A Interesting proposition.

Before you can get move on and head back, Accalia wraps her arms around your neck and drags you down into a searing kiss. You pick her up and she wraps her legs around your waist, refusing to part from your lips as you chuckle. Whenever you need some support, or love, or anything, she kisses you. And depending on how much you need the harder she kisses you.

She separates after a moment and murmurs, “I love you. I love you. I love you so fucking much.”

You press her against a tree and nuzzle her neck, “I love you, Accalia Rune.”

Her breath hitches at what you call her.

It was something you always called her in private, a manifestation of the your dreams and hopes. You will be with her her and only her, not allowing anyone else to hold your heart.

Marriage with her or not, she is the only one you allow to hold your soul.

Maybe one day you will be caught and they take away your sense of self, but even then you want her to know that you consider her to be your first wife. Tear gather in her eyes and she holds onto you.

“To be your wife...” She murmurs, “To wake up to you every day with no fear of being separated...”

“That’s all I want.” You finish.

You walk back to your house with several concerns weighing on you. The rest of the school day had been somewhere between awkward and awful. The relief that your troubled encounter with Adolpha is out in the open warred with people being jealous or confused as to why that upset you. So you had no desire to talk to anyone on the matter. You have Accalia and Fang and right now that is more than enough for you. Your parents — on the other hand — have no doubt heard of the small scandal at school and are less than happy with your loss of control.

“Not that I really care what they think on that part.” You mumble in an undertone.

You find yourself in front of your house and take a deep breath before pushing open the door. You don’t bother announcing your home, they’ll know. You walk to your room only to notice both your parents sitting on the sofa in the living room and you sigh.

You might as well get this over with, they’ll call you over and then you’ll be expected to come from your room promptly.

Might as well hurry this along.

“Hey.” You greet.

After this morning’s debacle and the day of school...

Well, you not exactly happy to talk with them.

“Remus.” Your father says in way of greeting as you flop into the couch opposite them, “Your mother told me how you spoke to her this morning.”

“I’m ever so sorry.” You reply sarcastically, “It’s not like that the truth! How could I possibly seen it as anything other than true unending love?”

Your mother flinches, and your father notices, but doesn’t react beyond a furrowed brow, “Enough.”

You sigh and lean back, “So what else is there to admonish me about? Another rant about my unmarried status? My outburst at Adolpha not helping me woo her? Something else? You wondering why I am not happy that I was **** when you both were clearly thrilled?”

It's a low blow because you know they were not happy at all and were horrified, but you will never let them live down the initial reaction they had to the news.

"I SAID ENOUGH!" Your father thunders, a flash of shame marring his neutral features, "Do not bring up that matter as it has been settled!"

You scoff, and add one more log onto your father's flame of rage, "We gonna talk about how you're probably bitter that mom won't put out for you anymore?"

You mother gasp and your father gets up to make a move towards you, but you stand up and stare him down, "You may not want to believe it, but you're past your prime and I will kick your ass to kingdom come if you try to lay so much as a hand on me. But seeing as I successfully pissed you off and made mother feel like shit, I am satisfied. So what do you want to talk about?"

Your father glares but manages to control himself as you both take a seat.

Your mother sighs and squares her shoulders, “It’s about marriage.”

“Lovely.” You grumble.

“We have a proposition.” Your father offers.

You blink and sit up, this was new.

“What sort of offer?” You ask.

“For several years, you’ve been infatuated after Accalia.” Your father says, cutting off the angry declaration that it wasn’t an infatuation, “And no matter how much we have tried to fight this, you refuse to let her go. We are tired of arguing about this when it is clear that we were wrong about how deeply you two care for each other. The elders are not happy, but they understand that money, more women, many other offers simply won’t change what you feel for her.”

Hope bursts in a wild flame in your chest.

Can it be?

Are they going to allow it?

What changed?

“You will be allowed to take her hand in marriage, but there are caveats you must adhere to or we won’t allow this to go through.” He rumbles.

You elation ebbs, that doesn’t sound good, “What caveats?”

He produces a file and places it on the table and slides it towards you, “Read them and call Accalia so you both can consider this. This is the only offer the Elders will offer, and while the offer remains standing, there are to be no further compromises.”

You snatch the file and get up, “I am calling her over, I want to be alone with her.”