Nadine

12. Chosen Mate

I hear a big crash and try to sit up, but Tre is rubbing my back. I feel the veil getting thrown over my head. I snuggle more into his chest. I can't stay awake.

Tre whispers, "Be quiet, she's sleeping."

Guess I am awake. I'll fake it and see what they say.

"Well," Dipaks here. "We did a bit of redecorating in the king's office."

"I heard." Tre squeezes me a little tighter. I think he might know I'm awake.

Daddy says, "We have agreed on 5 years after she is of age."

"You do realize I will kill your son? I want to make sure you understand that."

"I'm hoping this will simmer out. That is still nearly 20 years away."

"It will not. Also, she's not going to agree to 5 years. She asked for 100. My signature and hers have to be on that paper."

"No son. Your signature and her fathers have to be on that paper. She is still a child."

Tre laughs. "I will not do that to her father. 100 years or I don't sign it."

I sit straight up. "Let's do it today."

"What?" Tre turns me around and looks at my face through the veil. "What?"

"I'm almost there Tre. Let's do it now... It'll be over and done and we can stop worrying about it."

Everyone is staring at me with their mouths open.

"It can't be done until you're of age princess." Dipak actually seems hurt. I wonder if he thinks we could be mates. I thought it a long time ago. But he has never treated me like a woman. Only a child. He can't be my mate.

"You're right. Two days please. If Tre is not my mate, I want two days. I will talk to everyone any of you think is my mate. If none of them are my true mate after two days, or they don't want to bond with me, I will take the potion. Does that work for everyone?"

They all seem shocked, but they agree.

"What happens if Tre finds his mate before I'm of age?"

My dad shakes his head. "Nothing can be done princess. This contract will void immediately. The potion will not break a current soul mate bond."

"What if one of us finds our soul mate after bonding to each other?"

"Won't happen. You can only have one soul mate bond. So the second bond to show up, you wouldn't even feel it."

I look at Tre. "Two days. I want this done."

He reads the paper. "Here princess. It says two days after you come of age we will take the bonding potion... You sure?"

"Yes Tre."

He seals on the first line and passes it back to my father.

My father stares at it for a second and sighs. Then puts his seal on the other line.

I lean back against Tre's chest and he puts his arms around me.

My dad looks at us. "You're still a child for 15 years. You must keep that veil on and sit in your own chair."

I move over a seat and the 3 of them get up. My dad and Dracul leave. Dipak drops the rock in front of me then walks out after them.

Tre sits up. "You know we're going to talk about the rock right?"

The tears sneak back out my eyes. "You know we're going to talk about you throwing me down and holding me there, right?"

He rubs his eyes and nods.

"Just not today... I can't do this right now. I need some space Tre."

"Will you have dinner with me first?" I can see he's fighting tears again. I probably made him feel guilty.

"Yes I am hungry." I lean over and lift my veil enough to kiss him.

He pulls me down on his lap and gives me a real kiss. "You are beautiful princess."

I lay my head on his shoulder. "Tre, I'm not really mad about you holding me down. It hurt at first. But I know you did it to keep me safe. I don't want to talk about the rock. I don't know why it means anything to me. It just does. I can't let go. I don't want to forget."

He nods and I stand up and grab my rock.

"Let's go eat princess." He kisses me on the head and we walk out holding hands. "Maybe after some time things will make more sense."

"Didn't this room have a door when we got here?" There's also a lot of rubble mixed in with furniture parts. "What happened?"

"They are redecorating."

"You want to get some food and eat under a shade tree?"

He puts his arm around me and pulls me close. "That sounds perfect."