Once Bitten, Twice Shy

chapter 7 - secret disscusion.

"Cherish the friend who tells you a harsh truth, wanting ten times more to tell you a loving lie."

                      - Robert Brault

Darina's POV

‘’ Darina, you’re such an impatient little whore.’’

 Cornelia murmured with a sigh when she saw me pacing in my room . Only she can tell something like that to me in my face and live to see another sun rise.

‘’I think my ears are playing tricks on me or did you actually called me a whore.’’ I asked giving her the evilest eye I could manage.

 ‘’Don’t give me that look, you know what you did was wrong.’’

I gave her the, I don’t know what you are talking about look.

‘’Hey, maybe I don’t know much about vampire mate pandemonium, BUT YOU CAN’T FORCE HIM TO BE YOUR MATE.’’

There were only two of us in the sitting room near my chamber, but with Cornelia sweeping around the room like a hurricane it felt like thousand women are talking at once.

''He IS my mate.''

''yes , but you claimed him by force.''

‘’I don’t know what came over me. It wasn’t the order I had on my mind.’’

I still couldn’t believe I actually claimed him against his will. Well, he had no will. What I did was my part, my gain of the deal. But still.

‘’It’s not like it will be a problem to him. he’s a human; they have a second chance in most of the things. It’s me who will be losing all my chances of mating and having children. Radomir and Asya will be delighted to know that the western clan would be heirless after me.’’ She stopped pacing and sat near me on the sofa.

"I’m not the perfect strategist and I do not care for the sibling rivalries between you and Asya, but Radomir I can tell you, though I’ve never seen the man, might try to prick his fingers on your walls now that you've captured the best stronghold of his realm."

This might be just a stronghold for Radomir. But for me this is home. My family lived here those days, you know.

“Which days exactly? The ones where half of the east clan fought the other half and millions died? Or before that, when the King Baelish your great great something uncle slaughtered women and babies because his beloved concubine told him they deserved it? Or way before that, when wolf men burned whole cities to the ground!”

When I looked at them only a humorous twinkle flared in her eyes.

“I’m talking about the days when all I could do was tag behind my sister Beatrix and beg her to let me join their game of Dress Up. I was too young when Imre the warlock captured this castle using his blood magic.  And by the time Radomir siege it from him, I was busy grieving for my lost sister. And by the name of my mother and all that came before her I must save protect this place.”

I’ve waited long enough. It’s the time to act.

“Send a messenger to the Castle Red.Tell them I wouldn’t want any of them to interfere with the conflicts between the members of my family.” They wouldn’t be happy to hear it. But other fractions of the lore will remain silent until the next summit where they’d get the chance of talking behind my back with each other.

I took a quill and a paper from the holder and put it on the table in front of Cornelia. She looked upon my face with a questioning look. Then burst out in laughter.