Finding a Resolution
Ian paced back and forth across the worn wooden floors of his small Seoul apartment. Briar sat on the corner of his bed staring blankly at a black spot on the opposite wall. She had done little more than stare for the last few weeks since the incident. She never wanted this, any of it. She had pined for Ian most of her life but when she realized she could never make him love her as he had his mate she knew there was no REAL future together. Being mate to Cariss’s heir had made her a social pariah. Nobody wanted to be around her unless they wanted something. Being his castoff, however, was even worse.
Pain clutched at Briar’s heart. Sure, she had done things she wasn’t proud of but she just couldn’t take it any longer. She couldn’t stand the hatred in some of the women’s eyes, but what was worse was the pity. The clan pitied her because she had proven herself so useless.
“Ian, I’m sorry,” she said when she finally spoke up.
Ian stopped pacing and leaned against the wall, covering the black spot she had so absently been staring at. “And?”
“I thought I could make you love me. I was wrong. What I don’t understand is how you could fall for her.” She found herself fixating on the face of the Dragon Elf Changeling. Alizeyah was infuriating with her treatment of Ian. She treated him like he was common. She abandoned him during this painful time of the year so that she could go support the North Pole. Then, there was Lord Hudraer. There was something there between them. She couldn’t see Hudraer swooping in to save a woman he wasn’t involved with. Either Alizeyah and he were seeing each other or she was a lot more important than Ian or anyone else was letting on.
“Who I see is none of your concern,” he answered.
“I am your mate. Like it or not, ANYONE you become involved with is MY business. Ever since your family was killed you have shirked your responsibilities to the clan. You must take responsibility, you must produce heirs.” Briar sprang to her feet and went to stand before Ian. “You would sacrifice everything for this woman?”
“I would gladly lay down my life or give up my claim as heir for her.” His tone was flat and it cut through Briar’s chest like a blade, causing her to gasp for air.
“But would you sacrifice the lives of your clansmen? Do you get that what’s at stake isn’t just your claim? It is the lives of your sisters, cousins and friends.” She pursed her lips.
Emotions flitted across Ian’s stoic face ranging from fear to rage then sorrow. “I can’t sentence othe’s to death for my own desires. Myself, yes, I can surrender myself.”
“Then you need to make the sacrifice and so does she if you want to keep your people safe. If you want me gone, then so be it. I will step down and face the shame but you will have to replace me with someone from the clan and produce an heir and prepare yourself to lead. Cariss is not as young as he once was. He will not bow down to the Dragons either. He has pride and meeting their terms would weaken the political position within the Darkling court.”
He nodded. “You’re right, but we need to keep our clans safe.”
“You and Lord Hudraer could duel. It would keep both clans out of the war. Name Alizeyah as one of the prizes?” Briar offered.
Ian laughed and the more startled Briar looked the harder he laughed. “That would never work.”
“Are you afraid of a Dragon Lord?” she asked, her voice edged in irritation.
Ian stopped laughing immediately in response to her accusation. “Afraid, of Hudraer? No. Afraid of Alizeyah if we told her she was the prize in a duel… VERY. I have little doubt that she would smite both Hue and myself just for thinking it. Not to mention she would put herself in harms way to try and prevent the duel.”
Briar scoffed. “I almost killed her,” she spat.
“Only because she didn’t fight back. She let you attack her. She thought I would be able to break your trance over me.” Ian’s voice had become deep and dark sounding, almost ominous.
“What if I challenged her to a duel since the fight was between she and I? Winner gets you? You would still need to produce an heir within the clan but it would at least prove her worthy enough to make Cariss back off.” Briar sank back down on the bed. “It wouldn’t even have to be to the death if you are set against me killing her.”
Ian quirked a brow, his doubt in her abilities against Alizeyah causing Briar’s hair to stand on end in annoyance. “It may be an option. I will discuss it with Hue and my father.”
“What? You’re not going to discuss it with her?”
“No, she engaged with you. It’s as much her fault. She will do what Hue tells her. Despite what she likes to tell herself, she is fiercely loyal to her nest.” Ian picked up the phone to make some needed phone calls.
