Page 6 of The Eternal Choice
“Ernestino, a word,” Nario grits.
I look my brother’s way. “No. You’ve done enough interfering where you had no right to meddle in anything.”
He steps closer and hisses under his breath, “You’re the one who wanted this alliance. You said you’d be willing to do anything to make a truce between clans happen to end the bloodshed and hope for new life to grow our clan.”
Yes, because Tony is a sick fuck who slaughtered four of our clan members and trapped another two inside one of our mines. He is still holding the entrance to our mine, and the two men hostage as leverage.
“That was before,” I growl, and barely stop myself from voicing my mate’s name because she is none of their business. “Again, brother, you have no right to seal any deals or alter rules, or anything.”
The hatred he feels for me is clear in his eyes for a fragment of a second until it vanishes, leaving me to wonder if it was a figment of my imagination.
“You’re right, of course.” He gives a tight nod and steps back to lean against the wall.
“What’s the problem? You are the only candidate fitting for my daughter. This marriage would seal a solid alliance between our clans,” Tony says, his voice hard and completely lacking the satisfaction it held earlier.
I cross my arms in front of my chest. “There is no problem since I never offered myself as a candidate.”
“Nonsense,” Tony grits. “You are without a mate and have been clan leader for decades. You are the only one fitting to show others–”
I’ve heard enough of this bullshit. “As of today, I have a mate. Like I said, I was never a candidate and now never will be one.”
“No,” Naryssa snarls. “This can’t be.”
She gives her father a deadly glare and stomps my way. “There will be no deal unless we marry.”
I snort and dismiss her tantrum by directing my gaze at her father. “Pick someone else and we can still discuss our options for a truce.”
Naryssa shoves a finger against my shoulder. “No discussions, no new deals. I don’t care if you found a mate. Keep her on the side for all I care and if wonder strikes and she does give you a young, we will raise it as our own. This way we will rule and have an alliance of two strong clans. Business can continue as normal. I don’t have to remind you we have the upper hand here, do I?”
Gritting my teeth, I step around the bitch and face her father. “I have only one offer if you insist on an arranged marriage involving your daughter.”
The fucker greedily nods. “My brother will wed her. Nario. Leandro is an option as well if he chooses to be. But it certainly won’t be me.”
“No,” Naryssa snarls.
I keep my gaze pinned on Tony. “Is she clan leader or are you? This is the only option you have left.”
His mouth is set in a straight line. “Are you willing to sacrifice two others of your clan?”
“I am willing to sacrifice anything to save my clan,” I grit and point at his daughter. “Unlike you who lets himself lead by a power-hungry woman who has been around for a handful of decades.”
The woman stomps her heel on the ground. “Daddy,” she says in a tone of demand, frustration, and anger.
I give Tony a look as if to indicate his bitch of a daughter just made my point very clear.
“You will regret not complying to the deal that was already made,” Tony growls.
I raise one of my eyebrows. “No deal was made. Terms were agreed upon except for the names involved in the arranged marriage and foster part. You know damn well those deals are made by clan leaders only.”
His face turns thunderous. “This is not over yet. We stick to the terms and this means you will wed my daughter or you will receive the heads of your clan members.”
“You will do no such thing unless you’d want to experience the end of your clan,” I vow.
Tony snickers and gives me a condescending look. “We’ve been at war long enough for both of us to know sacrifices fall on each side and yet we’re both still standing. We can end this now if you wed my daughter because you can’t end us without sacrificing your own clan.”
I keep my calm and give the fucker a smile as I tell him, “You never did ask as to who my mate is, Tony. Or did you simply assume she was a dragon woman?”
He spits on the ground. “I don’t care who the cunt is. Like my daughter said, keep her on the side but Naryssa earns the title of becoming your wife.”
