Mated By The Demon Collections: Paranormal Romance Read online

  “I have invited Liam tonight. I am going to make the announcement that you are going to spend some time visiting the other tribe, as a gesture of trust. I would appreciate it if you didn't make a scene.”

  “Father...” she said, unable to believe that he could do something like this. He turned his back and gazed at his throne.

  “I am sorry, but it is as I said, sometimes you have to do things that you do not wish to do. It is true for the both of us. I expect you to be at the celebration tonight, and when I announce the news I will need your support. You know I only have the best interests of this community at heart, please do not let you devotion to me waver now.”

  Allison looked at him and could barely believe that the man standing before her was her father. Her skin crawled at the thought of marrying the chief of the rival tribe, and she simply couldn't understand why her father was saying those things.

  “You may have the best interests of the community in mind but what about the best interests of your daughter? What about my happiness?” she said, her voice cracking with emotion, and she ran out of the chamber, leaving her father looking forlornly on.

  When Allison was outside tears began to sting her eyes and they glistened. She wiped her hands over her face and walked away, not in any particular direction, she just needed to walk to rid herself of some of the impotent anger she felt. She strode across the open space in the middle of the community and glowered. This time whenever anyone tried to speak to her she ignored them, or cut them off with a curt growl. She could feel the energy burn within her, and the rage sizzled inside. It was only halted when she met Mary-Margaret. The kindly old lady had finished teaching for the day, and invited Allison inside.

  “How could he do this to me?! After everything he's said about me being the love of his life and everything he does is to make me happy?” she cried. Mary-Margaret listened with a sympathetic ear, and when she spoke it was with the same soft, rolling tone that had lulled Allison to sleep when she was younger.

  “What is he trying to do child? Is this about the marriage?”

  “Yes, it is, has he spoke to you about any of this?”

  “Oh no, I'm just a simple old woman, the chief hasn't asked me for counsel for years. Those days are long behind me I'm afraid. I just stick to teaching now.”

  “I think he could use you. I think he's lost his mind.”

  “That's not a very nice thing to say about your father dear. He is a good man, and he's been through a lot.”

  “Maybe he's been through too much. Maybe this has all gotten to be too much for him.”

  “Why are you so opposed to being married off? Is it such a bad thought, to be part of something greater than yourself?”

  “I don't mind the idea of being married, I just don't want the choice made for me. I've half a mind to run away. I've always wanted to go and see the world, maybe this is my chance,” she said, even though she knew that she never would, because she could never leave her father. Mary-Margaret sighed and folded her hands in her lap.

  “It sounds to me like you are fighting something you have known to be true since your childhood. These are our ways and you should have made yourself used to them by now.”

  “But how can I be used to them? I don't feel ready to marry, I don't want to marry.”

  “Why not?”

  “It all feels so...real. When I was younger I used to hear stories about all the princes and princesses falling in love but I never liked those as much as the ones about the monsters and the wars. That was the life that I wanted, the life of an adventurer, someone who went out into the world and made a real difference, who experienced life the way it was meant to be lived, not stuck at home raising a family. I still feel like there's a lot I haven't done in life and marriage feels like a final commitment, like if I do it then I won't get to live my other life, the life I truly want.”

  “Marriage can be an adventure all by itself. And it's even better because you get a partner to ride with you through life, to take on all the challenges.”

  “Unless they get taken from you before their time.”

  “You're talking about your mother.”

  “Yes. Why love when there's a chance of you getting hurt? You know my father. You know he's never been the same since my mother died. Why would I want to risk becoming like that? It hardly seems worth it. Surely my father would have been better off if he and my mother had never met.”

  Mary-Margaret allowed herself a wry smile. “But then he wouldn't have you,” she said. Allison looked doubtful that that was a real concern. “And I'm sure if you asked him he wouldn't trade away one moment of his life with your mother, and if he had the chance to do it all over again he would.”

  “But why? What's so great about love?”

  “One day you will find out child, and then you'll understand,” she said.

  4

  When Allison left Mary-Margaret's school she felt soothed, although there was still a flicker of anger. She walked out of the encampment and went to a nearby brook that was her special place, a place she had always gone to whenever she needed to be alone. There were some animals that hopped and jumped about as the water babbled. She sat beside the edge and let her fingers linger in the crystal liquid, it was cold and clear, and when she drew her hand back out she watched the drops trickle down her hand. It was times like these that she was at her happiest for she could escape the demands of her life. Often she imagined what life would have been like had she not been the chieftain's daughter, and had been able to forge her own direction in life. Would she have been the adventurer like she hoped or would she just have been an ordinary person, pottering about?

