The message
619 Words
The words hit harder than any slap. My mother doesn’t contradict him. Ravessa sits nearby, pretending to look fragile and wounded, but her eyes are bright with satisfaction.
My father continues, pacing once before turning back to me. “The king sent a message this morning. A message I was going to return with a decline, but after these events and temper tantrums, I’ve changed my mind.”
I feel my stomach drop. “What message?”
He lifts his chin, proud of something he shouldn’t be proud of. “The king is looking for a breeder.”
Shock ripples through me so fast I can’t breathe. A breeder. Not a mate. Not a lady of a household. A womb. A tool.
My father doesn’t notice my reaction. He’s too busy reveling in the opportunity. “Apparently the lords want him to have an heir. Since he hasn’t found a mate, he wants a breeder. The breeder and the breeder’s family will be given land and titles. If successful, the breeder’s family will become a lord.”
No way he was going to turn that down. This has nothing to do with my supposed tantrums. I know it. He knows it. He just wants the rank.
“I’m sending him a message that we’re offering our eldest daughter.”
“What?” My voice cracks. “You can’t. No mate will ever want me if I’m a breeder.”
“You’ll stay on as his heir’s caretaker and raise his heirs. It’s a job that’ll last your lifetime. Your children could be the next king of dragons. And it’s not up for discussion.” His eyes narrow. “If the king chooses you, you’ll go, and you’d better hope he does. Now go to your room and stay away from anything wedding related.”
I stand there for a moment, unable to move, unable to speak. Ravessa watches me with a smile she doesn’t bother hiding. My mother won’t meet my eyes. My father gestures sharply toward the stairs.
I turn and walk away, feeling like the ground under me is shifting again, but this time there’s nothing left to catch me.
I stay in my room the rest of the day. Jessa sits with me, trying to make the air feel less heavy. She braids and unbraids her hair, a nervous habit she’s had since childhood.
“It wouldn’t be so bad,” she says softly. “Living in the castle. I heard he’s handsome and easy to look at.”
How could I complain to her, someone who’ll never have a mate, never have a family, never be anything more than what the test decided she was? I swallow hard.
“I guess,” I say.
We stay in my room for the rest of the day. She brings dinner to me, even though she’s not supposed to. I eat only a little. My stomach feels too tight for anything more.
The next morning, I hear my father call up the stairs, sharp and commanding. “Valestra. Breakfast. Now.”
I force myself up, dress, and walk down the steps. My mother and father are already seated at the table, smiling like they’ve won something. Ravessa sits beside them, smirking like she’s waiting to watch me fall apart.
“What is it?” I ask.
My father leans back, satisfied. “The king has returned our message, and he’s chosen you.”
The world seems to tilt. My breath catches. Ravessa’s smirk widens. My mother clasps her hands together like she’s witnessing a miracle.
Chosen. Not as a mate. Not as a lady. Not as anything honorable.
Chosen as a breeder.
And now my fate is sealed.
- Writer
