Unwanted Blood (21 page)

Once again I see Finn leave my side and walk confidently to stand in front of Cian and his parents, he bows to them and says “Cian, chieftain of the Hunter clan, I would like to formally court Princess Caitorina” Finn says firmly as I gasp, Finn then turns to the crowd “anyone who would challenge me for her hand has one month” Finn finishes and throws down some sort of coin to the top of the stairs and then walks smoothly back to me.

I don't think I can say this enough but, What. The. Fuck? Did Finn just ask my dad to date me and then throw down the gauntlet? This isn't medieval times, jesus. I'm just about to scream in frustration if I hear anyone else proclaim their sword or life to our protection but luckily I am saved as Brennus concludes the meeting? Lecture? Warning? I don't even know what to call it. I attempt to remove my arm from Finn but he isn't having it.

He turns me to look at him “don't freak out, you can't freak out yet. I know you want to, babe, but you have to keep it together for right now. When we are alone then you can freak out, yell at me, hit me do whatever that would make yourself feel better but in public you need to keep it together” Finn says lowly next to my ear. He is right, I can't let these people see me go crazy, even though I want to beat everyone's asses right now and then maybe have a good cry. But throwing a fit in front of everyone would embarrass Finn and his family and probably my dear old dad. So I nod to Finn so he knows that I understand as I stand there still as a statue.

“Honey, deep breaths. The worst is over, now its party time” Presley or whatever the hell she is, says next to me.

“Yeah well you didn't just find out you are royalty, dating royalty, watch your long lost dad sprout wings from his back, have your boyfriend and best friend offer their lives for you and then top it off with your boyfriend throwing down the gauntlet in order to date you. What the fuck is this you guys? Medieval times?” I whisper hiss at them

“Did you just call Finn your boyfriend?” Presley squeals excitedly as she claps her hands which is quite amazing to see someone dressed in what I would call a slutty suit of armor, clap like an demented seal.

“All of that and you zero in on me calling Finn my boyfriend?” I roll my eyes in annoyance

“I like it that you called me your boyfriend” Finn whispers seductively in my ear and then brushes his lips across mine. Part of me is enjoying this and the other part is seeing it as a way for him to distract me from my impending hissy fit thus making an ass of myself.

“Come on my beautiful, girlfriend, you need to go meet your father” Finn says which makes my stomach drop. So not ready for this.

Chapter 23

I feel sick, no way can I do this. I'm not ready, I say over and over to myself as Finn and Presley take me back into the castle and into the sitting room. Once I get to the door I stop and refuse to move any further, looking in I see my father standing across the room with his eyes glued to me while Brennus and Natalia stand next to him. He is so frickin intimidating. His large arms and chest are still only covered in his plaid sash so he presents as even more hulking, then to top it off knowing that he can shoot wings out of his back is enough to keep my nerves strung out.

“I would like to speak with Cait- er, Alexandra, alone......if she permits it” Cian says to the others but never takes his eyes from me. Shit, I don't know where to even begin talking with him, let alone be left in the room alone with him. Finn must see my panic as he takes turns my shoulders so I am facing him.

“Alex, I told you before that you are not alone and I will always keep my promises to you. If you don't want me to leave, I won't” Finn says gently while rubbing my arms as Egypt comes over and leans against me as a show of support.

“I-I don't even know what to say to him” I reply worriedly as I glance over to where the others are standing quietly waiting for my decision. I'm just going to have to suck it up and sort this out. It isn't his fault that he has been missing for all my life or that my foster family were terrible to me. I need to make an effort to try. Squaring my shoulders, I face my father and nod my head in agreement that I will speak with him alone. Brennus and Natalia both come up to me and kiss me on the forehead before they pass but Finn is reluctant to leave me.

“It's alright Finn. I know you said you would stand by me but I need to do this on my own” I give Finn a tight smile as he pulls me into a hug

“If you need anything, I will be right outside the doors” Finn says as he turns and strides out the doors quietly. Presley and Egypt are lingering about but I nod to Presley so she knows I am alright and she can go. Egypt, however, is refusing to leave and is pretty much glued to my side.

