InkSkin

A King's Demand

"Do you have any idea what you have done?" King Yraurd yelled at his youngest son.

Alsuha stood in the shadows of the room's pillars. They had been summoned straight away to the King's rooms as soon as they had returned to LuSol's tower. LuSol had simply sighed and straightened his spine before turning on his heel and striding out of his room.

"It is very nice to see you as well Father."

"This is no joking matter!"

"I was not joking."

"I want that collar removed and destroyed!"

"No."

"I beg your pardon?"

"I will be all too happy to remove the Collar if you wish, Father, but it will not be destroyed."

"She can wear another."

"No. She either wears this one or none at all."

"I could have you beheaded for this, LuSol."

"If that is your wish."

"You are too stubborn. You get that from your mother."

"Yes, sire. You had no contributions to make in that area," LuSol quipped dryly.

"Do not sass me, boy!" LuSol bowed his head at his father.

"She poses no threat. I can control her as well if not better than you can Fira."

"She almost killed your mother!"

"She almost did no such thing. You know how mother exaggerates."

"Be that as it may, I cannot have my people clamoring for my son's Companion's head!"

"Then tell them to shut up." The King snorted.

"You insolent boy."

"There is no difference in her collar when it comes to its basic structure and purpose. She cannot do anything I do not want her to do." Alsuha couldn't help but bristle at that.

"Show me."

"As you wish," he said and turned to where Alsuha stood in the shadows.

"Alsuha come here."

She wanted to be perverse and stay where she was, but her damn collar responded to the command. It made her feel like it was pulling her forward. She couldn't help the need which rose in her to resist, but the longer she did the tighter the collar got until it felt as though she were choking.

'This is not the time for your stubbornness!' LuSol's voice resounded in her head, but she ignored him.

"Damn it, Alsuha, come here before you harm yourself!" She heard him say out loud when his mental chiding had no effect.

Alsuha moved and instantly the pressure at her throat eased. Anger and frustration boiled inside her, her hands curled into tight fists.

"Not enough."

"What?" LuSol spun to face his father, all insolence and nonchalance gone from his handsome face.

"She hesitated."

"She's stubborn!"

"Make her go back and crawl to you."

"No."

"This is not negotiable."

"I am not..."

Alsuha walked to the other side of the room. She refused to meet the King's or LuSol's eyes. She felt guilty and angry for being so petty the first time, but she could see that LuSol's father would separate them. She didn't want to explore why that possibility was so abhorrent to her. Besides, she doubted she would be able to survive having someone else hold the ring to her collar.