He would not be happy, I thought. He would definitely not be happy when he finds out I caused that worry and panic, letting them think I was kidnapped out of nothing. It was out of everything, actually.. Because being with Christian meant everything to me. But I was afraid that my dad wouldn't quite understand that.. And it wasn't just paranoia. Not only that he wouldn't have understanding, but he would have a great reason to start a war. However, he lied too. He hid that I had a sister my whole life.. And I wondered if even my mother knew.. Marco and Jack didn't for sure.. I pulled away and still somehow didn't have the courage to look him in the eyes. Thankfully, my mother showed up from behind and I was pulled into another hug. I heard her mumble some words of relief, feeling her short blonde hair in my face when she hugged me, and the familiar scent of sweet perfume dominated.. I missed her too, no matter the things she said.. I missed the hugs, the way she told me to act ladylike, the way she always tried convincing her ways were the best ways, even though sometimes they were simply not the best choice.. Like that marriage with Alexander that I knew they would bring up soon. After greeting Marco and Jack too, being squeezed and hugged by my big baby brothers, we went inside and I still hadn't said a word. I was waiting for Alexander to show up, just like he did the last time I returned home. But he didn't. My parents didn't ask me how I returned alone.. They didn't ask me anything other than repeating the same question, if I was alrighty. And there were many questions I wanted to be asked, just so I could answer following the plan we made. I wanted them to ask me what happened just so I could say that no one hurt me. I wanted to tell my father I knew about Amelia too.. I just- I wanted to say everything at once. But I simply couldn't find my voice yet. I kept thinking if Alexander said something.. He was the one that basically help be captive, and once I ran from him, maybe it meant that the deal was off.. Maybe he had already said everything to my father.. Although I doubted my dad would act so calmly if he knew I was with Christian willingly. My mom did the thing she was best at, bombarding me with questions as she held my hand.. My father sat on the couch across and listened carefully. "You- you're okay.. Are you sure you are? What did they do to you?" "Nothing, mom," I repeated for the third time since I walked in, feeling her pull me in a hug. "No one touched me.." "For God's sake, did you run? Did you escape?" Her voice was filled with panic. I glanced at my dad.. He was listening intently and keeping his silence. "No, no, it's good.. It's good that you did.. You're not hurt, are you? Did they hurt you?" "No." I bit down on my lip.. I knew how to answer this, I just- it would be lying.. And the words were stuck in my throat. "They, um- they held me locked in a room the whole time.. No one hurt me. And no, mom, I didn't run. They let me go." "What?" My father interrupted, making me look at him and see that frowned expression that scared everyone off usually.. I saw the anger behind his eyes. The simple though of me taken by the Le Boursiers obviously made him furious.. "They let me go." I repeated almost too quietly. "I was blindfolded for the time they drove somewhere.. Their people left me on the road, near Moondale. And again, no they didn't hurt me." I stopped, looking my father in the eyes and feeling my bones freeze by the look behind his.. "They mentioned something about just sending a message." I spoke clearly.. I knew what I had to say, even though that wasn't what I wanted to say.. Christian thought it was best if we continued with the kidnapped story for a while, until I mention Amelia and the necklace. I hated having to lie that I was blindfolded and left on a road, but was what he wanted me to say.. I would've much rather said what Alexander did and how he threatened, but Christian was simply certain in himself and told me that he would handle the rest. My job was to simply say those words.. The surprise on their faces was clear. "What kind of message?" Jack asked before anyone could, and again, I locked gazes with my father to try and read his expression.. Sadly, I couldn't. "I'd rather discuss that with dad alone first." And hundreds of other things, I thought. "Where's Alexander?" I didn't take my eyes off my father's, and the harshness in my tone proved that no, I was still not going to agree to that whole marriage arrangement. Of course not.. Alexander threatened me on top of everything.. And I would've definitely considered telling my dad all of that Alexander didn't know the things hat he did. If my father was finding out about Christian and I, it was going to be from me.. So I kept my mouth shut about Alexander's letter and about everything that he said back in his house. He was the only guilty on in the whole situation. My parents were just too blind to see that. "He has his people searching for you. He said he had tracks of vampires a little out of Moondale yesterday. Your ather sent some of ours there too. Your uncle too.." My mother answered, and the simple mention of my uncle seemed to cause my stomach to turn. He out of all people was the sliest, and thinking that he might know something about where I was and with who I was, shook my bones. The man had people everywhere.. I didn't know they included him in the whole search party. "I think Lana needs rest firstly." That line was very much familiar to me, as for my father had always said that after each and every one of our trainings. "We'll discuss everything later.." he rose to his feet, still seeming restless, worried, scanning my face a few times before he rose his finger. "Listen, if someone hurt you, and you're scared to tell me-"