10. Rulers and decorum

“Uh, I was just having breakfast…” I laughed nervously, not knowing what else I was supposed to do.

Damen shook his head and turned to his father, apologetically, “Lilith is a human. Please excuse her behavior. She is not used to our lifestyle yet.”

My features contorted into that of confusion, “um, what does my having breakfast have to do with me being a human? And, why should my behavior be excused?”

“You are right, there’s nothing wrong with your behavior to be excused,” Damen’s father spoke this time, his voice deadly and powerful, “your behavior should be punished!”

Damen swore under his breath, and then, sighed, “Here we go again.”

“Okay, what the hell?!” I exclaimed, tossing my remaining granola bar on the table, “aren’t the two of you being dramatic right now? I was just having breakfast, geez. Why would you punish me for that?”

“This is not the way you will act in front of me, young lady,” Damen’s father said sternly, “you are not allowed to eat in my presence.”

I rolled my eyes, “And, you think I care? Next, you will say that I am not allowed to breathe in your presence. And, you expect me to listen to such ridiculous demands?”

“Lilith,” Damen said warningly, before turning to his father, “Father, Lilith is a bit-”

“Bratty,” his father completed for him, “I already ran a background check on her, and the reports have shown that she was a big troublemaker in her school as well as her home.”

My eyes widened, “You what?! Did you really invade my privacy like that?”

I knew something was wrong with this old man, but, I never thought he would have gone to this extent. What the actual-

“Father, that is wrong,” Damen frowned, “you didn’t have the right to do that.”

For once, I agreed with Damen. This old man was completely nuts. Okay, fine, maybe, I was a bit bratty and had some attitude problem but that was only because he provoked me. No one was allowed to come between me and my food. Not even the ruler of the night court himself. And, the fact that he stalked me, wasn’t helping me keep my temper in check.

“Damen,” the old man finally turned away from me, “tame her or we will have a huge problem.”

And, with that he turned around and left. My jaw dropped in shock. It took me a few seconds to regain back my senses and realize the implication of his words.

“What did he say?!” I fumed, “do I look like some pet to him that can be tamed? How dare he?!”

I was about to go after the old man, but, Damen caught me by my shoulders, making me stop in my tracks.

“Get used to it, Lilith,” he said, seriously, “that is the way he behaves all the time. He is a ruler, and he has to maintain a decorum. Please try to understand.”

I pouted, retracting a step so that I could look up properly into Damen’s eyes, “When you take the crown, will you become like that?”

He gave me an amused look, “Maybe.”

My face fell at that, but, then, he leaned down to whisper in my ear, “But, only when it comes to others. Not with you.”

I shivered despite myself, and stuttered nervously, “T-That’s w-wrong. You are n-not allowed t-to play f-favorites.”

He shrugged, “I am and I will. My favorite girl deserves a special treatment.”

“Really?” my face brightened, when a thought occurred to me, “so, may I excused from the training?”

“No.” he replied drily.

Well, you can’t blame a girl for trying…

***

“Yes Lilith!”

“Go Lilith!”

“You are doing great, Lilith!”

From my awkward position, I shot daggers at Trent and Clint, hoping the ground would open and swallow them up.

I was doing pushups and sweating like a pig while those two jerks were stuffing their mouth with popcorn, enjoying my predicament.

“Just let me get over with this,” I panted, wiping the sweat on my forehead, “I will-”

“Lilith, focus!” Damen’s voice commanded from the other side of the training room.

I couldn’t help what I did next that is, giving him the finger, without turning to glance at him. Trent and Clint let out loud snorts, while I felt pin drop, chilly silence traveling in waves from Damen towards me.

I dropped to the floor, in exhaustion, not caring about anyone at that moment. I was totally out of shape and one hour of continuous exercising had killed me already. If I did any more, then, it would kill my ghost too.

I heard footsteps coming from the entrance, and turned my gaze to see Katya making her way towards me. She looked completely stunning in her all black training attire that hugged her figure at all the right places and emphasized her perfectly shaped body. I couldn’t help but admire her for it. I knew that it took a lot of hardwork to achieve and maintain that kind of figure and she seemed exactly like the kind who exercised day and night to maintain everything.

Katya laughed when she saw me lying on the floor like a dead animal, “tired already, Lilith?”

I made a noise in the back of my throat, because I had no energy to speak.

“This is just the first day, and this is your state within an hour,” she remarked with a sneer, “at this rate, you should forget about making it through the week.”

This bitch…was right. Damn, she was right. I was nothing compared to these supernaturals.

“Katya!” Damen’s all but growled, taking everyone by surprise, “do not speak to Lilith like that.”

My heart swelled with warmth and somehow, I got the strength to pick myself up and sit up straight. Or maybe, I just wanted to see Katya’s face, that’s why.

And, man, was her face a sight to see. She was looking at Damen as if he had asked her for her kidney.

“Lilith is my mate and-” Damen continued but, Katya had the nerve to cut him off.

“But, she is a human for God’s sake!”

Damen’s jaw clenched and he took slow, deliberate step towards Katya.

“Human or not, you will not disrespect her,” he bit out, “this is an order.”

I watched in horror as Katya bowed her head as if under compulsion. My eyes fell to her fisted hands, where her nails were drawing blood from pressing on the palm too tightly.

Whoa…what was this girl up to?

Damen turned to me, and I swear I saw his eyes soften momentarily before he covered it up.

“Lilith, you can take a break for ten minutes and relax. I have to go and attend some business. Katya will take over the training session for another half an hour. She is our best trainer and warrior. I hope you learn something from her. Good luck.”

No, no! What the fuck?! Was he trying to get me killed or what?!

But, before I could stop him, he left along with Trent and Clint, who gave cast me pitiful glances over their shoulder.

I gulped as I slowly turned my head to look up at Katya. She was already looking at me with a sinister smile on her lips.

“Oh, Lilith, we are going to have so much fun training together,” she cackled. I am not kidding. She literally cackled.

And, she wasn’t kidding either. She meant every word. The only difference was that she was the only person who had all the fun.