Chapter Two (part 10)

Dymetri stood staring at his father who sat behind a cherry oak desk covered in neat stacks of parchment. Jarel stared back, his face blank.

When he spoke, Jarel's voice was bored. "What do you want?"

Dymetri scowled. "I want Danalia gone." He hissed out, his teeth clenched.

The king's face never betrayed a single emotion. "That is impossible to do right now. Her and her family would end up comming down for the Ball anyways. Why send them away now? Plus I enjoy her parent's company." A flicker of amusment crossed Jarel's features at Dymetri's low growl.

"If you wont send them all away now, I'll throw Danalia in the dungeon." His threat held a promise, one that he couldnt keep.

"You'll do no such thing. They are guests in our castle and will be treated as such."

"Danalia ordered Echo to be thrown in the dungeon just now. I'm not about to have the lo--..Echo thrown into the dungeons."

"Danalia is a Princess. She has every right to give out orders. This girl.." He smirked. "Echo, she is mearly a guest who will be gone before the Ball is here." Jarel gave the order. "To..preserve the peace between you and your fiance."

Dymetri had enough. "She isnt my FIANCE. Will you stop calling her that." And then he mumbled something incoherent, rage gone, and flushed.

"What was that?" The King chuckled.

"I was going to ask Echo to be my bride...just before the Ball." He flushed deeper. "I know it's sudden, and there's a chance of her saying no until later. But I know she's the one I have to marry. The one I love...." He trailed off. In the end Dymetri was talking more to himself than to his father.

"Aaaaaahh." Jarel sighed. "Love. It's a funny thing love." He gave a dark smile. "But love does not come before orders. You are to marry a princess. Not some human girl you picked up out in the middle of nowhere bruised, beaten, and bleeding."

"Mother told you about that?" Dymetri tried to hide his snarl.

"No. But as King, you do tend to pick up on things quickly." He smiled again, laughing internally at his son's anger.

"Marry a princess, son. I will hear of nothing else. Now leave." He waved Dymetri into dismisal.