your words hurt

Zaccai walked fast, away from the news he just heard, he knew he had no one to talk to about it and that only made him more upset.

How could they have kept this a secret from him for almost twenty years?

He took the stairs going down and was about to head out of the mansion when his father caught up with him.

Curse the speed of a werewolf.

"Son, please." King Zadok said nothing more for fear that anyone could be listening in. The servants went about their duties but that didn't mean their ears weren't close to the ground, listening for any small detail they could build a gossip on.

"How could you do that—" he stopped himself as he looked around them. "—To my mother." He was disappointed in that fact.

"Weakness isn't likened to the humans alone, everyone has their moment and I had mine." He sighed. "You can judge me all you want but it is out of love and concern for you that I chose to tell you now. Consider it my desperate attempt to show you and let you know that your marriage isn't entirely going to end in a disaster and that your future child or children will be fine."

"You were never in support—" Zaccai started to say.

"I never faulted you for your actions in the past, I never gave you trouble for. . ." He lowered his voice. "Think hard son, you would note that I was amused at your situation, it was like déjà vu, yes I had my moments where I feared for your life. Maybe that's just who we are, our family sided with the humans during the war until we couldn't no more. We, I have no reason to hate them but I am king of Tahu and my duty is to our people."

"What about you know who?"

"She's mine," he carefully explained. "Though a secret now for all the right reasons, be rest assured that if it came down to choosing between her and some misguided duty I'd always choose her. You as well son, you all matter the most to me. And she is family, you will have to treat her as such."

"I want to be alone." Zaccai said looking towards the door.

King zadok placed a hand on his shoulder. "You need to apologize to her, your words hurt."

"Good day father," he shrugged his hands off and walked out into the sun.

He could only focus on one thing at a time, and now his only focus was his wedding.

Ashford

Crown had a rather quiet and uneventful morning after her time with Honey. It seemed someone had cast a magic spell over Ashford that no one was giving her the weird stares she had so much expected or the pointed fingers of blame. No, nothing at all.

Everyone seemed to be more okay like nothing had happened.

Crown sat in the bookstore of Old Mick cleaning and organising the books that had been borrowed and returned for the day when Darius showed up.

"Well well well, if it isn't my wife to be." He said almost startling her. "Hello Miss Crown."

She turned slowly towards the sound of his voice. "Hello Darius, have you been well?" Crown asked with a practiced smile.

"Have I been well? Are you serious Crown?" He frowned. "I'm quite surprised to see you well enough, going about your business of the day after all that's changed in the last hours. How do you think to ask if I am well?" His frustration was starting to show.

"I am sorry Darius. I guess it is what I hope for you. That you are well amidst all that's happened." She stepped closer to him. "I lack the proper words to tell you."

"How about you explain to me why and how is it that you end up being the chosen bride to some creature when you were already proposed to by me?" His voice got louder with each word.

"I have asked myself that, as well as my family, you must know, we truly have no idea, we do not know how it came to this."

"Do you expect me to believe that? Crown, I was more than ready to give you the life that you deserve." He moved his hands around as he talked.

"What do I deserve?" She asked watching his face.

"A normal simple life, taking care of the home and family we would someday have. What more could there be?" He asked and looked around. "You won't get to work in this rundown store too."

"I love this rundown store," Crown replied almost absent minded.

"That's not important." he raised his voice at her but she didn't flinch.

"Darius it is pointless what you are doing now, and everyone know this. What's happening is bigger than us both, and we have little to no say in the matter. All that you gave to my family is already in the process of getting returned. Tones of beautiful women in Ashford I am certain you will find one to marry in no time." She said in a rush. "For what's worth, I am sorry."

"Look at you, you've always had a bite in your bark and now you seem willing enough to accept your fate when it has to do with the other side of our world. You've always wanted this. All the trouble you caused in the past, you never change."

"What does that even mean, I accepted my fate to marry you didn't I?" she was starting to get angry now.

"You'll see." With that he turned to leave.

"Is that a threat?" She stepped even closer to him.

"Is it?" He shrugged.

"If anything happens to my family or me Darius, I will make you pay." She warned.

"How lovely. Have a lovely evening Miss Crown." He gave her a look of disdain before finally leaving.

Crown shook her head after him as she thought to herself. "How was I willing to ever marry such a man?"