Derrick

Seven.

This chapter has 1366 words in it. Thank you so much for reading!

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"You can't expect me to choose," I argued.

"It would be better, strategically, for me to get Sebastian. You're lucky I'm offering in the first place."

As we walked, I noticed we weren't going in the direction of his room. I stopped.

"Where are we going?"

Roy stopped, too.

"You destroyed my bedroom. Instead of going there, we're going to my meeting hall. To make the decision easier, I can scrap the retaliation idea and send for whoever you choose immediately." His voice had a weird catch in it as he said that, and I glanced at him, concerned. It was gone as quick as it had come.

"That does not help," I grumbled. We began walking again, and Roy was quiet as I thought things through. I was grateful for the silence.

He was right. Isaac would find a way to get him and his pack out. But they'd be his priority, not himself. If it came between him dying or anyone from his pack dying, Isaac would sacrifice himself without a second thought. Derrick would send an entire army if that's what it took to take Isaac's town over. How would Isaac get himself out, in that case?

But Sebastian was trapped. I knew Derrick had to be doing something awful to him, something that made him so quick to spit insults and shrink into himself. I knew he had to be in pain, or he'd find a way out. I remembered the last time I saw him, how weak he looked.

I tried to think about it as objectively as I could and, after the long walk to Roy's meeting room, I made my decision.

Isaac had the ability to run. He could choose to get out of harm's way, and he had a fighting chance to avoid conflict.

Sebastian didn't have that option. He had no chance of avoiding harm, because he was already being harmed.

As Roy and I entered the meeting room, he looked at me, expectant. His amber eyes were like gold, warm honey, and I suddenly had the urge to throw my arms around him like a child. Let him make the decision. I felt like both choices were the wrong choice, and I was afraid. I knew I had to pick, though, and I chose the most logical option.

"Sebastian." I said, ignoring the guilt that washed over me. Roy simply nodded and pulled a small phone out of his pocket. He gestured for me to stay where I was and walked to the end of the long room, murmuring into the tiny device. Then, he put it back into his pocket and gave me a small smile.

"I've sent two groups, so we should have him here in no time. I need to send Derrick a quick message, are you hungry? I can send for food here." He offered. I opened my mouth to decline, but was interrupted by my growling stomach. I realized I hadn't eaten anything in a while, and it was almost night time, if not already night time. I nodded, and he pulled the phone out again.

After my dinner of steak, french fries, strawberries, potatoes and tea arrived, Roy excused himself to go speak to Derrick. I nervously ate my food and waited for him to come back. I finished it, and he wasn't back. I drank all of my tea, sipping slowly, and he still wasn't back.

I was about to leave and look for him when he opened the door.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to take so long."

I began to get up, but he shook his head.

"We need to talk." He said. He took a seat beside me and rested his arms on the table. I watched him, suspicious.

"This is a...delicate situation. Please hear me out before you assume."

"Okay," I said cautiously. He stared at me for a moment, making sure I was listening.

"I've done something." He spoke slowly. "In order to keep you here without any violence from Derrick, I had to make you indispensable to my kingdom. To do so, I only had two options, and I intend to give you a choice, rather than pick one for you. But it is imperative that you pick one."

He paused, measuring my expression. I tried to keep my face as neutral as possible, and nodded in what I hoped was an encouraging manner.

"Option one, make you my prime minister. My second-in-command. This means you would be in charge of my military, mediating my public relations, attending my meetings with me, and making very heavy decisions pertaining to my land and my people. You would pass or veto laws, and when I'm indisposed at any time, you would take on my role until I'm able to work again."

"What?" I stuttered. "But I've never done anything like that! You want to put me in charge of all of that when I barely got past picking out what I wanted for dinner?"

Roy laughed nervously. The catch from earlier was back in his voice.

"That's not the only option," He said hesitantly. He seemed embarrassed, and he looked down at the table. His blonde hair was just long enough in the front to cover his eyes when he looked down, so I wasn't able to read his expression. Suddenly, I was very sure that I didn't want to know the second option. He cleared his throat and straightened, resolve forming in his eyes. The last time I saw resolve in his eyes, I got tied to a chair. I tensed.

"The second option is to be completely in charge. Rule the people."

"You would step down?" I asked, completely confused. Was he offering to give me his entire kingdom?

"No, I wouldn't step down."

"Then how would I be able to rule your people if you don't step down?"

"You wouldn't be ruling them alone."

I tilted my head.

"But who - oh."

My second option was to marry him and become the queen. The thought of so many people looking at me made me nauseous.

"It would be in name only," He reassured me quickly. "I don't expect you to love me, and I promise you'd be allowed to..see other people."

"No, no! That's not what I'm worried about at all!" I answered just as quickly, my face as red as a tomato.

My only two choices were to become a political leader of one sort or the other. Glorious.

"As a prime minister," He said, still frazzled. "You could speak directly to Derrick. You'd be in charge of our trade agreement with him." His face, too, was red. It was oddly endearing.

I nodded, hard and fast. A small piece of my brain relished the idea of having something to hang over Derrick's head. But the larger piece of my brain was still processing the fact that I practically just got proposed to.

"You have two days to make the decision. I tried to get you more time, but because Sebastian should be here anywhere during those two days, I couldn't. You'll need to be in a position of power in order to pass off his presence here."

"Okay," I said easily. I would obviously pick the prime minister option. Right?

Roy stood and made his way to the door faster than what could be considered casual.

"I'll have a guard show you to your room." He mumbled.

"Okay," I said again, stunned.

He opened the door, but I called his name before he could leave. He stopped and looked at me.

"It isn't - I'm not-" I stumbled over my words. "If marrying you was my only option, it wouldn't be in name only. I'd be faithful."

He stared at me for a long moment, long enough to make my heart pound, before turning toward the hallway again.

"Me too," He murmured, before leaving.

I watched him go, my heart beating out in a jagged rhythm. Something changed between us, so quickly I barely caught it. But when I thought of Sebastian, my heart skipped in fear and anticipation.

So why did the idea of marrying Roy have the same effect?