Their Princess

Chapter 33

I guess this is the most uncomfortable dinner I've ever had. Not a single bone in my body wants to sit on this chair and eat whatever is on my plate. My hands are shaking, and my breathing is irregular. Eli and Rey offered to feed me, but I politely declined, not wanting to look too needy in front of their Father.

Occasionally, I will look up to see him already staring at me like he is trying to figure me out. It's making me conscious of my every action. My soup spills on the table from my spoon. How do we use spoons? 

A deep sigh comes from my right, making me look at them instead. “ Stop staring. You're making her nervous.” Daddy says.

“ I'm not making her nervous. I'm just trying to…….understand her. You know, you speak so high of her that now I want to know everything about her.” 

Everything? 

An involuntary whimper comes out of my mouth, making Daddy look at me in concern. He picks me up to settle me on his lap instead. His familiar scent and warmth calms my senses. Without thinking about what I was doing, I turned to Daddy and started to suck on his collar. 

A growl comes, making me jump slightly. “ What is she doing?”

Daddy says nothing, just pat the back of my head, encouraging me to keep going. When his father growls again, I cower in his chest, shaking slightly. Why is he angry? 

“ Would you stop? You're scaring her.” Daddy says, gritting his teeth. 

“ I will if you tell me why she is bonding with you? Alerix, I was okay with you being her Guardian but this…..I don't know what this is anymore. You know what is at stake. Still, you're giving her this much control over you.”

“ Father, what is the matter? Why are you so against her?” Eli asks politely. 

Sighing, their father, Rufus replies. “ I'm not against her. Honestly, I like her too. But you guys know things have gone way too risky. And I don't want you to involve her in your mess.” 

“ No harm will come to her as long as I'm alive.” Rey interrupts. 

“ That's the thing you guys don't understand. Your selfishness is going to cost her life.” Daddy stiffens at this, tightening his hold on my waist. “ Alerix, how are you going to explain her to the Braska family? And, do you think Shafira will accept this bond?”

Don't tell me she is the villain that I've to compete with.

“ They will cancel the treaty if they sense disrespect and disloyalty. You know how that family is. They are arrogant pricks, but right now, we need their resources, so stick with the plan. It will be good for all of us.”

“ What exactly are you suggesting, father? Because I don't understand where this conversation is going?” Eli finally asks the question that I've been wanting to ask.

Rufus waits, letting silence fill the room. Why does he do that? It irritates me. Just say and get over it. What is the point of pausing in between? 

“ I want her gone from the castle.” 

Silence.

Nobody speaks for the next few seconds, and then all of a sudden, Rey roars. “ What the heck did you just say?”

Eli slams his fist on the table. “ What makes you think we are going to do that? Huh? You can not come here and order us around. We are already taking care of your mess, and now you want one thing that we hold precious, gone?”

“ I knew it. You can't do it. I have to take matters into my own hands now. I will get rid of her so that you can focus back on your…..” 

Before Rufus can complete his sentence glass shatters, or should I say glass table shattered? Daddy gets up, holding me so tight to his chest that it almost hurts. 

“ And how exactly are you planning on getting rid of her Father?” Daddy growls so loudly that Rufus looks slightly taken aback. 

“ Alerix, give her to me. You're going to hurt her.” Daddy pays Eli no mind. It's like he is in another world.

He continues shouting at Rufus. “ I told you before, and I'm telling you again if you even think about laying a finger on her, I will….”

“ Hell no, Alerix. Why will I ever hurt a little girl? I was just suggesting that I take care of her while you sort this deal out.” Rufus interrupts looking offended.

“ She is not going anywhere.” Daddy finalized, making his father feel disappointed. 

Rufus leaves after the disastrous dinner, opening my eyes to a new reality. What the heck is happening now? Where do I stand at this point?

I look at Daddy, who is breathing heavily, glaring at the space his father stood before. Eli and Rey are no better. They are glaring at Daddy. Eli notices me looking at him and gets up to take me from Daddy, but Daddy only tightens his hold on me.

“ Let go of her Alerix. Calm yourself down and explain everything. ” Daddy sighs, coming back to his senses now. He presses his lips on my cheek with an apology and hands me over to Eli.

Shifting on the couch, Eli feeds me there. There's too much glass around the dining area. Looks like Daddy has to buy a new dining table now.

“ What is going on, Alerix? What was father talking about?” Rey asks, looking frustrated.

“ Plan B is in action. We need the Braska family's help. Rogues have got the maps. Father thinks that it is wise to stop them now than to wait for another attack.”

Rey swore under his breath. 

“ What does that have to do with Shafira and our princess?” Eli asks, feeding me some meat. 

Daddy runs his hands through his hair in frustration. “ She wants attention, publicity in general. She thinks if she is seen with one of us, it will be good for her company's reputation.”

“ So she wants to use our image for her profits.” Eli concludes. Daddy nods at him.

“ Father doesn't want the Braska family thinking we're placing them in a secondary position. So if Shafira feels insecure about our princess, then she might cancel the deal.”

Rey is pacing now. “ How bad do we need their technology? Is it even good? Or are they just selling lies.”

“ It's good. I saw it with my own eyes in my last meeting.”

I don't want to, but I know where this is going. I've become a hurdle to their perfect deal, which needs to be thrown out. But the question still lies the same- Are they going to send me away to complete their mission, or are they going to cancel the deal?

Honestly, I don't want to know at all. Because I'm scared of what they might answer or worse, choose.