  The more she thought about her father's request the more it angered her. While she was not familiar with Liam, she was repulsed by the idea of joining him in matrimony. All her life she had heard stories of the rival tribe and how they had pillaged her own, how they had stolen women and children and supplies, how the rivers had run red with blood. The battles had always been terrible affairs with many casualties on both sides, and the mutual hatred that existed between them seemed to perpetuate only because it had always existed. There was no reason why they hated each other, only the fact that the rivalry was embedded in their minds, yet still Allison was shackled by it as well, and the thought of living there and being with Liam was awful.

  As she looked out at the horizon she was genuinely tempted to run away and start a new life for herself, but she knew that if she did her father would die. He had already lost one woman he had loved, he wouldn't be able to survive if he lost another. So as the sun began to set Allison walked back home with a heavy heart, knowing that she wasn't going to be able to escape her destiny.

  When she got back home she heard the sounds of the celebrations in full swing. Everyone had gathered around the central fire and were laughing gleefully. It was a happy day for all concerned, apart from Allison. However, she knew how important it was for her father so she did her duty as needed. She greeted everyone with warm smiles and embraces, and welcomed their compliments when they told her that she had grown into a woman of which her father could be proud. Little did they know that he would only be proud of her if she went to sleep with the enemy, but she kept that to herself.

  Through the crowd she saw Monty, and decided to try and avoid him. Once upon a time he would have been the first person she turned to, the first one she confided in, but now things were different and she didn't know how she could ever tell him the truth. When she saw him make a move to come towards her she ducked and disappeared into the crowd, leaving their conversation for later. She made her way to the front where a long table had been set up, and her father was sitting at the head, with Donal by his side. As Allison approached she heard them talk about old times and the battles they had fought, and for a while Allison remained quiet, enjoying their old war stories. But eventually Donal noticed her presence and excused himself to give the father and daughter some time alone together.

  Allison
took her seat to her father's left, and the two of them looked out upon the crowd.

  “I am glad you decided to attend this party. I was half-afraid you were going to run off like you always dreamed of doing.”

  “I was tempted,” she said, and they both smiled a little.

  “I am glad you're here. And I'm sorry for what I am asking you to do. It is not easy but if you were in my position you would understand. Are you going to do what I ask?”

  “Do I have a choice?”

  “Please do not make this any more difficult than it has to be Allison.”

  She could sense another argument brewing so she exhaled deeply and collected her thoughts.

  “It's nice that everyone is here to celebrate your birthday. Are you afraid of what they're going to do when you announce the news?”

  “I am,” he said, and for the first time Allison realized the gravity of the situation, and how much it was going to affect the way the people looked at him. For so long he had been their perfect leader. They had had no reason to doubt him or distrust him, but with this announcement he was putting everything at risk and there was the potential for an uprising.

  “Why is this so important to you? Isn't it easy just to leave things the way they are?”

  “Not with what's coming. There's a storm brewing on the horizon Allison, and if we do not face it together we shall be torn apart.”

  Although there was a party occurring neither of them seemed in a good mood. They remained sitting in silence as the large fire flickered, bathing everyone in its warmth and casting everything in an orange glow. Allison looked at the feast before them and breathed in the heavy scents of cooked meat. Her eyes passed over the remains of the deer that she had killed earlier, saw people eating and chewing, and wondered if her life was just the same as that deer's, only to be in service of something more powerful than herself.

  “Is Liam here?” she asked, searching the crowd, loathe to admit that she was curious but a part of her couldn't help but wonder about the man she was apparently destined to marry.

  “No. But he will be,” her father replied. He leaned forward and rested his chin on his clenched fist, look solemn. As he did so a bouncing tune was struck up and everyone started to dance. Monty came up to the table and offered his hand, which Allison took, feeling as though she couldn't refuse. The two of them twirled around to the open floor and joined in the dance, their bodies moving together, so close that they could feel the heat from each other.

  “Is your father well? He looks miserable.”

  “I think he's just upset about turning another year older. I imagine he must miss his youth,” she replied, lying to her teeth. There was a time when Monty would have been able to see right through her lies but apparently those times had long passed. They danced in silence. Allison avoided looking into Monty's eyes, just in case he saw that something was amiss. They danced well but their faces were empty, devoid of smiles, and the tension still existed between them. The song was a jolly tune, the high-pitched whine of the bagpipes was accompanied by the rhythmic strum of a lute, and a chorus of voices occasionally joined in to sing.

  “There hasn't been a celebration like this for a long time,” Monty said.

  “No, I suppose there hasn't,” she said. They tried to talk about a few other things but every conversation they started felt like it was heading towards a dead-end, and the longer the dance went on the more awkward Allison felt. She wished that she could have escaped and left the dance floor, but she knew that Monty's pride was already wounded and didn't want to make it any worse. Eventually, however, Monty sighed heavily. She felt the his hands tense against her body and his rhythm slowed a little.