“E, I will be fine” I say quietly as I rub her ears

“She is welcome to stay” I hear Cian say evenly which gives me a huge relief. I really would feel more comfortable if Egypt stayed with me

“T-thank you” I say as I look down at my feet. I am so out of my comfort level right now, what am I supposed to do right now? He just seems to imposing and stone cold.

I feel the air move around me and look up to see Cian is now standing right in front of me with a worried look on his face. What does he have to worry about? I'm sure I'm will be having a severe case of word vomit very soon.

“Caitorina, umm, Alexandra....I know you are confused right now and that you do not know me but I-” Cian says with his voice full of emotion as he rushes towards me and pulls me into a tight hug. Well shit, not what I was expecting. I awkwardly hug him back because I'm still not used to this hugging thing from adults.

“I'm so sorry for what I put you through, for missing all your life and all the important moments in it” he says brokenly as he continues to hold me tight to him.

“I-its alright, you didn't really have much of a choice” I say as Cian pulls back to look at my face

“Will you sit and talk with me?” he asks tentatively. I don't think I could even say no to that request. He seems to hurt and broken, so I nod and trudge over to the couch and plop down on it. Cian is much more graceful as he glides across the room and sits next to me.

“I know this is a lot to take in all at once, so I thought perhaps we could get to know each other?” Cian asks hopefully.

“What would you like to know?”

“Where did you live before coming here?”

“Um, Chicago. I have a house there” I reply while mindlessly petting Egypt in order to calm myself

“Did your foster family move? I do not recall them living in such a large city”

“No, I live about an hour away from their home”

“Who do you live with there?” Cian asks frowning, why does he all the sudden look upset?

“I live alone, well Egypt lives with me as well, of course” As soon as I got those words out I regret them, I said something wrong because Cian stiffens and looks even more upset.

“You are not mated nor have your abilities, how is it that you live alone?” Cian asks as he clenches his jaw so hard it looks like it could break his teeth.

“In my family, er, foster family, they expected me to go to school and then get a job within the family but they did not give me money to live from when I was done with college so I work for their travel company as a photographer which pays alright. So I was able to buy a small house that has a nice yard for Egypt.” If I didn't know that this man was my father and I felt safe around him, I would be running as fast and far as I could to get away from the anger I feel coming off from him in waves. “So, where were you at this whole time? I know you were in “sleep” but where were you kept?” I ask in attempt to change the subject

“I know you are trying to change the subject, and for now I will allow it, but soon we will be discussing your foster family and your past” Cian says sternly, should have know that wouldn't have worked on him.  Cian totally ignores my comment and says “your birthday was yesterday, I am sorry for not being there to celebrate but I thought it was best if I didn't ruin it with shocking you”

“Yeah, that would have been some shock alright” I chuckle at the image of being wasted and climbing all over Finn as my long lost father walks in.

“I have a gift for you” he says as he walks over to the desk and picks up a long wrapped box “I know this doesn't make up for missing the last twenty-six years but I hope to spend the rest of my existence making it up to you” Cian says as he hands me the box to open.

I nervously open the box to find a petite sword in a sheath made of leather and two large daggers and a smaller one in leather holsters. The handles are artfully detailed in some sort of symbols, they look the right weight and size for a female. I look up to Cian in confusion, I can't believe he got me these, its kind of scary but mostly awesome.

“Tis common for a father to give his daughter a weapon when she becomes a woman, I wish I could have given these to you sooner and trained you to use them” Cian looks down at the box with a wistful expression “I had these made for you the week you were born”

“Thank you, so much, they are beautiful” I say quietly. I feel awful. That saying of
'its better to loved and lost than never loved at all'
is complete bull shit. My father had a family and he lost them all. I have been painfully ignorant that I had a family, I feel far worse for his situation than my own. I suddenly feel like my emotions are choking me as I try to hold back my tears. I feel so sad for him and all he has had to go through. I quietly set down my box on the table and move to Cian to throw my arms around him and sob quietly on his shoulder.

“Donna cry my Caitorina, I will never let us part again” he says has he gently pats my back. He doesn't understand that I am crying for him, not me. I can't imagine the immense amount of pain it would cause me to lose Finn and I have only known him for a short period of time.

