Marked By The Demon Lycan King

Nine

ADRIA

.

"Where am I?" Aria's voice sprang through from the other side of the bedroom. Adria threw her an empathetic look and focused on the book at hand.

The fact that she had past out since last night till this morning was something that she couldn't understand. Aria was always able to curb her alcohol so what exactly had happened to her last night?

"My room?" She looked around bewildered "How did I end up here?"

Adria scoffed in disbelief. She couldn't believe that her sister didn't remember putting her through hell last night or did she suddenly have selective amnesia?

"How are you feeling now?" She discarded the books and walked towards her bed. "Do you feel strange?"

"I feel a lot better but I don't remember coming back home last night."

"Just like how you don't remember having s*x with a random stranger at the bar but hey, who am I to complain?" She mocked sarcastically.

"What about you?" Aria pushed out the covers and straightened herself on the bed "Don't tell me that you didn't enjoy your first night out of this pack? Don't tell me you just sat the night without doing anything."

She paused briefly "I did do something. I babysat you so yes, you're welcome."

Aria rolled her eyes "You really will die lonely. I'm so glad that I am nothing like you. We might have the same face but we really are different from each other."

Adria clapped her hands incredulously "Congratulations for finally figuring it out. I just saved your ass. Do you have any idea what would've happened to us if father had figured out that we were gone? I risked my life to save you and this is all you have to say to me? Not even a single apology? Nothing?"

Aria hissed nonchalantly and tucked her stray strands behind her ears "And whose idea was it to follow me all the way over there? I never asked you to do it or did I? You went there all on your own so don't you dare try to pin the fact that your life was in danger because of me."

"You're so—"

"I'm so what?" She challenged "Go ahead and say it Adria. Go ahead and tell me how childish I am and how embarrassed you are of me because I refused to be miss goody two shoes just like you. Go ahead to insult me because you think that you're so better than me. Go on Adria, tell me how much of a fool I am and how messed up my life is."

"Don't put words into my mouth Aria." She warned her sternly.

"But you thought about it didn't you?" She countered "You know what Adria? I am happy, so happy that I didn't end up like you. I am so happy that I'm not a shadow of myself and unlike you, I am extremely happy that at least I have a life." She brushed past her and stormed into the bathroom.

Adria breathed out heavily. The last thing she wanted was to fight with her twin. She knew that Aria had a lot of difficulty growing up especially after they lost their parents but she only wished that she would open up about her emotions more and stay out of trouble.

It wasn't her intention to get her upset but she was also a victim. She was attacked by strange men and to top it off, her wolf had gone restless, and all of this happened in one night. Why couldn't her sister understand that her actions also had a way of affecting her as well.

Frustrated, Adria made her way outside her bedroom towards the garden.

Soon enough, she heard the rustling of leaves and her wolf picked up a familiar scent which indicated that someone was behind her.

She turned around to see Declan watching her.

"When did you get here? And how did you know where to find me?" She questioned and he only smiled.

"I've known you ever since we were growing up Adria. This is where you come when you're bothered or worried about something. You always mentioned how your mother's garden gave you peace." He explained and she lets out an exasperated sigh.

She wasn't surprised that he knew so much about her. He had basically grown up with them.

"What's wrong and why are you sulking?"

"It's Aria isn't it?" He asked knowingly when she didn't respond.

"I love her so much Declan but sometimes, I just wish that she listens more. She's always so hotheaded and stubborn that she makes it so hard for me to reach out to her." Her voice cracked, reflecting the pain she felt inside.

"Aria is who is she Adria and sadly you cannot change her even if you try. She has always been different right from childhood and it will remain so."

"I understand Declan but I wished she opened more and communicates her feelings better with me. Most times, I feel as if I don't even know her anymore. She feels so distant and whenever I try to talk to her about it, she gets upset and shuts me out." she pointed out her worries to him.

"We can only hope for the best Adria, that's all I can say." He blurted out, his hands folded in front of him as she stared down at the flowers.

"Thank you for always listening Declan." She whispered in a soft voice. "You're always here when I need you."

"Hmmm" He hummed In response and glanced at her briefly. "Also did you enjoy your night out with Aria?"

"I wish" Came her stiff reply. She badly wanted to talk to someone about what had happened to her yesterday but she couldn't and for what is worse, she'd only be putting herself in more danger should in case her father finds out about the fact that she was attacked.

Not to mention that her she felt strange and that her wolf suddenly came alive when she made contact with the strange man that rescued her and the fact that she knew nothing about him was slowly eating at her.

The hell!

"By the way..." She trailed off, completely changing the subject "Why are you even here in the first place?"

He coughed "Actually, your father asked me to send for you. He wants to discuss something quite urgent with you."

She panicked. Fear and terror flashed through her eyes in a split second "Is it about yesterday? Did he manage to figure out that we weren't at home? Is that it?" The words rolled out her mouth before she could stop them.

"Calm down Adria." He whispered soothingly "I can assure you that it's far from it. Your father doesn't even know about your escapades last night and even if he did, he'd probably decided to stay quiet about it. It's not something that anyone would be proud of in the first place."

She eyed him suspiciously and he suddenly became serious.

"And no, I never mentioned a word to your father. I gave you my word and I stood by it" He added in his defense.

"Then why is he suddenly calling for me?"

"I'd suggest that you go there and find out yourself." He said to her and she nodded slowly.

"Where is he?"

"In the courtroom, waiting for you." He answered sharply.

"Thank you again Declan. I will definitely talk to you soon." She gave him a curt nod before walking out of his presence.

Adria passed through her bedroom in hopes of getting a quick glimpse at her sister but she didn't. Was she still mad at her? She was the one who had lashed out on her so why was she still upset?

Anyways, she decided to talk to her later after the discussion she had with her father.

Taking the route that led to the main entrance of the courtroom, she walked down the stairs and took steady strides till she arrived at the place where her father was supposed to be.

"Father?" She beckoned and he replied by asking her to come inside which she did so immediately.

"You sent for me?" She questioned when she got closer to the throne like chair where he sat.

"Yes I did." He admitted, releasing his hands from his chin "Did you sleep well?"

She nodded "Yes I did."

"And your sister?" He eyed her curiously. She gulped in fear. Why the many questions? Did he probably figure out her secret?

"Aria is fine father. She's up in her bedroom."

He sighed deeply and that was when she noticed the worried look he had on his face. The wrinked lines on his forehead almost visible.

"Is everything okay father? You looked stressed?"

"Everything will be okay if it goes according to plan." He answered, leaving her more confused. Why was he suddenly speaking in parables? She wasn't used to the side of him.

"I don't understand anything father. What exactly do you mean?" She pressed on.

Straightening himself on his chair, he started "Yesterday, I received a letter concerning a marriage proposal between your sister and the Lycan king of the Zivando's household."

Adria's eyes widened in shock. She had heard stories about him. He was known as a tyrant and one of the most feared rulers of the land. She hadn't met him in person though, only rumours which had been justified to be true.

"And?" She asked, fear gripping her on both sides.

"I have accepted the alliance. I want your sister to get married to him." He stated firmly in a voice that told her that he truly meant everything he had just said.