Page 55 of The Champion
“Not if you chase him like a damn puppy. Shiva is almost twice your age and way too old for you,” Marco reprimanded his daughter.
As they went into a debate about Ada’s right to decide for herself, I checked my messages and gave a small outburst of surprise. “Wait, I just got a message from home.”
“What is it?” Victor leaned closer.
“The date for Thor and Linea’s wedding has been set. It’s in three weeks. We’ll have a chance to sit down with representatives from the Motherland Council and my father at the same time.”
“I don’t think we’ll be invited to your brother’s wedding,” Marco pointed out.
“Yes, you will. I’ll make sure of it. We’ll go to the wedding and have meetings with everyone.”
Victor got quiet, and Marco picked up on it. Placing a hand on Victor’s shoulder, he guessed, “You’re nervous about their reaction to you and Freya being together, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Yeah, I get that, but you gotta stand your ground, man. If there’s one thing Nmen dislike, it’s weakness. Don’t cower and don’t let them see that you’re scared. Getting Khan, Magni, and Thor to approve of you won’t be easy, but I can give you a hint.”
“What’s that?”
“The biggest thing you have against you as a French person is the infidelity thing. We Northlanders are all about loyalty. If they smell that you intend to keep up your cultural practices of sleeping around while you’re with Freya, they’ll fucking kill you.”
“They won’t kill you for real,” I assured Victor, who had paled a little.
“Are you sure? Magni and Khan don’t mess around. They take commitment seriously,” Marco said with a somber expression.
Oblivious to the change of subject and the sudden shift of atmosphere in the room, Shelly continued talking about Wisdomia as if Marco hadn’t just pointed out that Victor’s life might be in danger. “There are a lot of people to get on board before we can carry out this project of a new country. We’ll need the support from the Motlander Council, the French parliament, and Khan Aurelius as well.”
I chose to go with Shelly’s change of subject since I didn’t want Marco to scare Victor into thinking that my family might kill him. “That’s what I’m saying. Jonah Cervici will be there. He’s married to my cousin Mila and if we can get him on our side, Jonah is the best person to sell the idea to the Council.”
Shelly rubbed her brow. “How, though? All the Council in the Motherlands ever wanted was to remove all borders and have one big world living in peace. They’re not going to like that we’re starting another country or that I’ll move out of the Motherlands.”
“It will be the same with Victor. France won’t let him go easily,” I agreed.
“You are people, not the property of your country,” Ada declared. “Just like I’m not Dad’s property to decide over. We are free people with the right to live the life we choose for ourselves.”
Shelly lit up. “Hear, hear!”
“That’s right, Mom, you can live in whatever country you decide, and I can date whomever I want to.”
Marco shook his head. “Nice try, Ada, but you’re not dating Shiva. I already had a talk with him and trust me, he knows my daughter is off limits.”
“Dad!!” Ada looked furious.
“What’s the plan then?” I asked to bring us back on track. “I’m going home in two weeks and then I’ll see you all at the wedding in three weeks.”
“Why don’t you stay here until the wedding?” Victor asked with his gaze boring into mine. “Then we can go to the Northlands together.”
“Are Albert and I invited as well?” Ada asked with eagerness.
“Yes. I’ll talk to Thor and Linea about it,” I promised.
She leaned closer and whispered, “Can you have them invite Shiva too?”
“No, but don’t worry, there will be plenty of gorgeous young Nmen at the wedding.”
Her face lit up in a smile. “Now I can’t wait. It will be so much fun.”
I wish I could have shared her attitude, but I dreaded facing my family and telling them that I was moving into the wilderness in Old Europe with a man they despised, who wouldn’t marry me.
