Archi sits beside me in the garden, "How are you feeling?" He asks.
I entangle my arms in his, "Fine. I am even surprised my father did not come to look for me."
"He probably did not come here because of me," he shrugs his shoulders.
"You think? Well, that is true. He would not come here anyway, he is no longer a part of your council anymore."
He exhales deeply, "We should not talk about him. We should focus on something else."
"What?"
"Our mating ceremony," he looks at me this time.
My body stiffened behind his, and I slowly unwrapped my hand from around his.
"Mating ceremony," I mumble, the word feeling a bit strange on my lips.
"Hm, do you not want us to the mated already?"
I scratch her hair nervously, "That is not the issue, but I do not want a mating ceremony right now," I swallow, my hand leaving my hair to my massage my temples.
"But why? Is that you do not love me?"
"No, do not misunderstand me now, I do love you," do I love him? "but if we organized the mating ceremony, we would be married, and.. I am not ready for that."
He wrapped his hands around my shoulders, "Is there a reason why you feel this way?" His voice drops to a whisper.
I lower my gaze, "I just am not prepared. I did see what my mother, and father's marriage brought about. Even though they were mates, Father eventually fell out of love with my mother," I grip the edge of the bench I am sitting on until my knuckles turn white, "I do not want that to happen to me."
"Aria," he calls, "You mean so much to me, I cannot even imagine myself falling out of love with you! That is impossible!" His hand came up to cup her cheeks.
I can feel the knot in my stomach getting tighter as she says that, but then I still have to protect myself.
I laugh, "It is so much more than just trying to assure me. I would rather want to know you through, and through before mating you," I conclude, trying to sound as firm as possible.
He exhales deeply, "That is fine."
I tilt her head to look up at him, "I do not intend to make you feel bad," I squeeze his hand, "Please try to understand me."
"I actually do, there is no need to worry.," he cooed in her ears.
"Thank you so much Archi, I sincerely appreciate this," the heat in my neck crawls up to my face.
He pressed her closer to his bosom, "Anything to make you happy my dear," his hand came up to her hair, ruffling it.
Everytime he says flattery words, I can not help but feel very funny sensations in the pit of my stomach.
"Aria?"
"Hm?"
"Would you prefer I try meeting your father to explain to him, or I should just defy him instead?"
I pause, darting my eyes trying to think of an answer to that question, "He definitely would not agree to anything you say if you tried explaining..."
"Then I should defy him then?" He faces me.
"That seems like a better option. I am better off without him anyway," I hissed.I have had enough of him already.
"I will take good care of him, do not worry about him. We have us to focus on," a sly grin appears on his lips.
I shivered. It felt so good whenever he spoke of them in that manner, but then anytime I think of Ryder, my heart breaks all the more.
"I really love you, and I hope you agree to mate me soon Aria. You do not know the amount of self control I am exerting right now. I really want you, so bad."
I can feel my thighs thumping as he says those words. I take in a deep breath to calm myself down.
I want him too, I really do, but what about Ryder, he seems promising, and I would rather not make a promise to Archi now, then fall for Ryder later on. What exactly is going on?
"Is something wrong?" His voice snaps me out of my thoughts.
I look up at him, forcing a smile on my lips, "What? Of course not."
My eyes dart sideways, and I spot a shadow walk past, and my eyes widen with fear,"Is someone spying on us?"
"What do you mean?" He furrows his brows, then looks over his shoulder.
"I saw a shadow lurking around," my voice drops to a shaky whisper.
He shakes his head, "Hey, calm down. It must be one of the maids or guards who might be doing something around there. Do not worry too much."
I can not help but feel that something bad is going to happen, "I do not know why, but I suddenly have a bad feeling."
He holds my hands, his eyes filled with concern, "Maybe we should leave from here, you are looking really tensed."
I clutch to his hand as if my life depends on it. The shadow soon turns into a figure!
"It is no longer a shadow!" I almost scream.
He looks over his shoulders, I guess he must have noticed the figure too because he narrows his eyes trying to get a better look of whomever it may be.
"Who might that person be?" He taps his right foot.
"We should get out of here, I do not feel safe anymore," I tug at his arm, my whole body is becoming pale by the second.
We both stand up, preparing to leave the garden.
The figure then turns into someone — Father!
I flinch on seeing him here. My whole body trembles with trepidation, knowing the kind of Father I have, "Father, you are here?!"
A wicked grin spread on his face, "Yes, and with good news."
"What good news?" Archi snaps at him, he looks like he could rip my father apart any chance he gets.
Someone appears from behind the pillars, sauntering towards us. My jaws drop as I realize who it is.
No.. it can not be!