Page 67 of Werewolves Don't Howl
“Still, I should have known better.”
“Delphinia,” my father called from the doorway. “Could you please join us in the study?”
My mother patted my shoulder. “That’s right. He wanted to speak to you before you left. He’s been having a long discussion with your elf. Probably wants to tell you the details, your dowry, his settlement, that sort of thing. Run along.”
I stared at her and then turned to run towards the study. I was going to grab Cross and then get out of there as fast as possible.
“For honor’s sake, you must marry my daughter,” my father said to Cross, like it was the obvious solution to a problem.
I stopped abruptly in the door to stare at my dad in horror. “Beg your pardon?”
“He must marry you for your honor,” he explained, like that was an explanation that actually explained anything.
I sputtered. “We weren’t even together, not like that! Even if we had been, this isn’t the medieval ages.”
My father smiled slightly. “But he is an elf. Things must be done the right way.” He turned to Cross. “For the sake of your name, your house, she will be your honorable bride.”
Cross shook his head. “I won’t force her to accept a title that I’ve personally abandoned. You know my blood, my nature, but I have no ties to that family. I left that behind long ago.”
“And my daughter? Do you not care if her honor is besmirched?”
I snorted. “I’m a werewolf, dad. Whatever honor I had died when I was infected. Stop. Cross is my protector. That’s enough. More than enough.”
He shot me a look and then turned to Cross, looking extremely confident. Cross didn’t. He looked more irritated than anything. “You will marry my daughter.”
Cross’s eyes were hard. “I will never allow you to force her to accept someone she merely tolerates after you push her into that vulnerable position. I expected better from you.” Cross’s voice was cold, icy, absolute.
My father cocked his head. “You won’t allow me? You sound like a lord.”
“Never. If that’s what you’re looking for, connections to a house, you are absolutely mistaken in me. I have no house, no people, no family.”
“On the contrary,” my dad said levelly. “You are now permanently connected to me and my family through my daughter.” He turned to me. “Do you not understand what a protector is, Delphinia? You are his vassal if he doesn’t make you his equal, his bride, his mate.”
I pointed a finger at my father while anger grew in my chest. “If he doesn’t make me? You’re the one trying to trick someone into marrying me, dad. I get that now you realize that I’m a werewolf, and that reduces the pool of gentlemen willing to take your daughter off your hands, but you can’t dump me on Cross, just because he agreed to help me find the monster who turned me in the first place. We’re working together. That’s all. We aren’t compatible long-term.”
“No? Why not? And don’t tell me why he doesn’t want to be with you. You tell me why you wouldn’t want to marry the handsome senator who doesn’t shrink away from you, even knowing what you are. Tell me, Delphinia. What do you have against him?”
I stared at my father while tears stung my eyes. I didn’t want to tell him, but the truth was already out. I raised my chin. “Honestly, I hate him. I don’t want to marry someone who can do whatever is necessary no matter how much it hurts someone. He’s the one who kept me alive while I was transitioning. He tortured me every day to keep me alive. He’s a pretty elf, but I still hate him.”
“Do you? And that’s why you held him while you kept him in your bed?” my father asked with a slight tilt of his head. He smiled suddenly. “Very well. If you hate him, I will not push the matter.”
I stared at him, suspicious of his sudden acceptance of things. “Thank you.”
“Thank you. He wouldn’t tell me what your reservations were, but now they are very clear. He kept you alive when his nature is to kill those who threaten peace. He is your protector, and you owe him your life. It is appropriate that you are his vassal until you have repaid your debt.”
I stared at him and wanted to beat my head against something. “Okay. Well, it’s been so good to see everyone. We’ve really got to get going so we can make it home before dark.” I gave my dad a delicate hug that he returned with surprising strength.
He kissed my hair and then whispered, “I am sorry that I shot you.”
See? Even my dad could apologize for shooting me. Was I going to cry? I pressed my trembling lips together and pulled back to smile at him. “No problem. It was a very good shot.”
“I was trying to hit your spine and your heart, but I didn’t get both. That is good, or you wouldn’t have been able to run, and someone probably would have cut off your head.” He frowned suddenly and sank into the nearest chair, a wingback near a bookshelf. “That took years off my life, Delphinia.”
“What were you doing with a gun at Bram’s wedding, anyway?”
“I saw some tracks earlier in the week. I suppose it must have been you.”
I exchanged glances with Cross and then patted his shoulder. “Could you show me these tracks?”
