Ker didn’t respond for a long time, and I narrowed my eyes in his direction as I concentrated on my task. He had me filling small pots with soil so he could plant some seeds. To be honest, I was surprised he was allowing me to help at all, even if it was more busy work.
Finally, he said, “How are you guys going to get past this if you won’t talk to him?”
I grumbled, not wanting to admit he was right. “I… I just… I don’t feel like hearing his bullshit. I’m so sick of people having an opinion on my… love life or whatever you want to call it. Everyone’s always told me what to do and who I should love, or at least who I should marry, and I’m just… done.”
Ker stopped what he was doing and walked over to me with a big frown on his face. “Your dad hasn’t tried to marry you off. I know he hasn’t because he’s not that kind of man. So I can only assume you’re talking about… before.”
I let out a long sigh. “Yeah… I guess I am.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“It… isn’t a nice story.”
“Tell me anyway.”
I sighed. He deserved… something, I supposed. “Well, when I was sixteen, I was matched up with someone who ended up becoming my best friend. Until the cult murdered her in front of me.” I swallowed thickly, not wanting to think about that. “Andthen… the grand master matched me with someone else when I was twenty. I… I was supposed to marry her after I came back from my mission, but Tan captured me and yeah… that was done.”
Ker was quiet for a long moment. “Did you want to marry her?”
My gaze snapped over to him. “No. Not even a little bit. She was awful and cruel and hated me. I…” I shook my head.
“I’m sorry, Oak.”
I sent him a small, grateful smile. “Thanks.” I cleared my throat. “And thanks for listening. But I… don’t think I can talk about this anymore.”
He nodded. “Of course. That’s completely fine, as long as you know that I’m here to listen whenever you want.”
“I know.” And I did. I really did. I knew how much Ker cared about me. “I’m here to listen to you too, you know.”
He offered a smile. “I know that.” He took a deep breath. “I’m sorry you had to go through all of that, Oak, I really, really am. But… I don’t think Garrick’s trying to tell you who to love or anything like that.”
“He literally locked my viramore up in a dungeon, Ker. Of course he is.”
Ker shook his head with a grimace. “Okay, so you’ve got me there, but you know that was just a knee-jerk reaction to finding out Roman was pursuing you, right? I’m sure he knows how wrong he is and that he has zero right to interfere. I’m sure he’s come to terms with it and is actually happy that you’ve found your mate.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “You’ve been talking to my dad.” It wasn’t a question.
Ker huffed. “No, not your dad. Well, not really.”
That made me roll my eyes. “Tan, then.”
He nodded. “Yes. And… I could hear your dad in the background, so…”
With another long sigh, I dropped my head back to stare at the greenhouse’s ceiling. “I don’t know if I’m ready.”
Ker moved closer and lifted his hand, ready to pat my back or my shoulder or something, but I jumped back so he didn’t touch me.
“You’re covered in dirt!”
Ker looked at his hands with a grimace. “That’s what happens when you garden.”
“As much as I like your hugs and stuff, I don’t want dirt all over me.”
“Then you probably shouldn’t have volunteered to help me.”
I opened my mouth to reply when my phone started ringing again, cutting me off.
Keryth stared at my pocket for a second. “Why… why is that a different ring tone?”
