THE DRAGON'S KING CAPTIVE MATE

~UNDER THE SEA~ KINGDOM OF AVALON "What is this father?!" Amara stormed into the throne room, which was known as the crystal palace by the other mermaids. She waved the stylishly designed envelope in the air and narrowed her eyes as she sighted the exact envelope in her father's hand, Loral Triton—King of the Southern Waters tribe. She snatched the envelope from him and tore it open before he could stop her. A hiss escaped her slightly opened mouth before she could stop herself, and she glared. "I am marrying no one!" King Loral's uneven eyebrows were furrowed as he stared at the hundredth enveloped letter that had arrived today scrunched up in Amara's hand. The envelope was designed in a beautiful pink design with flecks of gold, and it was delicate to the touch. He had not opened it and didn't need to do so to know what the content in it says. King Loral believed it would be the same as the others. He should be happy that everyone found his daughter, Amara, desirable; rather, he was more distressed. Even with the most eligible princes that had shown interest in her, he was not ready to let go. Amara was his only child, and he wanted the best for her. If he was given the opportunity, he would decline all the invitations. Still, the marriage was a way to stabilize the ethnic relations, so her getting married would not only make them part of the other clans, but they'd become allies as well. "Father!" Amara snapped, getting her father's attention. "It's for the best, and The King of the Northern Waters is the right candidate for you." "Right candidate?" Amara scoffed. What was she? Her father made her look more like a spoilt good rather than a mermaid. A f*****g mermaid princess. But then she was aware he meant no harm, and at the same time, she couldn't let it go. "I'm not interested in the Northern Waters clan! I thought you were letting me choose whom I want?" Amara glared. "One thing is forcing me to get married, and the next is telling me who to marry!" "That is the best for you, darling." King Loral repeated, staring at his enraged daughter. He didn't know she would be this furious at his suggestion. He barely saw her furious until now, and it wasn't a pretty sight. She looked as though she'd destroy whatever was in sight if he continued to shove what he wanted on her, and he noticed how her eyes had gotten larger; it only happens whenever a mermaid was expressing anger. King Loral would have agreed to her term after seeing her change her demeanor. However, he knew letting her make a choice might be the wrong thing for her to do. He didn't want her to bring in just anyone; he didn't even want a mere prince. He wanted the ruler himself as he was a strong merman and had authority over the creatures in the Northern waters. What were her parents thinking?! Amara bristled as she clenched her fists. Or perhaps she was too quick to judge their decision for her. But, the more she thought of it, the more she believed she was going to her doom. "We are your parents, Amara, and we know what is best for you. We won't deliberately push you into what is..." "You know what is best for me?!" Amara snapped, cutting her mother, who stepped into the room off then regretted it almost immediately. She had never snapped at her mother or even her father until now. She assumed the announcements contributed to her change in mood. Queen Isla scowled and opened her mouth to reprimand her daughter, but it seemed like she wasn't through with what she wanted to say. "And you say you are not deliberately doing what? You are freaking shoving me into it!" "Be careful, young lady!" King Loral cautioned as Amara swore. Amara ignored her father and stepped toward them, "Why do I feel both of you are trying to sell me off? Do you hate me this much?!" Queen Isla tutted, "That is an awful thing for you to say, Amara. You are our only child, and we love you so much. Giving you the best is what we are doing, even though you think otherwise. We can't sell you. You are so much more precious to us than you think." "Precious in the sense of disposing of me off to the strongest or wealthiest merman as soon as I turned 18?" "Enough, young lady!" King Loral boomed. Amara and Queen Isla flinched, the water simmered, and he glowered at his daughter. He shook his head and breathed out while trying to calm his raging nerves. Getting mad at Amara was what he couldn't do. Only her face was enough to wash off his worries and dissipate his anger for her or anyone. He had never known her to be defiant; it was as if he was seeing a whole new side of his precious daughter he didn't know of. After a while, Amara sighed. She clutched the pearl she had donned on her neck since birth and stared at her parents. "Father, mother," Amara said, getting their attention; she let out a deep breath and shook her head. She glimpsed the sadness in both her parents' eyes, and she believed the decision was hard on them as well. And maybe the constant yell from her was getting to them. "I know you are looking out for me, Dad, but I don't even know him. How about I choose for myself?" She reasoned, with a bright smile on her face. She didn't think arguing with her parents would make them see her points, and she didn't want to argue further, as well. With the constant yell from before, she was feeling like a brat and an entitled princess. And she wasn't any of them. "We don't want you to fall into the wrong hands, darling child." her father said. Amara nodded in agreement; they were indeed looking out for her. But she was upset with the decisions. It didn't seem like they'd change their mind about her marrying the ruler of the Northern waters, and annoying her parents further was the last thing she wanted to do. Amara knew despite the lovely smile on both faces, their patience was running thin. "How about I chose someone I feel is best for me and not who you both want? For all I know, he could be a sea monster or, worse, a cyclops." "Amara..." King Loral began, but she had already stalked off. He turned to his wife, "Did I say too much? Was I too hard on her? I feel like I went overboard and pushed her into doing what she didn't want." "You didn't." Queen Isla said. "Besides, she'd come around. I think she needs time to process all that is going on. And I'll talk to her later." She added, caressing his hand. "Please do." King Loral mumbled. "I don't know what I'd do if she rejected him. I don't think anyone is worthy of her except for him." Queen Isla nodded in agreement. "I believe she needs time to process it all; she'll come around." Moreover, she hoped she didn't meet anything awful out there as she was aware whenever Amara was furious, she'd go above the water to keep calm. Amara was their only child, and her life being in danger would definitely break them. Amara halted a few distances from the Crystal Palace. She glared at nothing in particular and clenched her hands. "What to do?" She asked herself, pacing. Perhaps running away would be the best, she mused. Amara furrowed her brows; she didn't know how she had thought of that, but it was a better idea than staying in the palace and watching her parents ruin her life. Her eyes flickered around, and she let out a groan before facepalming as she sighted her parents. They seemed even sadder than when she left them. Was she too harsh in her response to them? She wanted to run back and comfort them, and at the same time, she wanted to run away from the arrangement because she was certain they'd go on with it. Maybe escaping from here was the best choice...or give up the title of princess...