2. FORCED TO MATE

“Father, I just saw Royal Beta Brum. Why is he still here?” I burst in the room so fast only to halt in my steps.

“Father, what are you doing up? You should not be up.” I cried out, rushing to him, taking the traditional long chest chain from his hands.

The room was never altered ever since my mother died. Father had loved her so much. Their love was something I had never seen before and I had dreamed of it myself until all my dreams crushed and burned. It was all my fault, it was my fault she was gone.

I clipped the chain, moving to take the traditional jacket with all the royal orders, pulling it over him and then I fixed the traditional shirt under the jacket. My eyes did not fail to notice his leg shake from the pain. My head shook, swallowing. His health was deteriorating faster than he could even find suitors for me. Each day I woke up and ran to check on him because I didn’t know what I would do if I lost him.

“Father, please, stop this.” I said out with him clearing his throat.

“Zisealer. You cannot run from this one. You cannot threaten this one away. This mateship will happen whether you like it or not.” Father spoke out with such finality in his voice it shocked me. He had brought the suitors but he had never forced me to pick one. My hands froze, my eyes tipping up to his, a flame burning in there.

“I am sick Zisealer. Anything could happen any day and all I want is for you to be secure. If I die, your brother will kill you, you know he will. I can’t protect you, you need someone to protect you.” Such heart tearing words poured from his mouth.

“Father, I can protect myself and I have my army. I dare him to come and face me. He is just a coward.” I spat out, praying he comes so I could put an end to his pathetic life.

“You cannot protect yourself against a dragon army my child. As soon as he becomes king, he will own everything in our kingdom, including your army. All dragons will be loyal to him whether they like it or not. You will have no one and nowhere to go.”

I swallowed, the thought that the people I had helped and fought with could turn around and kill me did not sit well with me but I learned very early in life to never trust anyone.

“I have Flavia and Dante.” I spoke out, my head held high.

“If you will be able to get to them I don’t doubt that they will fight to death for you. But after the loss they suffered many months back, they are still far from gaining their numbers. The werewolves have a Goddess in their mist, they are immortals. We need them more than they need us. You will have the vampires and the werewolves by your side to fight with you when your brother comes for you.” Father spoke out with my stomach turning.

I was going to be sick, wanting to just pour out the food I ate in the morning.

“It’s wrong, it feels like we are using them. I don’t need any help from anyone else. If I die, so be it. I will fight my own battles father and die with dignity.” I spat out, my head held high. I was not going to be at the mercy of a man who will think he owns me. The moment I let that man bite me, I will be bound to him forever no matter how he treats me. We were not even in love, I did not know him and that made the situation worse.

“Zisealer. You know I love you. You are the spitting image of your mother yet me in every other way. The day you were born, you made me a father and I will never forget it. I ran as fast as I could down the mountains of Hazala, fought off large lions in the grasslands just to get to you my child. When I got there, your mother had coiled herself around you and you were the loudest child ever but so smart and beautiful. Every challenge that has been put in front of you, you have hit and surpassed anyone’s expectations. I would have not asked for a better daughter. You are special my child and you have such a beautiful heart which you have buried under thick walls. It is my duty to protect you so you can find happiness too. Let me protect you Zisealer. This is my last wish for you, let me protect you my beautiful daughter, let me free you from this burden that you should not even carry. I want you to go live a normal life, be free, have fun, love, laugh and be happy. Please my child. I would not insist if I did not think Beta Brum was not worthy. Do this for me Zisealer then even I will be free.” Father said out, his hands gripping my body firmly. Seeing his body shake like this had my world just break apart. I was fighting tears, his words tearing me to shreds.  

My arms went around him, hugging him so tightly.

It killed me to even say it but there was only one way this would end. What was even the point in fighting, father knew I would do anything for him.

“I love you too father.” I said out, him holding on tighter.

“My princess.”

“Always papa.”

We pulled back, his lips moving and pressing on my forehead.

“If there was anything I did right in this world. It was you Ziss.” He said with me smiling like an idiot and I hated it but I could not help myself.