Page 29 of Lycan Prey
“I have a fiancée, Mother. Her name is Brielle.”
There’s an extended silence on the other side of the line before my mother responds: “Brielle? Did you say Brielle?” My father echoes in surprise.
“Brielle? Well, who is she? Thank Goddess, I was starting to wonder if I was needing to find you a husband, though I don’t know many personally, wait, Brielle IS a girl?” my mother rambles, her surprise evident.
“Yes, she is female.” I tell her.
“Well what is she like, when can I meet her?”
Shit, what have I done?
Of course my mother would want to meet her. Realizing what has just happened and how serious it was for me to say such a thing without Brielle’s consent or knowledge first makes me wince internally.
Idiot!I scold myself. “Oh, love, I have wonderful news,” my mother says, alerting me to my father now being near her. “Soren is engaged!” she squeals. I pull the phone away from my ear.
“Is this true, son?” he asks.
“Yes,” I confirm finally and hear both their exclamations.
“Well, son. What is she like?” my mother asks and I answer absentmindedly.
“She’s… she’s remarkable. She is captivating, and her kindness… it’s unlike anything I’ve ever known. And she’s great with Max.”
Suddenly, I’m jerked back to reality as my mother’s delighted squeal echoes through the receiver. “Oh, it sounds like you’re quite taken with her! When do we get to meet her?” The eagerness in her voice is palpable.
My stomach drops at the thought of introducing Brielle to my family. “Soon,” I say, knowing I can’t stall forever.
“And what does she look like? Is she beautiful?” my mother asks.
I glance at Brielle again, taking in her cascading waves of hair that seem to capture the sunlight, making her glow ethereally. Her eyes, as deeply captivating, sparkle with laughter, reflecting the joy she feels in this moment. Her figure is slender yet shapely, attractive but unassuming.
“She’s stunning,” I murmur into the phone, more to myself than my parents.
As the call ends, a sense of apprehension settles in. I’ve spun a tale, a falsehood, which involves Brielle without her knowing. It’s a precarious position, but I can find a way through it.
I’ll feed my parents a line over the next few months and then say it didn’t work out. I’ll say she cheated. That I dumped her, she will be none the wiser. At least it will get my parents off my back for a little while. Besides, it’s not like they’ll ever meet her. My parents are on vacation; I have a few weeks of peace at least.
Chapter 14
• Aubrey •
I should have headed home after finding Max’s hoodie, however, Marianne insisted I drop it back off with a plate of cookies. As we walk through the grand halls of the castle, Max chatters away about his day in his father’s office, his excitement and energy contagious. Despite my reservations and slight discomfort at being in such a place, I smile and laugh along with him.
When we reach the courtyard, Max immediately makes a beeline for the swing, dragging me with him, his laughter filling the air as he pumps his little legs back and forth. I push him higher and higher, his dark hair bouncing with each arc, his giggles growing louder.
King Soren is watching us from the upstairs window, his phone pressed to his ear. Damian watches too, as if he is afraid I will kidnap the King’s son and hold him for ransom.
I quickly avert my eyes and focus on Max, trying to ignore the uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach. It’s a strange situation but seeing Max so happy makes the walk feel worthwhile. I push him once more, as high as he dares to go. He squeals with delight, and I can’t help but beam back at him. Peering up, I see King Soren has disappeared from the window, much to my relief.
As the afternoon sunlight slowly fades, the castle’s stone walls take on a warm, reflected glow. Max slows his swinging,eventually stopping, and hops off to chase a red and gold leaf spinning in the light wind. His laughter echoes through the courtyard, bringing life to the silent stone surroundings.
I feel the sharp chill of being watched and turn to find King Soren entering the courtyard.
“My King,” I acknowledge before turning my attention back to Max. I follow Max who has chased the leaf taken by the breeze into the rear of the castle where a massive tree sits as the centerpiece.
“Did you finish your meeting, My King?” I ask Soren as he catches up with me.
He nods. “It wasn’t a meeting, just my parents checking in on me,” he says with a faint smile on his lips before one of his maids comes out behind us.
