Nadine

11. Digging

I knock on the door when I get there and here an "enter" from my dad.

I open the door to Dracul, Dipak, Tre, and my dad sitting around his desk.

My dad stares at me with an eyebrow up. "I thought your servant said she helped you get cleaned up."

"Sorry father, I was at the barn and lost track of time."

"Ok. My princess, we are here to talk about something you have never heard of. Sit down please."

I sit down with everyone and smile.

"We are here to talk about a chosen mate." I go to ask but he puts his hand up. "Everyone gets a soul mate. And they are out there somewhere. But we don't know when they'll show up." I nod. "A witch can make a potion to form a soulmate bond. It's the same in every way as the real one."

"Alright."

"On the day you are of age for a mate, how do you feel about taking the potion with Tre?"

"What?" I can feel my anger rising. "How can you ask me that?"

"He is a good man. He is protective, strong, and he cares about you greatly. It's a good match. We've all thought you'll be soulmates a time or two through the years anyways."

"And my real soulmate wouldn't be protective, strong or even care about me? AND THE DAY I COME OF AGE? ARE YOU EVEN SERIOUS? WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO LET ME SEE ONLY TRE AND IF HE'S NOT MY MATE YOU'LL JUST FORCE IT?"

"How long do you want daughter?"

"100 years."

My dad opens his mouth to say something to Dracul.

Tre is staring at my hands. "Have you been digging?"

I check my hands and my gloves are covered in dirt. I can't come up with a lie fast enough. I start crying instead.

Tre grabs my hands. "What were you digging for?" I stare at the ground and cry but, he doesn't move.

I'll play the daddies little girl card. "Daddy." I say it between sobs.

"Why were you digging?" Tre has his arms crossed in front of me now. He's not budging.

I get up to go towards the door and the rock falls on the floor.

Tre picks it up. Then he looks at me and I can see the tears in his eyes. One falls and he hands it back to me.

I take it and run for the door. Dipak closes it before I get there. "What was that?"

I shake my head and hold it, crying.

"Princess." My dad is standing up now. He's holding his hand out.

Tre is sitting in the chair I was in a minute ago. He's got his head in his hands.

I throw it at my dad as hard as I can. It hits the front of his desk and cracks it. It lands back at Tre's feet. He picks it up and stands up and throws it at the top of my dad's desk. It puts another big crack in it.

"Why are you both beating up my desk?" He picks it up.

I hit my knees. I can't stop crying. I can't say anything.

"That's the rock that bashed your daughter's face and scull in because I left her alone." I feel Tre lifting me up. "Sir, you don't want to make me king. The day you do, your son will die." I bury my face in his neck and I am holding on so tight. I can't stop the tears. "Open the f*****g door Dipak."

I hear the door open and close. Then I hear a loud bang and crash. I hold on tighter. I don't know where we're going. I hear a door shut. We don't go far. Must be in my dad's conference room.

Tre sits with me on his lap. I rip the veil off and kiss him as deep as I can. Then I go straight for his neck.

He grabs the back of my neck and moves my head so our lips meet. He kisses me like he loves me.

I open my eyes and I can see the tears on his cheeks. I wipe one off and he opens his eyes too. They are not dark at all.

"Doing this won't fix anything princess."

I put my head on his chest and try go get control of the crying. "What did you say about the potion bond Tre?"

"I told them I would bond with you today if you would let me."

All I can do is sit up. He looks into my eyes.

"Even now?"

"Even more now." He rubs my cheek with his fingers and smiles.

There is a very loud crash from down the hall. I watch the door but nothing happens.

"They won't agree to the bond princess, so don't worry about it."

"Why wouldn't they agree now?"

"I told your father, I will kill his son if I'm ever made king."

"You can say you were mad. We can get them to agree."

He pushes my chin up with his fingers so I'm looking into his eyes. "No. I will kill him."

I lay my head back on his chest. I can't change his mind and he has it made up. My brother will die if Tre is ever king.

Tre wraps his arms around me. "You hungry my future queen?"

I laugh a little bit. "No. Are you hungry my future king?"

"No. Close your eyes and try to rest a few minutes. Then we'll get out of here. They sound like they are tearing the whole damn wing apart."

I close my eyes and snuggle into his chest. He really is comfortable.