Page 196 of Night's Fall
My beast curled into herself, probably becauseDadwas around, but also at the thought of losingAleksei.
Aleksei’s beast, feeling this, pulsated adamantly.
“What didIsay about addressing my mate?”Alekseibit.
“She’s my daughter,”Dadreturned.
“No, sir, she is mine,” the king retorted.
I jolted.
Dad visibly did too.
Mom’s eyes narrowed.
“Tread carefully from here, understanding this,” the king warned.
“Yes, your majesty,”Dadacquiesced (Dad!Acquiescing!). “Please, let me assure you, it is agony, losing your mate.Askyour son.”
“I would be inconsolable ifIlost my queen,” the king replied. “And, of course, angry at the gods for taking her from me.ButIwould not take the anger of my loss out on a single being, especially one of my children.”
“With respect, sire, you cannot say that without having experienced the loss, and without having?—”
“Your mate,”Momfinished for him. “It’sall abouthis mate.”
“Be quiet,Cetra,”Dadwhispered harshly.
Here we go.
“I didn’t even want to be here,Tern,”Momhissed.
Yep.
Here we go.
“If you two intend to start bickering,” the queen warned, “you can do so on your way home.Nowexplain.Whatis your purpose here?”
“I’ve had time to think on it, thirteen years of it, andIsimply wantLaurato understand,”Dadsaid.
“Our daughter is theTrueBride,”Momsaid at the same time.
QueenCalisachose to focus onMom.
“This has not escaped us,” she drawled.
“We are her parents,”Momasserted.
“This is debatable, butIhave no interest in debating it,” the queen returned. “ThoughIwould like you to explain why you said it.”
“We received the no contact order,”Dadinformed them.
“Yes, it is procedure for you to be notified when a no contact is filed against you.Andyet, here you are,” the king said.
“We didn’t knowLaurawould be here,”Dadreplied.
“We won’t be calling the constabulary, rest assured,” the king told him. “However, whether you knew or not, you contacted her mate’s family.Thisis not illegal, but it is dishonorable.”
“This is also not bringing the matter forward,”QueenCalisaput in.
