7. Lies and Conflict
1089 Words
The coronation ceremony was nothing but a blur to Tatiana. She went through it mechanically, numb as she was, angry as she was.
Oh, how she wanted to murder the damned dragons. But she couldn’t risk having witnesses, she reasoned, and thus she bid her time.
Right! As if!
She didn’t know what possessed Liam to think she’d be even remotely happy to see him again. Considering the circumstances and how they had forced her hand, there was no chance of that happening.
Shouldn’t you be happy we found him? Her wolf asked meekly.
Are you serious right now? She retorted with an inner eye-roll.
Sure, the reunion could have been better…
You think? She countered bitterly.
She stood there much like a frozen statue, smiling when appropriate, repressing a scowl, and trying hard not to glare at anyone – especially one handsomely clad Theodore King.
She resented the man more than she did Liam. The former was unrepentant and looked like he had no care in the world. He had sealed her fate for whatever selfish reasons he might have. Also, he appeared to be disgustingly in love and absurdly happy… The latter, on the other hand, had the decency to look apologetic.
It was close to 1 am when the ceremony came to an end. The nobles took their leave, and the royals, the category to which she now belonged, retired to their respective bed chambers.
No sooner did she and Liam enter the bed chambers – which had been readied for their mating consummation – did she explode at him.
“How could you?” She screamed at him.
He looked at her, a pained expression on his face – which was probably fake anyway.
“I…” he began.
She never allowed him the chance to explain himself. “You! You and your damned brother…” she trailed off angrily, at a loss for words. “I hate you so much, I’d rather drink acid mixed with wolsbane than have to share the same bed as you.”
He grimaced slightly and let out a meek, “You don’t mean that.”
“You tricked me! You and your brother tricked me!” She went on screaming.
“That was never my intention,” was the barely audible reply she got.
“Right!” She scoffed angrily. “And you think I will believe you, right?”
She approached a nearby table, got the vase and then threw it at Liam. He dodged and the vase was about to smash right into Theodore’s face who had entered the bed chambers without knocking. He, too, dodged it effortlessly.
“Is that any way to welcome your brother in law?” He asked teasingly.
He thinks he’s so funny? She thought to herself.
“You…” she spat out as she took a step forward, “you… don’t you dare try to play it cool with me. I didn’t forget what you did!”
“Yeah, about that,” he began almost hesitantly. “I wanted to apologize. I acted rashly and selfishly. All in order to protect my beloved mate whom I love with all my heart.”
“That doesn’t explain s**t!” She went on, casting said mate a scathing glare.
This latter smiled at her awkwardly and then said, “You are a much better fit to rule than I am. I was not born into this lifestyle. You, on the other hand, are deserving of the title and a great fit - not to mention Liam’s mate.”
“So you…” Tatiana then addressed Theodore in an incredulous manner as all fight left her, and she stood there frozen. “You abdicated the throne for your fated mate?”
He nodded with the affirmative.
Her eyebrows shot up and almost disappeared into her hairline, before she turned to Liam and said, “See? This is how fated mates should treat one another – with love and respect. You wham-bam-thank-you-madam’ed me four years ago!”
“I recall you doing that to me, not the other way around,” Liam said angrily.
Say what?
She raised an eyebrow at him and then started throwing more vases.
“That’s our cue to leave, dorogaya,” Theodore announced at that.
His mate agreed with a nod and then smiled at both Liam and Tatiana. “Again, congratulations,” she told them softly in parting words. “I wish you all the happiness in the world.”
Tatiana glared at her briefly, wondering if the woman knew how to read the room at all. She sure looked to be gullible.
Liam kept dodging the objects she threw at him, until there was nothing more for her to throw at him.
“Happy now?” He asked almost softly as he regarded her with something akin to tenderness.
She shivered from the mere looks. But she couldn’t, and wouldn’t, give in to him. She had too much pride.
If only he had not lied to her on their first encounter…
If only he and his brother hadn’t forced her hand so…
If only…
But then again, maybe all this mess could have been avoided if they had just introduced themselves properly four years ago in Roma.
If he lied about his name – which was such an elementary piece of information – she could expect him to deceive her about anything.
You lied about your name as well, her wolf told her.
I had my reasons, was her cold retort.
Maybe he did too.
I am not buying it!
And with that, she tuned out her wolf and focused on her mate who was approaching her almost cautiously, as if he was ready to bolt at any given moment.
“It’s late,” he announced. “We have both had a long day today. Maybe we ought to rest and resume this tomorrow?”
“Sure,” she agreed readily, a saccharine smile on her face, “I’ll be taking the bed. You take the couch.”
He looked at her with narrowed eyes for a split-second before giving in with a shrug. “Fine,” was his simple answer as he took a pillow from the bed and went to the couch.
She was almost disappointed he didn’t argue with her on the issue.
And, deep down, she was disappointed he didn’t insist on claiming his rights as her mate – although she’d never be caught dead saying that.
And her inner conflict began.
- Writer