  “I feel I owe you an apology,” he began, “I realize that I have made things difficult between us and for that I am sorry. I don't know how it happened but one day I woke up and saw you in a different light. I know you do not feel the same way about me, and I shouldn't make you feel uncomfortable, it is just difficult to know what to do. When it comes to fighting and hunting those things come naturally to me, but matters of the heart are unclear. I ask for your forgiveness, and your patience, because I can't imagine a world in which we are not friends.”

  His words made Allison smile and she flung her arms around him in a tight embrace. They were exactly the words she needed to hear and she hoped that he truly meant them. For the first time in a while it felt like they were younger again, and could have shared any secret with each other no matter how big. Allison finally looked him in the eyes, and then he saw in them something that was wrong. They stopped dancing among everyone else and he asked her why she looked so upset, and she was about to tell her old friend everything when her father stood up and bellowed out to the crowd. Every pair of eyes turned towards him, and the crowd hushed. Allison gulped for it was soon time to reveal the truth and she was genuinely worried about how everyone was going to react. She left Monty's side and re-joined her father. The fire crackled and everyone waited in anticipation to see what their esteemed leader was going to say.

  Her father hugged Allison, eliciting a cheer from the crowd, and then he cleared his throat.

  “I thank you all for coming tonight. It means a lot to me that you can all share in my birthday celebrations. It has been a good life, not without its tragedy but all in all I am happy with my lot. Of course I wish that my dear wife, Allison's mother, could have been here today, and every day I mourn her, but I choose now to look to the future and at all the things the gods have bestowed upon me, like a fine community, and a daughter I love with all my heart,” at this he turned down to look and smile at her, and Allison felt the anger she had harbored earlier subside.

  “Being a father has been the greatest privilege I have had the honor to perform, and to see my daughter grow into a woman has been a wonderful journey. I have always wanted the best for her, and to leave her with a legacy that she can nurture herself. That is why I must speak about things that perhaps should have been left for a more serious time. I understand that you want to feast and dance and sing but there is something that has been weighing on my mind, and I must share it with you.”

  Allison watched the mood of the crowd suddenly shift into uneasiness, and she felt the fine hairs on the back of her neck stiffen, and a shiver ran along her spine.

  “We live in dangerous times and there is a world out there filled with mystery and things unknown. I have tried to protect you and it has not always been easy. We have suffered, and many of the people closest to us have died, but it is for them that I want to move forward and keep our tribe safe. You all know that in my spare time I have studied the nature of the world, and I have made a troubling discovery. There is a prophecy that appears in many tomes that tells of the second coming of a terrible wizard that will raise an army of the dead and wreak havoc across the land. It is said that the only way to defeat this wizard is through cooperation. At first I didn't believe it because it is not the first prophecy I have read, yet when I began to come across it in more and more books I felt a pain in my soul and I know this will come to pass. If we do not make changes to our way of life now we will not be prepared when it finally comes true, and I do not want this tribe to fall because we were so blind and so set in our ways that we could not adapt to the future. This ties in with Allison as well, for she has now become a woman and is at the right age to marry. I know that it is expected she would marry someone for this tribe, but I feel that another direction is in order.”

  Allison searched the crowd. Monty had made his way to the front and had stiffened when he heard those last words.

  “I have not been the only one to become aware of this prophecy. For the past few months I have been meeting with Liam to discuss it and we feel-” he tried to speak but at the mention of Liam there was great clamor, and everyone seemed to have something to say. Allison watched the crowd become more and more agitated, and her father had to yell at the top of his lungs in order to get them to listen again.

  “I know that
this seems strange and it did to me at first, but this prophecy is real, this disaster will happen if we do not do something now. I know that much blood has been spilled between our two people but we have to look at ourselves and ask why. We should try and forge a better future, one where our two peoples can work together and live in harmony, not descend into petty squabbles. I want a future where we don't have to worry about waging a war with our brethren. We will have other things to worry about, and the only way we're going to be able to stand a chance at survival is to work together and make allies out of those who were once enemies. I know it is not easy, which is why I have taken it upon myself to make the first gesture. I want my daughter to marry Liam, to unite our tribes and bring about a better future!”

  Allison didn't know what to expect, or what her father expected, but his words were met with a stunned silence. The people looking at him could barely believe their ears. Allison looked at them and back at her father, and she saw in his eyes the sense that he had failed.

  “You can't do this!” someone cried out. That led to other people yelling and crowing, and then suddenly everyone was shouting in protest, saying that there was no way they would stand by and let their ancestors be disrespected by making an alliance with the enemy. Donal walked to the front of the crowd and raised his hands to quiet them, before he turned to the chief.