*Theo*
Before I could do or say anything else, Ciana artfully avoided my half embrace and skittered away.
I remained speechless as I stood there, watching her run away from again. My head tilted back and I closed my eyes.
She had been so close. I could still sense her warm presence in the air and I inhaled deeply to indulge myself in her enticing, waterlily scent a little longer.
However, that single word breathed out from her pink and alluring lips rang in my ears and was sharper than any knife. It sliced through my chest and left my heart throbbing helplessly.
***
It only took Alpha Black two days to arrive at the palace. I was waiting for him at the front doors before he could run into Ciana. We hadn’t had a chance to fill him in on what she was going through.
“Alpha Black,” I greeted, nodding respectfully to him.
“Greetings, Your Majesty. I didn’t expect the king himself to be my welco party,” he replied politely, slightly lowering his head to show respect to the crown, but the way he carried himself made it feel as if we were equal in status.
And I greatly appreciated it. Because he treated as soone that he respected as a person, not due to my title. Even if I hadn’t been the king, I was confident that he would do the exact sa thing.
He lifted his eyes and looked over quickly and anwhile, I also got the chance to do the sa to him.
He was a tall and good-looking man with a full build. Jake told he was my father’s age, but other than so hint of gray in his jet-black hair, I wouldn’t think he was in his fifties. Probably because his piercing grayish-blue eyes caught most of my attention imdiately.
They were deep and calm and through them, I knew for sure that their owner was a man full of stories. I could see where Ciana got her bright, captivating eyes from.
“You got here a bit sooner than we anticipated,” I said as I gestured toward the eting room.
“Where my daughter is concerned, I don’t leave anything to chance. Where’s my daughter, Your Majesty?”
“I assure you, Ciana is fine right now,” I stated quickly so he wouldn’t get the wrong idea. “However, she is dealing with sothing and I wanted to update you before you saw her.”
He narrowed his eyes at my reply. Without saying anything, I could already sense the warning from his gaze.
“Please, tell what is happening with my daughter.”
His piercing eyes told silently that if anything happened to Ciana, we’d all feel Alpha Black’s wrath, sothing I would never want to deal with from my future and only possible father-in-law anyway, but especially after eting Soren Black in person. I bet no one in the world would want to ss with this composed yet extrely dangerous man’s beloved family.
So I decided to be completely honest and straightforward with him. If anything could help with the man in front of , my gut told it was honesty and sincerity.
I looked him in the eye. “I’d like to start by saying that I love Ciana more than anything in the world. I’ll do anything to protect her and treat her well.”
My words seed to have taken him by surprise, and he remained silent for a few seconds.
I didn’t rush him and waited for him to respond to . Maybe so fathers in this country would feel that their daughters being favored by the crown was an honor, but I was sure my title wouldn’t earn any additional points from Alpha Black when it cos to his daughter’s happiness.
I didn’t have any problem with that. In fact, I was grateful that my Ciana had loving parents who truly cared about her.
It took him a few seconds, which felt like hours, before he said, “I appreciate that. Fathers like to hear that their daughters are cared for.”
His reply was vague, and I got the impression that while he appreciated my gesture, he wasn’t over the moon about his daughter having the king’s favor without knowing Ciana’s own opinion.
“The reason I would like to et with you before you see Ciana is that we need your help. Actually, Ciana needs your help,” I clarified. “Not long ago, she was injured, and while she’s on the right track with her recovery physically, she lost her mory.”
The atmosphere in the room imdiately changed. Tension started to build up as Soren’s expression grew darker at the bad news.
“I’m really sorry for not doing a better job protecting her,” I apologized sincerely. “Please allow to fill you in with more details.”
I’d been thinking about how to explain to her father everything that Ciana and I had been through together, especially with so parts of them being secrets of the royal bloodline and our unpleasant past.
But once I’d t Soren in person, I decided to be completely transparent with him, not just because I imdiately knew we both had a common goal to help Ciana, but also because as dangerous as he was, I knew I could trust him.
It was my instinct.
“Please take a seat. It might take a little ti, but I’ll be as concise as I can be.”
Soren made himself comfortable and listened to patiently without any interruption. He was attentive and seemingly calm the entire ti. The only way I knew he was worried and upset from ti to ti was when I noticed that his fists were clenched slightly, usually whenever I ntioned Ciana being hurt or in danger.
When I was done, he took a few monts to process the information and creased his brow. “She doesn’t rember anything?”
“She seed to rember everything before she arrived at the palace. As for her mories about the palace...She’s expressed familiarity with so things but she cannot recall what happened here before.”
Soren nodded his acknowledgent and stood up. “Your Majesty, I appreciate you taking care of my daughter in her ti of need. Now, I really would like to see her on my own.”
“One mont, please. I have a request.” I took a deep breath in and let it out slowly, calming my rapid heartbeat. Yes, I was nervous. How could I not be?
If I was a father, would I allow my daughter to marry soone she couldn’t even rember?
I’d have to convince Soren that I could make Ciana happy and that I was going to protect her, but ironically, I was the one who almost sucked out her life!
