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Where is Ingrid?” My mama flinches hard,I have to grab her shoulders to steady her and she clutches my hands in hers very tight,digging her nails into my skin. She definitely does not realise she's doing it,because she smiles shakily at me,and opens her mouth to lie.

“In her room. She wanted to be alone for a while. I'm sure she'll come out to see you once she feels better.”

I narrow my eyes and stare my mama down till she looks away.

“What's happening,mama?”

“Nothing unusual,my dear. You should eat. Come on,Anya, let me feed you.”

She stands and holds her hand out for me to take. I ignore it and remain seated.

She huffs “Your papa-”

“Fine. I'll ask him myself.”

I dash for my papa's office before my mama can stop me. As I burst into the office without knocking I realise too late that I've made a mistake. 

“Why have you forbidden-” I pause and notice my sister's wide eyed panicked eyes on me,my papa's furious gaze on me,a man who I recognise as the head of the house of Arkael,sitting opposite my papa at his desk,looking at me curiously. Renvaren Arkael. And a younger man who looks to be my sister's age,sitting beside his father,looking at me with amusement. Marek Arkael. Then, another boy who is my age,leaning against the wall behind the door,a permanent scowl etched on his face. Corven Arkael. 

Fuck.

Even though I'm absolutely shocked,I do not let it show. I only raise a single brow,when no one says anything, I nod slightly at Renvaren Arkael to which he nods back. Then I look at my dad,who is still fuming. I can literally see the smoke coming out his nose and ears,you'd think he had a dragon in him. The thought makes my lips quirk up in an amused smile. 

“Anya. As you can see,I'm in the middle of a meeting. You can come after.”

I ignore my papa and turn to my older sister. She notices the question in my eyes and shakes her head vigorously.

Well,that isn't assuring 

I turn to my papa and narrow my eyes slightly,giving him a second to tell me what's happening. He doesn't,only glares at me with the promise of a punishment. But I don't give a fuck,not when I know that something dreadful is happening. 

“What's going on,papa?”

“Nothing you should concern yourself with.” He forces a smile,trying to hide his fury from his guests.

I smile right back,not moving an inch from the room

I look at lord Arkael to make sure he isn't pissed. He isn't,only mildly curious. 

well then

My sister,the favored and perfect daughter,tries as usual to diffuse the situation. 

“Anya,you should go be with mama. The meeting will be over soon and I'll tell you all about it.”

I look at her,unimpressed. Seriously?

“I'm not a baby,Ingrid. I'm staying until this meeting is over. And if you really want me to leave,you can simply tell me what the meeting is about and why Ingrid is present at this meeting. No offence Ingrid,but a meeting among two houses is definitely not your scene.”

I look at my dad again,expecting answers. He only glares.

I decide to join my sister on the couch and stay until someone in the room tells me what the hell is going on.

I don't make it ,because lord Arkael speaks.

“You said she was ill,caelyn. She looks well and full of energy to me.” He looks at my dad,unhappy. 

Sick? Me? 

And also,Caelyn? Since when are these two on first name bases?

I look at my dad wondering why the hell he would tell such a lie. If he didn't want them to see me today and told that lie,that would definitely be sensible. But it doesn't explain why my sister is here in this meeting and he would lie to keep me out of it. Unless

I look at Marek and then at Corven and at their father and I realise…

“It's a marriage contract isn't it? That's the reason you're all sitting here acting civilised.”

Everyone looks surprised except Corven,and I know. I know my dad was about to sign my sister off to the Arkael's as a bride to one of their sons. 

I grab my leather wrist band and flick it,to unfurl from around my wrist. I flick my right wrist and it snaps in the air,matching the anger I feel boiling beneath the surface of my skin.

“Someone speak,dammit.”

My papa slams his fist on his desk.

“Watch your tone young lady.”

I laugh and take a step towards my dad,then I pause,restraining myself because of our guests.

“This will not happen.” I say instead of spewing all the thoughts going through my mind.

“Papa- I make sure he's looking right at me- this will not happen. Not today.”

I walk out of there before I explode. The wrym is prowling restless within me and so when I pass the living room and my mama calls for me,I don't stop. I just get the fuck out and run into the forest,barely holding on.

By the time I reach the spot I was earlier in the morning,I'm shaking and sweating. I tie the wrist band around my wrist carefully,take a breath,and I let go.

I soar a little above the ground and feel the flames and heat licking at my skin. It doesn't burn,it caresses me like a friend. I close my eyes and vanish.

—------------

It's been an hour since I left the office and I do not want to return. Not yet.

I know my papa will not proceed with any life altering decisions just yet. I know.

I sit on a stone at the edge of one of the few Normal rivers we have in the house. Most of the rivers are molten lava here,except this one and a few others. The water is rarely cold,and today,it is warm and sparkling under the sun. I stare into it and watch my reflection morph into him.

I hear a twig crunch and I stiffen,reeling the dragon back in. He coils with a purr and shields himself,going to sleep.

We're both exhausted. 

And that is why when I see Corven Arkael approaching me,I do not stand or make any snarky remarks. I just stay still and quiet . 

“Had enough socialising today? But then again,you didn't socialise,you just made demands and walked out. Classic spoiled brat move.”

I roll my eyes and stand anyway. The asshole doesn't take a hint.

Corven Arkael and I have been enemies since the first day we laid eyes on each other. And that was when I was 7 years old.

“At least I spoke. You were standing in the corner sulking like a baby whose lollipop was snatched.”

I turn to look at him and I narrow my eyes at the amused look on his face.

“Something funny?”

“You know,the fact that fire is everywhere here does not mean you should go around bathing in it.” He says with a chuckle. 

I look down and huff at what remains of my gown. The skirt part is half gone because the other part has been eaten by what is obviously fire. I wiggle my bare toes in the sand and sigh,annoyed that he's seeing me like this.

“At least I'm not wearing a suit that I obviously don't want to be wearing.”

“I wouldn't be here in this suit if it wasn't for you.”

I scoff

“So the existence of my house is a problem now?”

“It has always been a problem” he hisses, stepping in my face.

I'm so tired. So I turn and sit again,ignoring him. Hopefully he'll leave. Hard pass

I hate the asshole but I'm too tired right now. When I don't hear him leave,I look over my shoulder at him and I notice that he's not looking at me. Just staring at his shoes with a frown. It makes his inky black hair fall over his face. His hair is longer on the top and shorter on the sides,always looking like he just got out of bed. I've only seen him with neatly brushed hair once,but the messy look works for him. Another reason I hate the asshole. He's unreasonably handsome. With the darkest green eyes I've ever seen and long lashes to frame them,his eyes are mostly intense whenever I lock eyes with him. His strong jawline and pink supple lips that I've heard girls whispering about. Bastard 

When a servant comes to tell him that his brother and father are waiting to leave,I don't look to bid him farewell and he doesn't say anything either. 

I get out of my dress and dive into the water,hoping that whatever is waiting to happen when I get back is not as bad as I know it will be.