If looks could kill I really would be in hell. The only thing currently keeping me from dissolving into a puddle of hyperventilating goo was the firm knowledge that I would be doing none of the things my father had listed off.
I showed up to his dinner. I met his terms. Cam and Ram were safe. He had nothing left to force my hand with, so unless he wanted to drag me kicking and screaming there was no fucking way I was attending some Cinderella-esque fairy tale ball.
No. Fucking. Way.
Chapter twenty-one
Okay so there was one way to get me to cooperate, I discovered the next morning at breakfast.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” I said, my mouth hanging wide open.
My father took a bite of food and chewed sedately before responding. “No, Raynella, I believe I was quite clear. It is absolutely necessary for you to be present at the Council events. I had hoped you would do it simply because I asked it of you or better yet out of some semblance of pride for the Diamond Court, but alas this is where we find ourselves.”
“But… but…” I sputtered, words utterly failing me. He was my father. Granted we barely knew each other, and I had no basis for father-daughter relationships, but this just seemed… evil. “You saw what happened when I first arrived. I can’t do crowds of people staring at me. I just can’t.”
“Deylan can assist if you find the emotions overwhelming.”
I glanced over at Dey who wouldn’t meet my eyes. He knew exactly how I felt about that but would never stand up to theking. So much for the damsel in distress mentality. The one time I would actually embrace that patriarchal nonsense, and he just sits on the sidelines.
“It is ultimately your choice, Raynella, but my decision stands firm. If you are so determined to return to the Other Realm once the magic is repaired, then there is little I can do to stop you no matter how saddened I am. However, if you want to leave with enough of my diamonds to improve your station in your world… then you must agree to uphold your royal duties.” As he took in my shocked expression, he added, “I am sorry if this seems harsh or cruel, but I am the king here, and appearances are everything within the royal courts. I would appear weak if I could not make my own daughter attend the necessary functions. I am sorry this upsets you, Raynella, but you have left me with no other options.”
Flashes of staring eyes, whispering mouths, and judging scowls raced through my mind. Dey probably could help, but I just wasn’t comfortable letting him hack my brain for a social function. What if he calmed me too much, and I did or said things that I never would otherwise? I doubted his power had the same precision as a klonopin tablet.
Then I thought back to my tiny apartment in Jersey. The disappointed look on Jenn’s face any time I told her I would be short on rent that month. Could I really return to her empty-handed after being gone for weeks? Would she even believe my story if I had no proof? Our bond was near unbreakable, but even this pushed the limits of sisterhood. It might destroy us, and I couldn’t risk that all this was for nothing.
“Fine,” I said angrily, feeling once more like I had even the illusion of choice ripped away from me. “I’ll do it. I’ll let you parade me around in front of your subjects. But when it’s all done? You will give me all the diamonds I can carry, then I never want to see any of you ever again. You won’t try to find me, andyou won’t keep tabs on me. Once I leave, Raynella is dead. Do you understand me?”
It was petty to meet his ultimatum with my own, but I needed to see if the thought of losing me might change his mind. If I was ever going to come back here, ever try to have a real relationship with my father, then I had to know if there was a chance that he would ever put me before his precious crown.
To his credit, I could see the decision was at least difficult. He opened his mouth and closed it multiple times. His eyes flickered to my own then off to the side. He grit his teeth and clenched his fists.
In the end, this was one battle I lost.
“I accept your terms,” he said with a bone deep sigh, his tight features sinking into resignation. “The King’s Council is in five days, and you will make every effort to manifest at least one of your powers before then. After the Council, you will focus on obtaining the rest and restoring the magic to Rivella. Then, and only then, will I allow you to return home with whatever compensation you desire.”
My heart sank that he actually agreed to my idle threat. Once again I let that bitch hope taunt me with something I would never have.
“And if I fail? If I can’t fix the ley lines or whatever?”
He glanced away. “You will not fail,” he said softly. “We will do whatever is necessary to ensure your success.”
I glared at him for a long moment until the sound of something breaking shattered the tense silence.
Across the table, Sin’s hand dripped red and shards of glass littered the table. He snatched a towel and wiped off the blood, the small gashes in his skin closing up within seconds.
Shoving back from the table, he said something to my father in Rivellan then left. I frowned at his retreating form. What exactly did he have to be upset about?
“I take it I can be excused as well?” I asked bitterly.
My father waved a hand at me. “Yes, you may go. Deylan, you will be needed in my office as Apha Solis reaches its peak, so please work with Raynella on manifestation techniques in the meantime.”
Dey nodded and pushed back from the table, gesturing for me to follow him.
I guess I would be the ever obedient little princess and go do whatever the intelligent males in charge told me to do. I tried not to throw up in my mouth. I might be the savior, but in reality I was just a puppet, and they were all pulling my strings.
Come on, Rain, let's go dance for the nice people.
Dey held open the ornate diamond door, and a huge smile spread across my face as I entered the Sylvarium. It was just as wondrous as the first time I’d seen it. The crescia all flitted about, chittering softly, and two of them promptly landed in my hair. I laughed as they nuzzled my scalp.
