Theirs to Protect

Chapter One

Chapter 1:

Le’Andra stomped into her father’s grand study. She was mad, and she wasn’t going to take this lying down. He thought he could marry her off. And to a werewolf, no less. She didn’t think so. The King wasn’t aware that Le’Andra knew of his horrid plan. She had only figured it out this morning when the Werewolf King arrived at the palace. Her father had been secretive and withdrawn lately, and Le’Andra knew he was worried about her upcoming 21st birthday. It was a stupid rule that all Fae women, especially the Princess, had to be married by their 21st birthday. Even knowing all of that, Le’Andra shoved open the door to the study, bursting into the massive room like she had fire boiling inside of her. She ignored the wall-to-wall shelves that held the tales of Fae history. The grandeur of the furniture and fixtures was not even noticed. And as she walked across the lush oriental rug, her feet didn’t register the softness under her slippers. Her body shook as she approached the massive desk that King Phillip sat behind. “Father, what in the world are you thinking?” She was practically leaning over the desk. “You cannot seriously expect me to marry a werewolf. And don’t even try to lie, I know you met King Nathan. I am not dumb. You would only meet with the Werewolf King this close to my birthday for one reason. You want me to marry the werewolf prince. Well, I won’t do it. I refuse.” For emphasis, Le’Andra stamped her foot and crossed her arms. As usual, the effect wasn’t as intimidating as she wanted. Her red curls waved around her head, and the fact that she was only five feet two made her seem like a child throwing a tantrum. Her father regarded her with kind eyes that matched her green ones. He half smiled as he set down the ledger he’d been looking over when she burst into the room. “My darling, I am aware that you are not ‘dumb’, which is why my meeting with Nathan this morning was necessary. You are coming of age and will have to wed. There is no Fae worthy of you, and the werewolves are interested in an alliance. I believe that it is in your best interest to marry. And Le’Andra, this is one of the times that you don’t get to argue. You will be married.” His tone became stern as he finished. This was not happening, she thought. Le’Andra had to make him understand. She didn’t want to marry a werewolf. She hadn’t met anyone she wanted to marry. And she didn’t know why it was so important that she get married. She could rule just fine on her own. She understood the politics of royalty and trained with her father’s right hand to protect herself. The married by 21 fixation was outdated and shouldn’t apply. So, she told her father all of this. He didn’t bat an eye as she ran out of breath trying to say anything that would change his mind. When she finally stopped, she was deflated. King Phillip stood from his royal chair and came around the desk to stand before her, “Daughter, this is the way. We do not get to change the rules just because you don’t want to do your duty. You will get married, and the wedding is in a week. Werewolves do things differently, so you must keep an open mind.” “A week away! How do you expect me to be married in a week?” Le’Andra sank into the blue settee across the room. Her favorite seat. When she was younger and learning Fae history, she spent hours on this settee reading history books and asking her father questions. Part of her life has been in this study with her father. How could he do this to her now? Her father looked at her thoughtfully. She couldn’t think of a good reason not to marry. She had always known that she probably would not have a love match. There were no eligible Faemen to match with. The great war that happened before Le’Andra was born had done serious damage to the Fae population. There were just no royal Faeman who were of marrying age. She considered all of her options one more time. There were none. If her father said she had to marry, she had no choice. “But Father, I don’t want to marry at all, much less a wolf. I’ve never even met a werewolf in person. What if he’s scary or a brute?” Her father chuckled. He didn’t laugh like he was amused; he laughed like he had a secret. “Oh, my love, you will be happy, I know for a fact that Nathan and Maria made beautiful children.” Le’Andra had to try again, “Father, I don’t want to marry the wolf prince.” She could have sworn that her father’s smile would have been sinister if she hadn’t been sure he loved her. “Dear, you will not marry the werewolf prince, you will marry the werewolf princes…” With that bomb dropped, he reached out to take Le’Andra’s hand. He pulled her up from her seat and patted her on the head. Le’Andra didn’t speak. She was in shock. “Did you just say I am marrying ‘princes? As in plural? What the, what do you mean, princes? How could I marry two? The King chuckled again. “I told you to keep an open mind. Wolves believe that twins share a mate, and the werewolf princes are in fact twins.” Le’Andra felt the blood drain from her face. She would not faint. She was not the type of female who fainted, but if she were, now would be the time. She took small steps towards the door, guided by her father. “Now, dear, you must go prepare. There is a lot of packing to do, and you will also need to meet with the seamstress for a wedding dress. This will be a grand wedding, so be sure to pick something fitting.” With that, he shoved Le’Andra into the corridor and shut the door behind her.