Daydreams And Nightshade (DaN #1)

Chapter 21: An engaging conversation

Luna untangled her braided hair, furiously pacing around the Cromwell residence parlor in her night gown. Vincent stood silent beside a window, eyeing her with a frown as she stomped about.

"This has got to be the worst joke ever," she said through gritted teeth as she turned on her heels to face her father. "And you made people believe it too. What were you thinking?"

"It's not a joke, and can you—Luna, please, sit down." Lucius was seated by a table, failing hard at enjoying his morning tea.

Luna uttered a dead laugh, wide eyed and unable to hide her fury as she pointed at him.

"No, you sit down!"

"I am sitting do—"

"I can't believe this! I can't believe you! You have no—And I don't—I... What the bloody Waste were you thinking!?" Luna threw a decorative pillow at her father, missing his head by an inch.

"Just listen, please." Lucius placed his cup down and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I know it's unfair but I was put on the spot. I didn't have a lot to argue with at the time."

"Well I'll give you some arguments right here." Luna slammed her hands down on the table in front of him. "One! I decide who I marry if I ever do. You don't have a single Archon-damned say in this."

"I know that. At least that I shouldn't, but not everyone thinks—"

"Two! Finn Gashcrow? I don't even know him! And three, why the Waste would you listen to pompous scum before your own daughter? So much for having a will and a mind of your own!"

Lucius frowned.

"Were you eavesdropping?"

Luna huffed.

"Don't even try turning this on me. You're the one in trouble!"

"Luna, you don't understand. As the town chief I can't argue against the rest of society just like that."

"That's exactly what you can do! That's what you're supposed to do!"

Lucius actually averted his gaze, eyebrows knitted into a deep frown.

"Not when it doesn't make any sense to."

Luna gawked.

"Excuse me?"

Lucius hesitated, and then turned to Vincent.

"You're dismissed for now."

Luna's bodyguard obediently left the room and Lucius closed his eyes, exhaling through his nose.

"After the dinner yesterday it seemed your friends had... Well, some complaints about you. Not too bad per se, but their parents weren't thrilled. So they addressed their concerns to me and—Well I think we both know this isn't the first time this has happened. I managed to steer the conversation away as usual but then..." Lucius trailed off. "... Mr. Gashcrow brought up Finn, and the entire conversation spiraled into how promising he supposedly is and I'm serious, people were swooning over the Gashcrows. So when Mr. Gashcrow mentioned Finn was at the age to start considering a fiancée, everyone began mentioning their own daughters but... it seems he already had you in mind."

"Finn?"

"No, Adrian— Uh, Finn's father, that is. He started asking about you and suitors and..."

"And what?"

"And all the rumors about you."

"So? That should've scared him off!"

"Well he treated it more like—Like Finn would be able to calm you down." Lucius still wouldn't meet her stare. "That it would be a good match."