Chapter 69 THE CRUSHING WEIGHT OF ONE'S MEDDLING
CORMAC.
AGE 15 AND HALF
Day bled into night, and I was standing with Valtor, grilling some barbecue for dinner.
We turned the pieces over, burning our fingers in the process while Merrielynn and Lorelai were throwing all kinds of jabs at us.
“Do you guys even know how to cook?” Merrielynn called out, her grin wide as if she was about to crack up. “I mean, you two seem to be having a hard time and it’s just barbecue, not rocket science!”
“I think Valtor’s grilling his fingers too!” Lorelai suddenly shouted, pointing at Valtor, who jumped in fright, causing everyone to burst into laughter.
“Haha. Very funny,” Valtor replied, hands on his waist, once he realized Lor was just messing with him.
I took the grill tongs from Valtor, determined to show the girls that we weren’t so clueless. I bent over to examine our meal, checking to see if it was already done. When I lifted my gaze, I caught sight of Merrielynn staring at me, a small smile playing on her lips.
“Now that Cormac has taken over, I’m afraid we’re going to eat ash for dinner,” my sister said, sending everyone into another round of laughter.
I shot her a smirk back. “Come on, I’ve seen enough cooking shows to nail this. Just wait and see!”
Lor was laughing so hard at this point. “Yeah, right! Last time I checked, you almost burned water.”
“That’s not true,” I said, rolling my eyes while I plated the barbecues. “At least I’m not the one who set off the smoke alarm last time,” I shot back.
“So everyone’s terrible at cooking,” Merrielynn laughed.
“I think it requires special skills,” Valtor said with a sigh as he joined the rest of us. “Cooking is a superpower.”
Once we finished eating, the fun started to fade, and we packed everything up. I tossed the last empty plate into the cooler and turned to Valtor. “Not a bad dinner, right?”
“Not bad at all,” he said with a nod, looking over at the girls who simply shrugged, not wanting to admit that the barbecue came out great.
As we headed inside, I could still hear Merrielynn and lor giggling behind us. Valtor was talking to me but my mind was completely distracted. I couldn't shake off the memory of that fleeting kiss with Merrielynn. It haunted me, replaying in my mind like a broken record.
So, when I finally got the chance, I found her alone in the house and cornered her.
“Cor—” she gasped but I leaned in and kissed her again, this time way more passionately.
But just as I was getting lost in it, she pulled away, laughing. “You kiss like a rabid dog!” she teased. “You don’t have to worry, I’m not going anywhere.”
“Promise?” I asked, my heart racing as I continued to stare at her lips.
She nodded, and we found eachothers mouths again, lost in the moment, until suddenly,Lorelai interrupted us.
“Ahhh!” she yelled, covering her eyes and sprinting away, chanting, “I didn’t see anything!”
Merrielynn’s face turned beet red, mortified, while I couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, at least we know she’s not a fan of our romance,” I joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Merrielynn shot me a playful glare, but I could see the hint of a smile creeping back to her face.
\-x-x-
The next day arrived and we were all ready to leave.
We were gathered outside, chatting and joking, when our drivers arrived.
Then suddenly, a sleek black car pulled up behind and I squinted, recognizing it instantly.
My father.
“What’s he doing here?” I muttered under my breath, my stomach twisting into knots. I had expected a driver, not the man himself.
“Uh oh,” Lorelai said as she turned to look at me. I bet she could also smell the trouble in the air.
Father stepped out, his expression as no-nonsense as always, and strode toward me.
“I’m taking you home,” he stated flatly, leaving no room for argument. I opened my mouth to protest, but the look on his face silenced me. “Lorelai, you can go with the driver,” he added, turning around with the confidence that i'd be right behind him.
I gritted my teeth as I followed him to the car.
The ride with my father was quiet with tension.
I stared out the window, watching the scenery blur by, trying to block out the discomfort of being trapped in the car with him. Just when I thought the silence would stretch on forever, he broke it.
“I’ve noticed how close you’ve gotten with the Fortner girl,” he said in a most casual tone and I tensed immediately, a knot forming in my throat.
Why was he bringing her up? I didn't want to hear her name coming from him.
“I’m not opposed to your union,” father continued, and I could feel my agitation rising. “In fact, I think it could be beneficial.”
“Beneficial?” I echoed, incredulous.
He glanced at me, “Merrielynn might need some… finishing touches before she’s ready to be your betrothed,” he suggested. “But it’s not impossible. You’ve got a good eye for these things.”
I clenched my fists in frustration as I tried not to glare at him. ‘She’s not some project to be worked on,' I wanted to say but I swallowed my own words.
My father raised an eyebrow. “Just remember, son, it’s important to shape the future you want. And if you’re serious about her, you’ll want to make sure she’s ready for the role.”
I stayed quiet, realizing this was the real reason my father wanted to take me home.
Clenching my fists, I fought to remain silent, not trusting myself to respond.
I liked Merrielynn just the way she was—free-spirited and unrefined—not the polished, proper version my father envisioned.
The rest of the ride was filled with a heavy silence, my thoughts racing as I tried to process his words.
I couldn’t shake off the feeling that he was crossing a line, and I wasn’t sure how to stand my ground without saying the wrong things.
All the excitement from the vacation instantly disappeared now that I was reminded of my status as the prince of the realm, the son of the Lycan King Killian Graves.
And that came with responsibilities that felt suffocating.
Too suffocating.