(ALICE)
"My father is trying to humiliate you," Darian says quietly. "He'll be very angry with me that I'm not letting you attend these events. If you're not there, and I accompany another female, it says nothing about you. But if you are there and I do that, it will be seen as an insult to my fated mate.
He's playing politics, Alice. I'm trying to counteract his every move. I don't want you to become a laughingstock because my father wants to be petty."
"No disrespect, but I don't like your father all that much." I try to hide my hurt under my light tone. At times, I wonder if I'm weak. I should be getting angry. I should be telling Darian that he needs to stand up to his father and not escort anyone other than me. But I can't say any of that to him. A part of me is worried he may get annoyed by my clinginess.
