Chapter 105 EVER AUDACIOUS
CORMAC.
AGE 16
The very morning after leaving Otto’s house, I stormed into the palace, not caring who saw me or tried to stop me.
All I could still see was red.
An angry, boiling haze I’d been lost in since last night.
The only reason I hadn’t come here right after my conversation with Merrielynn’s father was because my father had been away on business.
He came back this morning.
And I wasted no second.
My head was buzzing; the conversation with Merrielynn’s father kept replaying in my head over and over again.
I didn’t stop to acknowledge anyone who tried to talk to me or even those who offered greetings. Although they didn’t put their hands on me, the guards, with many attempts, tried to halt my approach to the second floor, where my father’s office was.
But I knew everything about me today was murderous.
My expression.
My mood.
Just like my goddessdamned words were about to be.
I just kept walking straight up the stairs, and the moment I hit the second floor, I pushed open my father’s office door without knocking.
Startled, the secretary gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock and surprise, but I didn’t care. Neither did I pay her any mind.
I turned my attention to the man I came here for—my father, who was sitting at his desk with his usual calm demeanor potent on his features.
There were two people sitting across from him, maybe clients, maybe high-rankers from one of the packs we ruled, but I didn’t even look at them.
I walked right up to the table, slapped my hands down hard on the wooden surface, and seethed, “How dare you?”
My father didn’t flinch.
After a moment of studying me, he lifted his hand and waved the people present out of the room.
At least he was capable of understanding he needed privacy to deal with me.
Especially today.
He stood up gracefully and walked over to the small bar by the opposite side of the large space and poured himself a drink like I hadn’t just walked in here pissed everyone the hell off.
I watched him take a slow sip, and I couldn’t hold back anymore. “What made you think you could go behind my back and talk to Merrielynn’s father about things that aren’t your concern?” I was breathing hard now, and my voice only grew louder with every word. “You think you can just throw this all on me? A merger between our families is your idea, not mine. Yet you went to him, trying to make me the mastermind?”
The old geezer didn’t say anything for a long moment. He just stood there, looking at me with that stupidly calm expression.
My father finally raised a brow. “So you’d rather not marry the girl?” he asked.
His words caught me off guard, and I hesitated for a second, hating that silly smile that was creeping up his lips.
What was so funny?
His twisted amusement made me grind my teeth.
“I never planned on doing things like this,” I shot back through clenched teeth. Going about things like this didn’t feel real. The way he was setting it up—it felt like a transaction, something to be ticked off a list. Certainly not something I wanted. And it felt like it wasn’t my decision anymore when my father had already planned out everything, and I hated that.
He walked back to his huge chair and pushed it back before sitting. Without taking his eyes away from me, he leaned back with his glass of drink still in hand.
His voice stayed smooth, like it always did when he was in control.
Which was, again, fucking always.
“It’ll all go according to plan,” he finally deigned to say. “All you need to do is keep your mouth shut and let me handle it.”
I frowned at him, fighting the anger crawling up my throat.
He didn’t get it. He thought he knew everything, but this wasn’t just about him running the show. This was my life!
But there was no point arguing with Killian Graves. A master puppeteer like him thought he was always right.
Without another word, I turned around and stormed out of the room.
I didn’t know how to deal with any more of this alone, so I called Valtor. Told him to meet me at home.
Once I was there, I drowned the frustration with a drink. The burn in my throat did nothing to take the edge off, but at least it numbed the rage.
My mother would kill me if she knew I was going through Dad’s home stash.
“This isn’t what I want, Valtor,” I started, glaring at the wall as I remembered my father’s smug smile. “My dad likes to set things up, and he’s making it seem like I don’t have a choice. But really, he’s not going to spare my personal life either?”
Valtor was seated beside me, watching me closely, probably trying to figure out what to say.
“I don’t know what to do,” I muttered, running my fingers through my hair. “I can’t just let him control my life like this. Even if I wanted to be with Merrielynn, it shouldn’t be like this. Do you understand?”
Valtor didn’t hesitate when he replied to me. “Look, Cormac,” he began, “If you want me to be blunt, then what I believe is that if you really want to save Mere from this mess—if you truly want to protect her from the royal family, I suggest you stop showing interest in her. Or better yet, start showing interest in someone else. Make it clear to your father that you’ve moved on. He won’t have a reason to push it if he thinks it’s no longer important to you. Or if he knows you won’t make it easier for him by pining after her all the time.”
He shrugged after saying that, as if to say, ‘Take it or leave it.’
But the words felt like a rusted knife straight to my heart.
Listening to Valtor’s words, I realized he made a lot of sense, but my gut twisted. I wished I could argue and tell him his suggestion was a bad idea and that there had to be another way, but no.
I knew he was right.
And that’s one reason I appreciated having him around. Valtor always knew how to cut through the nonsense.
Regardless of how it made me feel.
I swallowed hard, trying to push my worries aside.
But it didn’t work.
The simple thought of stepping away from Merrielynn or ending things haunted me.
But… it seemed I had no other choice.