Chapter 4: Princess Emily of Castaway.

Chapter 4: Princess Emily of Castaway.

I had been around fine men but this king was different. His short black hair was neatly combed to the back. He was almost as tall as Owen and I was baffled…and fascinated.

He could be described as beautiful in the same breath one would call him, rough edged.

He looked like a sculpture with his chiseled jawline and distinctive straight nose. His eye color was confusing, it had a shade of both blue and green and...brown.

Good God! They were hazel.

He was staring at us like we were a pair of misfits who barged in on him. He was obviously irritated by the way his nose flared.

His high cheekbones looked man made and too perfect. This man looked like an angel and when he spoke, his baritone voice overpowered the almost empty court.

"I am Zuri Zero Williamson, King of Castaway. King Williamson was my father"

I turned away and I started looking at the paintings on the wall. I lingered on one particular one.

A little question tugged at the back of my head and without turning, I asked it.

"He is dead, isn't he?"

"Yes, the old bastard indeed bit the dust a year ago" Zuri answered.

"Figures!" I murmured.

What was I thinking? That I was going to meet my biological royal father and run into his arms to be lifted up and twirled around like a little girl?

Then he would announce me to the entire country as Emily Amara Sanders Williamson, Princess of castaway, which would follow by him handing over a tiara for my little head while I post it all over Facebook for Owen to see and choke on his own regrets?

Maybe! Maybe it was exactly what I had expected but this was more like my reality.

I was unlucky and nothing shocks me anymore.

But it didn't stop the sudden pang of sadness that hit my chest, drawing tears from my already tired eyes. He was my father and he died.

It was the second loss in a week.

"My name is Eloise and this is my daughter, Emily. She is your father's daughter"

As my mother made the introductions, I watched more portraits on the wall and tried to blink back tears.

"Mom, he knows who you are"

"Emily, don't be ridiculous" Mom was snappy.

"I am not. He knows who we are because there are portraits of you on the wall…. Eloise of Astoria" I pointed to the image I was looking at.

Mom was shocked and speechless and while she got over the shock, I spoke to my half brother the devil.

"Did my father leave any inheritance for me?" I asked bluntly.

I just needed to control my pounding heart. Why was I feeling so much sadness for a man that didn't know of my existence? It didn't make sense to me.

Zuri stared at me with his perfect hazel eyes. Maybe he was the lucky sibling while I got the bad luck of this family in its entirety.

"Why would he do that?" Zuri asked me.

He had a weird smile.

"Because I am princess Emily of castaway" I said in a mocking voice.

I really shouldn't poke the tiger.

"No. Your mother is the woman my father cheated with and you are an illegitimate child of a dead King. I owe you nothing and I have no use for you. Depart at once or suffer the consequences of staying. You are not wanted here, Emily. Go home!"

I looked to my mother for help but she was otherwise occupied with her portrait.

I exhaled and I looked at my brother. I forgot the most important rule of a wolf, I showed vulnerability.

And Zuri saw it.

"W-we don't have anywhere to go to. When we started this journey, I thought I was going to meet my father and be a princess but…but…Zuri, if you turn us away…" I blinked back tears.

"If you turn us away, we have nowhere else to go. And so, I am begging you…because my father was a king…he was the king of a country known for its gold and riches. He was a king….and..and…we can't live in our car. Don't you understand, I am supposed to be somebody. I am supposed to have a b-best friend and a community and…" I realized too late that I was almost incoherent and yelling.

"Emily, come on…let's go. We will figure something out" My mother tried to grab my hand but I took a step back.

"Go where, Mom…go back to Astoria? To uncle Phil's fist? You mean go back to Owen, right?" I asked her.

"We are not going back. Sweetheart, we will figure something out. He doesn't want us here. Let's go…Emily now!" Mom ordered.

Sometimes, in the chaos of my life, I forget that my mother was a former Beta Wolf. Prideful and consistent, she won't grovel at any one's feet and she hated it when I did.

"Leave or I will have the guards throw you out" King Zuri threatened.

Mom grabbed my hand and I went willingly. We almost made it to the door when Zuri spoke again.

"Or maybe, I have a proposal for you…sister"

I turned around. The smirk on his face told me that he was up to nothing good. I waited for the outrageous offer and it came.

"Are you familiar with a country called Zolcovia? If I am correct and I am then it shares a boundary with Astoria"

Zuri's question made a sense of dread fill me. I longed to not discuss the matter further but I just found myself answering his question.

"I know Zolcovia, It's the only other country except Castaway that is governed by a monarch on our side of the continent" I answered with an apprehensive look.

"Well, I need a stronger relationship with King Cypher Cole of Zolcovia. I need access to their oil rich soil and I have a strong feeling that I will have my wishes if there was a marriage alliance between the house of Williamson and the House of Cole"

I blinked and I blinked again. Maybe I am mistaken. He couldn't be…he wouldn't…

"What are you saying, King Zuri?" My mother asked him.

"I am proposing an arrangement between my dearest sister and Waylen Xavier Cole, crown prince of Zolcovia"

"What?" My mother yelled. "No!"

I cleared my throat.

"Mom, wait!"

I shifted my body weight from left to right and stared at my brother.

"And what do I get in return, Zuri?"

King Zuri smiled like he was just about to do me the biggest favor of the century.

"What else, Emily? You will be what you should have been if my father made an effort to acknowledge you"

Zuri stared right ahead to my forehead.

"You will be Emily Williamson, Princess Supreme of Castaway of course"

I scoffed.

"You really are the devil, you manipulative cutthroat!"