Yet, as confused, anxious and...helpless as I was, I was desperate for her. I loved her and I needed her. Nothing could change that.
I knew she once felt the sa, and given ti, she would feel the sa again.
No matter what it might take, I would never allow myself to just give up on our relationship and our future. At least, not without trying everything I could.
At least, not now.
I looked him in the eye and said slowly, “Alpha Black, I love your daughter, and I would like to ask your permission for her hand.”
He didn’t agree or reject imdiately.
“I know it’s a lot to ask,” I added firmly, “but I’ll keep trying until everything is fixed and I’ll never allow anything bad to happen to her again.”
His piercing eyes held my gaze as he responded slowly and seriously. “Your Majesty, with all due respect, I’m afraid I have to say no.”
I sighed.
To be honest, I hadn’t expected him to imdiately agree to my request for her hand. It sounded illogical, but sohow I was glad he said no, because again, it showed that he only wanted the best for his daughter.
Politely, he stated his reasons, “I can’t make this decision for her, and based on what you told , she’s not in the right fra of mind. Not to ntion, life with you is too dangerous. She’s already been hurt.”
I heard the determination of a protective father coming out in his words, and I knew it would take a lot more for to convince him, which I was prepared to do.
“Alpha Black, no one is more heartbroken or concerned about Ciana’s injury than I am. I’d rather die ten tis over than see her hurt. At least, may I have the honor to court your daughter?”
“Your Majesty, as a father, I appreciate your consideration. However, I can’t allow my daughter to be injured again, and unfortunately, royal life by default would be filled with danger. I would like to take her ho.”
“I would like to ask you to reconsider it,” I stood up, reacting quickly.
“Humph,” Soren narrowed his eyes, and then questioned with a dangerous glare. “She’s my daughter. Are you going to force to leave her here? My pack supported you because they believe you can restore justice and peace. If you’re planning to go to war simply to force my daughter to marry you, how are you any different from your father?” he questioned.
I shook my head. “You misunderstand, Alpha Black. I wouldn’t attack your pack should Ciana reject . We love each other, even if she doesn’t rember it. Given ti, I’m confident she will fall for again.”
“Is that so?” Soren asked, scoffing. “You seem overly self-confident and arrogant. I’m not sure you’re my daughter’s type?”
That was Ciana’s initial reaction to too. Now I knew where she got that from. The only way I could convince him was to show him my heart.
“We were in love, Alpha Black, before her mory loss. If you take her away from now, aren’t you taking away her chance to get to know again and make an inford decision?” I countered.
Like , he obviously wasn’t used to people questioning his decision, but he didn’t let his frustration show through. Instead, he maintained his level tone and asked sothing that had been on my mind too.
“Even if you can protect her and win her heart again, she’s not even twenty-one yet. What if she isn’t your mate?”
I told him the answer that had been in mind for a long ti. It never changed since the day she kissed after knowing my dreadful ability.
“To , it doesn’t matter. My mate sense has been suppressed.”
His brow slightly furrowed.
“Believe it or not, I won’t be able to feel my mate even if she is right in front of . I used to hate my fate for it, but now I’m thankful. Because my heart will forever only belong to Ciana. If the Goddess blesses us and she’s my mate, I’d cherish her the way I’m cherishing her now. If sohow she’s not...Well, I guess I would never find out because I won’t take the risk.”
He stared at with surprise and his brow furrowed more. His face softened a little then he asked, “You’re only talking about you. How about her? What if her mate is soone else, and she finds him?”
I’d thought about it too.
I turned my gaze to the horizon outside of the window. Of course, I’d thought about this possibility, and for a while, it haunted day and night. But eventually, I’d co to a conclusion that I could live with.
I smiled bitterly, “Then I’ll bury my love for her in my heart and do everything I can to protect her, her family and her peaceful life from a distance, as that would be the only solace for my lifelong loneliness.”
Astonishnt flickered in his eyes. I didn’t know whether he believed or not, but that was the only answer from the bottom of my heart.
There was no way out for when it cos to Ciana. If the Goddess blessed her with a mate that could bring her a better life, I would have to let her go. I’d be happy to let her go, as long as that was what she wanted.
He didn’t say anything for a while this ti, eventually, he let out a sigh. “You remind of when I was in my twenties... ” His voice trailed off, and then he smiled. “But then I t Ciana’s mother. Your Majesty, you and Ciana both are still very young, and life changes. You can never say never.”
His tone was much softer this ti. It was a good sign, but it wasn’t enough for him to relent yet. I needed one more reason to convince him and I knew exactly what it was.
“Alpha Black, again, I sincerely ask you to reconsider allowing a chance to pursue your daughter. Besides, you wouldn’t want your grandchild to be born without a father, would you?”
Soren gaped at . “Ciana is....”
“Yes, she is pregnant!” I confird and couldn’t help the upcurl of my lips. “However, I haven’t told her yet. I didn’t want to scare her.”
Soren let out another heavy sigh.
“Your Majesty, I need so ti to rethink your request. However, you ntioned you need help. You have my service here. What can I do?”
That was the best outco I could ask for at this mont.
“Well, first of all, please tell everything you know about the White Queen.”
#
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