In the Shadows~zayn au~Completed ✅EDITING

~Chapter 80: Out of Sorts~

                  

Soooo, have fun with this one.

Dedicated to lxl_Zalaina_lxl. You asked for this, boo, remember that. 🙈

Kalysta departed her carriage with the help of a servant. Niall was waiting for her a few steps away, ostensibly so they could walk together. She very grudgingly accepted the arm he offered.

"Are you recovered from your sickness?" he asked as they walked between the lines of the Royal Guard toward her parents.

"I'm well now, not that you actually care," Kalysta returned.

"I beg your pardon?" Niall hissed. "I didn't quite catch that."

"You heard me well enough, I'm sure."

"I was giving you a chance to recant," he replied, his voice deadly.

"You're not in Mullingar anymore and I refuse to pander to your spoiled, disgusting expectations for women." Kalysta was done putting on a face. Niall wouldn't back out now, so she didn't care what he thought of her.

"Ah yes, it was too much to expect an Elysian woman to know her place," Niall returned through gritted teeth. "Your shy demeanor before went against everything I'd heard of you."

"Oh, I'm so terribly sorry that I haven't been entirely frank with you." She made it clear in her tone that she was anything but sorry.

"Remember well, Princess, that I still hold the power here," he warned, tightening his arm against his body and pinching hers between them. "If I call this off now, my father won't care. He'll march on this squalid hovel and end you all."

Kalysta took a deep breath to calm the immediate, unavoidable anxiety that rose up. "I agree to be civil, then, if you are."

"I'll do as I please," he replied loftily.

"Such helpful compromise, that is." She'd had enough of his stupidity. They'd be lucky if they lasted the engagement period without killing each other.

At that point, their hushed argument came to a halt for they'd stepped in front of her parents.

They stood at the end of the row of guards, regal and strong. She could see her parents' unease, though, because she knew them so well. Her mother's eyes were narrowed a touch in concern and her father looked weary with distress.

"Welcome, Prince Niall," her father opened. "I see by your presence here that negotiations were successful for the marriage treaty."

"They were, Father," Kalysta jumped in, not allowing Niall a chance to respond.

She could sense Niall's gaze of anger, but she ignored it, instead wrenching her arm loose from his grip and going to greet her parents properly. Her father's face was pinched and apprehensive, but he hugged her tightly and returned her kisses on both cheeks. Kalysta greeted her mother the same and then turned to Niall.

"Come, Niall, I'm sure you're as tired as I after such a journey. I believe there is a feast waiting for us to celebrate our engagement."

"Thank you, Your Highnesses," Niall said. "I'm glad you have not set aside all the traditions our peoples had in common. There will be less work fixing Elysium than I expected."

Kalysta balled her fists, but kept her mouth shut. It seemed he would be flaunting his authority any chance he was able. She would have to bear with it.

"Well, Prince Niall, we can discuss it all in great detail over the next week of engagement festivities," her father replied diplomatically. "By this time next week, you will be married to my lovely daughter. Come, let me get to know my future son." He was being much more courteous and sensible than she thought him capable, but she was glad. Where she had lost all patience with Niall, her father still had a bit.