Protect My Love ~ Book 4 ~ The Royal Blood Collection

Chapter 18

The discussion was underway, Gus certainly had a lot of translating to do. While they negotiated the agreement, I returned to my living quarters with my parents. Merrick was helping the staff move the boxes into the mess hall. A feast would be prepared to celebrate the agreement once it was made.

"So, did you find more than just Emme's father?"

Reluctantly, I nodded as I sat down at the dining table. My parents looked concerned.

"I met my father, his name is Toness. He seems nice and he said that he scouts the ridge so he's always near the bridge but I shouldn't go back to the village."

"Why not?" My father grumped.

"Because I am the product of an affair and his wife is still angry about it. So much so that when Toness brought his children in so that we could meet, she looked like she wanted to kill me. They gave a lie about me but I don't think she believed it and he warned me to stay away. He said that I look like my mother."

"You do,"

I looked at my father and then to my mother, realizing that my life was with them, not the man that had basically disowned me. It was likely that he would have disowned her too, maybe he already had. Maybe it was why my mother was in the jungle, dad said that he'd seen her a few times. Did he cast her away? Did he send her out of the village to hide what they'd done? I'd searched for my father and I'd found him but that's where this journey would end. I believed that he'd shunned her and in doing so, sent her to her untimely death.

"Her name was Rahya. She was a respected member of the tribe. They rarely leave the village to give birth, Gus suggested that it was possible that she was in the jungle to give birth to me because she feared what the wife would do. I think that she attacked my mother. Gus said that they only jump the gorge when necessary, it's a strain on their bodies and they die soon after."

My mother pulled me in for a hug, whispering that it was okay to be sad about it.

"I'm not sad that he abandoned me, I'm sad that my mother died because she loved someone."

I pulled away and wiped the tears.

"It's fine. We found Emme's father and that's more important. I've got you guys and she has never had a parent. It was important for her and I'm happy that she has Udranel rather than someone like Toness."

"It would probably break her heart but you are strong and can accept it easily."

But that's only because I had them. If I was in a situation like Emmeline, things would be different.

"What's it like over there?"

"Hot but there are some nice things. We swam in the lagoon, it was a lovely area."

"We?" My mother asked in a teasing tone.

I stared and felt the heat rise to my cheeks.

"Well, yeah. Merrick was a total pain in the ass when it came to making sure I was safe."

"Uh-huh. Merrick, not Captain Harper?"

"Dad," I hissed.

Mortified. Completely and utterly mortified. It didn't help when they sniggered like a pair of teenagers.

The door opened, breaking the embarrassing moment. Farren stood at the door and smiled with relief.

"Oh, my lady, I am so pleased to see you're back and unharmed."

She entered with her curtsey and closed the door.

"Can I get anything for you?"

"I'm fine thanks."

Farren glanced from me to my parents, awkwardly smiling.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yes, yes. I uh, have a message that uh, Captain Harper wishes to speak with you urgently."

My parents sniggered again.

"There's a great place behind the mess hall for a little canoodling."

"Oh my god, what are you, three?" I grumbled to my mother.

"I'll just get my shotgun," Dad said, pretending that he was about to get up from the table.

"You will do no such thing."

I stood and walked to the door, waving off their mockery.

Merrick was standing at the end of the breezeway. When he saw me, he turned to the path that led to the back of the building. When I found him, he had his hands in his pockets, rocking back and forth on his feet. It was unusual to see him like this, instantly I knew that something was wrong.

"Merrick?"

He turned with a soft smile.

"Hey."

"What's up?"

"I came to tell you that I'm leaving."

Gutted. The smile that he gave when he saw me was now gone.

"Why?"

"His Highness has given me a mission to do reconnaissance work in the human stronghold. Now that the agreement is in place, they need a plan for the future."

"I see. How long will you be gone for?"

Merrick shrugged.

"A few months I suppose."

"And after that?"

"Whatever is ordered of me."

"So, that it then? I mean nothing to you? What happened was just a fling to kill time?"

"No," He said, stepping forward.

Merrick reached out and I shifted back, hitting the wall.

"I'm not the right guy for you. You're a princess, you should be with someone that is your equal."

"That's not a decision for you to make. Who I want to be with is my choice and my title is not something that will sway that choice."

"I'm sorry." He murmured, leaning in to kiss me softly. "I can't change the orders that I was given. If I go against it, I will be sent to jail."

"He would give you leniency if you told him the truth."

Merrick stared at me and I huffed a soft, pained laugh.

"But I get it, you're not interested and this is just an easy out for you."

"Otanawa,"

"Your duty is done Captain, go before your king hangs you for disobeying his orders."

He turned and walked away and as the tears fell, I wondered if this was how my mother felt when she realized that she was in love with the wrong person.