Who Do You Want?

Alexi opened the glass door and let himself and Ro into the room.

"Your mother is resting before supper." A servant in a nice black and gold dress said.

"This is important." Alexi stated flatly.

"What is this regarding?"

"Tell her it's about her present." The servant nodded and disappeared through another wooden door. After a few moments the servant returned.

"She says you can thank her over dinner."

"That's not good enough." Alexi barreled past the servant through the door, towing Ro behind him. "Mother." He called when he entered the room. Lady Alexandra rose from a chair before a merrily burning fire.

"My darling boy! How splendid you look. And Ro, you look very nice too. The ring looks nice with that dress." Lady Alexandra smiled warmly at them. Alexi frowned.

"Mother, I don't know what you were thinking giving her something like that."

"It is for the best darling." She said waving off his concern.

"It is too soon for this."

"Nonsense. This will appease your father if it works."

"And if it doesn't work it will kill her. I am not willing to take that risk at this point. Take it back." Ro stared at her hand in shock. The ring could kill her.

"No, I don't think I will take it back." Lady Alexandra was still smiling brightly as she refused.

"Mother, she can't go back to school wearing it." Alexi was getting angry now.

"And why not? Everyone already knows she is yours." Alexi blushed and looked away, indicating that this wasn't true. "Why don't they know that?" His mother asked with annoyance.

"There are others." Alexi informed her. Lady Alexandra's eyes narrowed and flicked from him to Ro then back again.

"So, what your father said was true." Alexi met her eyes defiantly. Ro blushed again feeling very uncomfortable.

"No! She isn't like that. She doesn't want- He was wrong." Lady Alexandra looked skeptical.

"Well then, this will give you a leg up on the others."

"Mother, if she goes back to school wearing that thing, I will be in serious trouble. You don't want that do you?" Alexi was fighting to keep the irritation out of his voice. "And I promised her nothing would happen on this trip." He added. Lady Alexandra folded her arms in front of her chest.

"Who are these others?" She snapped. Alexi glanced at Ro and sighed.

"Well our professor is one. I am guessing Laine is another. There may be more besides them. I'm am not really sure." Ro looked at the floor

"This is Ky Arzandia?" Alexi nodded tightly. Pity entered Lady Alexandra's eyes.

"Maybe it would be better for you to find someone e-" Alexi cut her off.

"No. I only want her." Ro blushed and kept studying the ground. Lady Alexandra sighed.

"Have you marked her yet?" she asked.

"No. I am waiting until I am stronger." Lady Alexandra couldn't help feeling sorry for her son. She had heard the rumors of Ky Arzandia's fighting skills when he was younger. He had been a big deal because he had graduated top of his class at only thirty. After that, he had gone on to challenge many of his father's lords for their lands and had never lost. Everyone had expected him to finally challenge his brother for the right to the throne, but it never happened. Instead, he returned to Alicaine, the magic school, as an AR student. The rumors were that he was deadly. Lady Alexandra didn't know if her son could truly beat him and she doubted a little more time would help.

"Then you really should take up your father's offer of switching classes." Lady Alexandra told him. Alexi's face hardened resolutely.

"That is out of the question. Now please take back the ring." Lady Alexandra sighed heavily.

"Fine. But we will revisit this later." Alexi nodded as she crossed the room to Ro. Quickly grabbing Ro's left hand, Lady Alexandra pulled the ring off. Ro felt instant relief as the cold feeling left her. Lady Alexandra peered at her. "Now Alexi, I have some questions for Ro. Please wait outside." Alexi frowned at his mother and slowly left the room. Lady Alexandra stepped back and tried to meet Ro's eyes. She frowned impatiently. "You may look me in my eyes." Ro looked up into them startled. They were cold and hard. "Answer me honestly. Do you want my son?" Ro inhaled sharply and looked away. She feared what this woman would do when she said no. "I am waiting." Lady Alexandra snapped.

"No, Lady." Ro replied quietly. Lady Alexandra stiffened.

"And the fact that this will all one day be his makes no difference to you? You would live in comfort and would never want for anything. That doesn't matter?" she asked

"I'd prefer to live on my own means." Lady Alexandra smiled slightly.

"Well that's not as bad as it could be." She said quietly. Then her expression became cold again. "Who do you want?" Ro met her eyes resolutely.

"No one. I don't want to be claimed." Lady Alexandra's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but she quickly recovered.

"Well, I suppose that's not as bad as it could be either." She said to herself. "I think it would be better for you to accept that it will happen. I know my son. Once his mind is made up, he won't change it." She paused as if waiting for Ro to say something. When it became clear she wouldn't, Lady Alexandra went on. "I will let this go for now, but if I found out that you've hurt my son, I will hunt you down and strip the flesh from your bones." Ro paled at her threat. The look in Lady Alexandra's eyes told her she would really do it. "And while you are here, you won't mention anything about not wanting to be claimed or not wanting my son, to him or his father." The bell rang again and was much louder this time. Ro's eyes were caught by lady Alexandra's and held. "Now say you understand." The lady ordered.