Filed to story: The Rejected Werewolf Princess (Camilla & Tyson) by Didi Adeyemi >>
He reached out to grab my arm and I shot him a scathing look.
“If you do not let go of me, I will break your arm in places you did not know were possible.” He let go of me instantly and I brushed the dirt off my b*dy, “I think it is time for you to leave.”
I didn’t wait for a response or an answer from him. Instead, I turned on my heels and walked out of the garden. Steven stared at me in a silent question as I left but I shook my head letting him know everything was fine as we made our way back into the palace.
I saw Riley walking towards the doors as we were walking in and she cast me a withering look. She must not have been paying attention to where she was going because she tripped. I reached down to help her up when she whispered in a voice so soft only I could have heard.
“I saw the both of you. If you want to be his wh ore then leave Ryker out of it.”
Before I could comprehend the sentence, she was on her feet and walking out of the palace.
Riley’s words rang in my ear for the last two days and when I woke up, it was one of the first things I thought about. I know that Riley can be very protective of her brother but I would never have expected that kind of response from her at any time. If someone had told me before yesterday that she would speak to me like that then I would have laughed in their faces.
Christine seemed to pick up on my absent minded mood because she asked me at least twice if I was doing okay and I lied to her those two times because I didn’t even know how to explain what was going on in my head. If it were anyone else, I would have called them out there and then and they would have never tried it again in their lives but it was Riley, she had a right to be pi ssed even though I had a bigger right though.
“Camilla,” Christine whispered harshly in my ear snapping me back to reality and I realized where I was.
I was in the council room talking with mother and the other elders on how the ceremony would go and I must have zoned out because all the elders were staring at me in anticipation as if they were waiting for my input or something. I turned to Christine and shot her a slightly panicked look and she rolled her eyes.
“They asked what your plans are for Audrey,” she whispered and I muttered a quick thanks.
“I want her in and out as quickly as possible,” I told them. “She should never be unprotected at any moment and I want no less than two or three guards on her. She is my topmost priority at any given moment. I can handle myself.””
“You’re going to be the crowned princess,” one of the elders told me. I can’t remember his name and if I’m being honest, I don’t care to know his name, he always pi sses me off. “You’re more likely to be a target than she is. She is just a child, no one truly cares about her.”
“It is a good thing I was not asking your opinion then,” I shot back and I saw his face contort into a frown before he quickly schooled it. “Audrey is the most important person in a room at any given time. Before anyone is taken to safety- even me- my daughter must be safe, is that clear?”
“What about the queen?”
“I believe the queen is right in front of you and able to make her own decisions. You can ask her for details about her protection but I have told you about mine and my daughter’s. If anything happens to her during those ceremonies I will make sure that each and every one of you suffers terribly for it.”
“The palace is the most protected place in the world,” one of them said, “There is no way that anyone will be able to harm your daughter.”
“In case it sk ipped your attention gentlemen, I was taken from this very palace and I lived eighteen years of my life not knowing who I was. How is that for the most protected place in the world?”
They fell silent mainly because they knew I was right but I could see that the first elder was not happy with my decisions. I couldn’t bring myself to care because at the end of the day it is my ceremony and it is my choice on what I want to happen. If they think I will prioritize mine or anyone else’s life over my daughter then they must be thoroughly mistaken.
The meeting ended within ten minutes after that and I was the first person up and out of my seat. I could feel my mother’s curious gaze on me but I couldn’t bring myself to meet it as I walked out of the room. I heard footsteps rushing behind me but I didn’t stop to see who it might be. I already knew it was probably Christine and when she came to a stop beside me, I knew I was right.
“What’s going on with you today?” she asked. “It is not that I didn’t love how you put Evan in his place today but you seem weird. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I lied but from the way her l*ps tilted down it was obvious that she didn’t believe me.
“That’s a lie and you know it,” she scoffed. “Is it about Audrey? She’s safe with Ryker and Steven is watching over her just like you asked. Nob*dy is going to try anything funny especially now that we are so close to the ceremony. Surely you know that.”
“I’m not worried about Audrey,” she stopped mid step and I sighed, “Of course I am a little worried about her but right now
I’m worried about Riley.”
“Who is Riley?”
“Ryker’s sister.”
This time a fresh wave of confusion took over her features and I calmly explained everything that had happened two days ago. She listened intently to every word and when I was done, her eyebrows had almost disappeared into her hair line. She stayed quiet for a few seconds as if she was wondering how to place the words she wanted to say.
“That’s something,” she said carefully after a beat. “First of all that was disrespectful as hell and you’re lucky I wasn’t there because there is no way she would have gotten away with it. Second, we need to do something about that Tyson, he cannot keep sneaking into the palace and if he can sneak in then goddess knows who else can.”
“I already told Steven about Tyson so he and the guards can try to figure out where Tyson always manages to sneak in from and as for Riley, she has a reason to be upset. We were friendly and I just got up and left.”
“You didn’t just get up and leave, her brother was a cheating as shole. You saw him with his di ck in someone else and then found out that someone else was pregnant. If that isn’t a reason to leave then I don’t know what is.”
“What?”
That singular word stopped us both in our tracks and we turned around to see Ryker standing there with the most confused expression on his face. We were so consumed by our conversation that we didn’t realize that he was standing right there and he had been listening to us.
“Camilla, I’m so sorry,” Christine whispered to me, but I gave her a small smile..