“I’ll eat later.”
“Why don’t you eat now?”
In the time I’ve known Simon, I realize just now, we’ve never eaten together. Most times, it’s because I’m usually studying in the library too late to grab dinner together.
“I’ll eat later.” He changes the subject. “I’m sorry you had to hear all of that earlier.”
“Who’s getting married? Your uncle?”
Simon shakes his head. “No, he won’t be the one to get married. It’ll most likely be me.”
I set my sandwich down. “You’re getting married?” I’ve always heard about aristocratic families in foreign countries arranging marriages, but I never thought I’d be dating a man promised to someone else.
“Looks that way.”
“Oh,” is all I can say. I shouldn’t feel too bad. It’s not like we’re really dating.
“Oh is right,” he breathes out.
“I’m so sorry. Have you met her? Do you like her?”
I have a million questions about the arrangement. Was it made at birth? Does he know her? Do they at least get along?
Or is it one of those deals where he won’t see her until the day of the wedding?
“Yes, I know her.” His gaze meets mine. “It’s you.”
Wait, what?
I’ve never heard so many people talk all at once. Viggo, Stefania, and Arthur sit on the brown leather sofa in the study, while Simon and his mother stand behind it. Draven stands in the shadows, arms crossed, listening. It’s like everyone raises their voice to be heard over the crowd, each of us saying something about the impending wedding that I’ve just learned will happen really soon.
“Can you all just be quiet for a moment?” I scream at the top of my lungs. “The bride needs to say something.”
This silences the room.
All eyes are pinned on me as I try to make sense of this unexpected situation.
“I have a few questions. Someone said something about others that will try to kill me if I don’t marry Simon. Who are these people? And why can’t I just go home instead?”
“You can’t go home,” Draven snaps out.
“Why not?” I snap back. “What do they want with me?”
Stefania bounds from the couch. “The girl doesn’t even know her own worth. This is pointless, Draven. She’s not the one.”
“The one?”
Again, everyone speaks at top volume, shouting over one another to be heard. I pick out random words like death, light, power, and marriage. I can’t make sense of it all. Had Simon mentioned any of this back at the coffee shop, I wouldn’t have come to Romania.
“I thought you were the one in trouble,” I say to Draven.
He stares at me, and I want nothing more than to wake up from this and find out it has all been an elaborate dream.
I pinch my arm just to make sure it’s not.
“You’re not dreaming,” Simon says. “We’re marrying to protect you. There’s no other way.” He leaves his mother’s side and crosses the hardwoods to stand next to me. “I’m sorry, Allison, but we need you to be a member of our family, so we can protect you.”
“Protect me from what?” I ask, my voice barely audible.