Protect My Love ~ Book 4 ~ The Royal Blood Collection

Chapter 14

When I said that Nava would be pissed off with the suggestion that she married Imren, I was seriously underselling it.

We were in the communal hut, I'd told Alaric of how things had gone and what the high priestess suggested and Nava said a flat-out no. Alaric said that it was for the good of her people that she accepts it and she told her father to go to hell. Now it was a yelling match that I'm sure I'd be able to hear if I stood at the gorge.

Emmeline weighed in on it and she was taking Nava's side which I could understand. She didn't want her daughter miles away from home, stuck in the jungle that did not have any connected services and a place that was extremely risky. We'll just skip the part where they sent their niece to the extremely risky place and move right along.

"If I can interject?"

Silence from the other side. Petersen gave me a halfhearted roll of his eyes, Merrick was sitting between us and looking thoroughly unimpressed.

"Go on." Alaric returned.

"Accept the deal but on the basis that their home is in province three. Build a house for Nava and Imren to live in and build a dedicated path between the village and the estate so that they can return whenever they want."

"I am not going to marry someone I've never met," Nava yelled.

"He's nice, Nava."

"Well, then you marry him!" She spat out.

"They're not interested in me, I am not the daughter of the one trying to make these negotiations. I get the feeling that they will be offended if you refuse."

The fact that they could probably hear Nava yelling through the speaker was probably enough to offend them already.

"Do you think that it might be better to discuss it and come back to us with an answer at a later time?"

Petersen grinned at me. My diplomacy was pushed to the very limit.

"That's an excellent idea," Emmeline interjected. "We will return in ten minutes."

With a heavy and almost defeated sigh, I put the handset down and ended the connection.

"Well?"

They looked at each other. Merrick shrugged and Petersen just smiled.

"I think it's going to be a long road. How come you didn't tell them about Udranel or Toness?"

"Bad before the good."

"But it could sway their decision to know that she is safe."

I looked at Petersen and wondered if he truly believed Nava would be safe here.

"You know, your daughter looks old enough to get a job. She could be Nava's handmaiden after the wedding."

Petersen stared at me and I knew the truth. He would not send her here.

"That's the reaction that I expected."

"She's just a child."

"So is Nava, she's eighteen. How old is your daughter?"

"Nineteen," He muttered reluctantly.

The speaker crackled and the muffled words from one of the soldiers came through.

"Eagle one, this is base three, come in."

"Base three this is eagle one,"

"His Highness wishes to speak with you again."

"Copy that."

Seconds passed before Alaric spoke. I had to say, it was the longest few seconds of my entire life.

"Otanawa, make the suggestion of a house in province three. If they are uncertain as to the suggestion, offer to bring them here and let them inspect the place. We will redesign the base and create a secondary bridge that is secured and direct."

"Does Nava agree to this?"

There was silence for a moment, then Alaric sighed.

"Nava refuses to speak to me at the moment so I have no idea."

"You can't force her to do this."

"We are royalty, we have to do what is right for the good of our community. Even I married Emmeline before I really knew her."

"But you picked her, that is a vastly different situation. You are risking your daughter's life and love for what?"

"It is a steep price but it is one that we all must endure."

It pained me to think that this was my family. We were not related by blood but I'd grown up with these people being my entire world. Now I wasn't so sure about that.

"And what of me? Do I have a price to pay as well?"

"Of course. Don't worry about it too much, I'm sure there's another tribe out there."

I looked at Merrick, feeling a pressure that I've never felt before.

"But what if I don't want it?" I whispered.

The words droned in and out, I tried to listen as Alaric told me that it was for the best and that I'd be happy in time but it meant nothing to me.

Petersen looked like he wanted to run for the door, not because it was an awkward situation but because I think he suspected something was going on between Merrick and me.

"I'm not going to marry someone that I don't love."

"Well, you'd better learn how to love fast then."

"You do not control me."

"How did this turn into a conversation about your future?"

"Answer me, tell me that you're not going to interfere in my love life."

My voice was heavy, a deep darkness that was pure anger. Petersen shifted uncomfortably as he looked at Merrick.

"Otanawa," Emmeline said in a soothing tone. "Calm down, it's going to be okay. Alaric is not going to interfere in your love life."

"I'm not?"

His voice was distant, almost like Emmeline had taken the handset from him and was talking in the background.

"Shut up." She hissed. "Honestly, you make everything so damned difficult."

"I want to hear it otherwise I will not negotiate with the betas for you. Say it Alaric."

He huffed.

"Fine, I will not interfere in your love life."

There was silence.

"Nor will I try to arrange a marriage nor actually succeed. I will leave you alone."

For a moment, I closed my eyes and was silently grateful that I had the words and I had witnesses.

"Thank you and I will hold you to that. Remember who you are dealing with, I promise that it will not bother me to show you how I won the districts."

Merrick smiled at me as we listened to Alaric grumbling that it wasn't necessary. He'd seen me in action because Emmeline dragged him to the finals as support. It was an outlet that I found necessary and she loved that I had something rather than venting it through shopping like Nava.