me see red. The thought of Delilah being forced to live in the dry, brown desert of Blorl after she’s been used to the lush beauty of Alidonia is sad on its own merit. But imagining her living with Avaban makes it so much worse.
Everyone watches in rapt attention, and when Delilah pulls her hand away from Avaban’s and causes the flame to flicker out, the gasp in the crowd circulates quickly around the room. She runs past me and her father follows but is still slow from his illness. Caulder holds his hand up to the crowd and the room hushes. My skin feels itchy from standing in this room and I rush toward the door, uncertain of what excuse I’ll give if I’m stopped. The guard opens the door for me when I tell him I need to find the restroom and points down the long hallway. I see Delilah and her father talking and edge closer so I can hear them.
“How could you do this, Papa? I won’t marry him!”
I can tell by the tone of her voice that she’s about to cry, but she looks like fury in the thick of the storm. Her regal outfit only adds to the fire and I stop in mid-step, not caring if I’m caught staring.
“I’ve demanded very little of you in your life, sweetheart. This is not up for discussion. You will go back in there and put a smile on your face. You’ve embarrassed this family enough for one night; don’t let the party end on this note.”