Chapter Eleven: She Doesn't Have a Choice

Sawyer         

             “Well, well, well, somebody was out late last night,” whistled Christopher as I sauntered into my father’s home. He was not much older than me and had an early morning watch at the manor. He was stationed in the entryway in his suit with a gun.

Whereas Aurora lived in a high rise, we resided in an estate surrounded by land and even a pond. We didn’t need to be in the heart of the city to know what was going on. That’s what spies were for, and my brother roamed around enough, so we had a good idea. My family valued its privacy. “He’s waiting for you at the table.” He smirked. “You let a woman get ahold of you for sure. Dude, you wreak of sex and those hickeys. HA. Your old man will say it’s about time. Do tell me, was she any good?”  

               My first instinct was to kill this man. Not even destroy him with my fists. No, I want to extend my claws and rip his heart out for talking about Arorua in such an offensive manner. But I couldn’t. He was a guy casually talking about pussy, and that’s all I could let him think. “Yeah, man, I know I left satisfied.” He continued to laugh as I walked into the drawing-room and into the kitchen. My father was seated at the table in the breakfast nook. The sun beamed in over his shoulder onto his morning paper. With his glasses down on his nose and coffee in hand, he looked like any other father. I wish he was just an ordinary man and not the bastard who was about to destroy my life and the life of the woman I loved. Goddess, I didn’t just love her. I’d been in love with her for ages. No way the gods and goddesses would be so cruel and only give me one night with my angel.

               There was no way she was marrying my psycho brother tonight. I had to stop it. I had to be careful, and I needed my father to be vague. The fewer words his command held, the more I could do to sneak around them. I need an exit strategy, a getaway, a hideout, and then the means to a new life. If we were going to be together and have any chance of happiness, we were going to have to get as far away from Illyria as possible. To hell with the monsters we called family. Minus her few friends, neither one of us had anything holding us here except for duty and honor. Luckily, I am not an honorable man. I would rather be dishonorable, alive, and happy than the alternative. The alternative is where heroes often lived and died. I didn’t seek death.

               “Boy,” I looked over the top of his paper, “for someone who’s been out doing what you’ve been doing,” he gave a low chuckle, “you sure do look unhappy.”

               I gave him a secretive smile, “Just tired. Not looking forward to my long ass day of work. I’d rather be where I was.” That was the truth. Every good lie is mostly the truth.

               He gave me a pat on the back and chuckled, “Oh, I remember those tired days and ravenous nights. You’ll get used to it. And if you need to throw the woman out of your bed when you are done, that’s fine, to get your rest. Did you take one home from the club?”

               I held back a cringe. The way those around me used and abused women made me sick. “No, it was actually quite the little rebel out past curfew, but then again, humans don’t have them in the South. I saw her on my way back and offered to walk her home. You know how one thing led to another...”

               “Oh, trouble from the other side. I like the sound of that. It will be easy to keep her out of your way and conduct business. If you like her enough, you can keep her after you marry, and you will never run the risk of your wife meeting her. That really works out the best. You might be more like me than I thought.” He was happy and went back to reading his paper. I decided to take that moment to get some coffee from the table. I was going to be sick.

               To make matters worst, Archer walked in. “So, baby brother. What did you spy my intended doing last night? Anything good or bad?” His eyes went dark. He’d never met her, had no intention of making her happy, but was possessive beyond measure.

               “No, she had dinner and went to a play with her friends then went home to her father. Rather boring evening.”

               “Good. I need a respectable wife who knows her place, and from what we know, Aurora will take orders beautifully. From the pictures I’ve seen, I can’t wait to command that hot body in the bedroom too. I bought all sorts of toys to play with. That fair skin will glow red with what I have planned.”

               “Archer, make sure you don’t have your fun on an area that will show. I saw the wardrobe you sent. Scandalous by how her father dresses her. You can do whatever you want with your whores, but remember, she must look pristine. Old Oliver has never laid a hand on the girl, from what I know. She will be good.”

               “And if she’s not?”

               “Then you discipline, but only where she and you will know. She must appear happy to the people if we want this merger to work. But the sooner you get her pregnant, the better. Her father will have less claim when you have an heir.”

               “Maybe I’ll get her pregnant tonight?”

               “You’re strong and virile. It could happen. I should ask Oliver about her cycle. It is a full moon, after all.” Father sat in contemplation.

               Without thinking, I asked, “She’s never met you. What if she doesn’t want to have sex tonight?”

               They both looked at me in surprise and started laughing. “Oh, Sawyer, you can’t be that naive. I will be her husband. She doesn’t have a choice.” I just looked at them and tried not to show any emotions. “Alright, brother, you have a lot to learn about women. Don’t get too distracted by all the females tonight. I need you sharp and on guard. Though there can’t be any violence, we want to look for dissent. Before we use you after the ceremony, I need you to watch and see who seems friendly.”

               “Sounds easy.” I shrugged. “What do you have planned for me after the ceremony?”

               “You’ll find out. It’s a surprise. Now go meet with Beta and prepare for this evening. Until then, son.”

               “Father.” I turned to go to my room. As much as I didn’t want to wash Aurora's delicate scent off of me, I had to. Stripping down, I couldn’t help but take pride when looking in the mirror. Her mark on my skin was perfection. I touched it and felt at ease. It didn’t look human, so I would be careful to cover my lie.

Despite what would happen, I was happy that I’d get to see my love in a few hours.