“Will you tell me about my mother?” I ask as I move back to sit on the couch once again.

“Och, your mother. You look just like her” he says with a sad smile “she was a hellion for such a small woman. I had never met a more fierce human, your mother had a fire that burned in her. She was also so stubborn. I wish I could regret selecting her as my mate, humans have such short lives but just the short time we were together she was the one I was drawn to. No matter how hard I tried to sway her from entering into a life with me where I never age and she grows older with each passing day, she said she didn't care. It was the happiest day of our lives when we found out she was pregnant” Cian smiles happily as he stares out the window as if he is reliving the memory.

“I wish I could have had a real mother” I whisper

“Cait-, I mean Alexandra, we need to discuss your foster family. Brennus has given hints about how you were raised but he would not fully tell me. I need to know, were you mistreated? Abused? I will end them all if they mistreated you” Cian says as he stands up to pace.

Sighing “it wasn't that they abused me or anything like that. Let's just say that when I was told they weren't my real family, I was shocked but not all that surprised. I was always treated like the red headed step child of the family. They treated me as if I was a obligation. I never felt really part of the family” I attempt to explain. Cian stops pacing and gives me a hard look

“You were a child! You should have been loved! You are also a royal who should have been treated with the respect you deserve!” Cian says angrily as he rakes his hands through his hair in frustration “according to Brennus, this family was paid handsomely to care for you yet they made you care for yourself. They are extremely lucky I have more pressing matters to attend to but they will hear from me, eventually.”

First lesson is dealing with Pops, don't always tell him everything, he seems to be strung a bit tight.

“I apologize for not speaking with you prior to the announcement, you were asleep and I had many matters to deal with, however, do you consent to Finn's courting?”

“You knew he was going to do that?”

“Yes, it is custom within our people, did you not know this?” Cian asks in confusion

“No, I didn't” I say softly but before Cian can blow up again, I quickly add “I guess I consent to it. You all had arranged this when I was born right? Do I have a choice?” I ask grudgingly. Its not that I don't have very strong feelings for Finn but to have a choice in my life is important to me.

“You are correct, it was decided when you were born. However, if you want to court someone else you can have that person challenge Finn for your hand” Cian shrugs as if its no big deal. Yeah, no biggie. I couldn't break up with Finn unless I found someone who was willing to fight Finn for me. Sure, no big deal.

“No, I am happy so far with Finn but I have only known him for a short time. I would like to make my own decisions as to who I am mated with, when I am ready” I explain calmly in hopes he doesn't blow a gasket

“Ah, so much like your mother, always wanting to do things her own way” he sighs “if you find that you do not feel it is right to mate with Finn then I will speak with Brennus about changing our agreement”

“Thank you. I don't foresee wanting to part with Finn, but I would like to be in charge of my own life” I say as I raise my chin to look at him in the eyes. “I have a question” I begin “why do you keep calling me Caitorina?”

“Caitornia is your name, that is the name you were born with. The name your mother gave you. Your foster family must have changed your name when you went to live with them” Cian explains calmly

“Oh” I reply dumbly

“Would it be alright if I called you that?” he asks while trying to keep any expression off his face so I can't get a read off him. I don't know if he is upset by my name change or not.

“I-ah, well, I'm not really sure. This is a lot to take in. Can I think about it?”

“Yes, whatever you need.” He keeps his expressionless face in place. “Now that we have that settled, tell me of the Valkyrie. Brennus tells me that there was some safety concerns he had regarding you and employed the Valkyrie to protect you for a period of time, however, she requested to stay on as your guard without pay or contract. This is very odd for a Valkyrie to do, I have never known them to become close with any outside of their clan let alone stay on without contract or payment”

“I'm not sure, we just became good friends” I say with a shrug. Why Presley does anything that she does is a mystery to me. My answer seems to cause more confusion for Cian but he says nothing more about it.

“Tell me of this young one here” he asks as he leans down to pet Egypt lovingly

“This is Egypt. I'm sure you know what she is”

“Of course, I had arranged when you were born for you to receive one when the next litter was born. I also paid for your cousins to have one as well. The four of you were the first children of our clan in over five hundred years so you all were very important to us all” Cian says wistfully