- If you keep reading all the books Audric offers you, I have the feeling that you are going to become as strange as he is.
- I’m afraid I do not understand.
Of course she knew what her brother was implying. It was just too rude to say it and deep inside her, she hoped that he wasn’t really thinking about it.
- Please sister, don’t play fool with me. You are fifteen now.
- So?
- Well… I’m just saying that you must be very careful, my sweetling. You are almost a full grown woman, and for god's sake you are one of the most beautiful here in this castle.
Martinique sighed. She was so tired of that game.
- You used to be so different.
- Excuse me?
Axell and her had been apart for almost three years. He was thirteen when she last saw him and he used to be kind, funny and so carefree. But this was not the same brother she knew. Now, he liked to be very coy and one had to be particularly careful with every word said. Nothing escaped his eye and his head seemed to never stop scheming something. Everybody loved him though: he never showed that phase to anyone. It was so annoying for her. They would never believe – even if she insisted- that their precious Axell could be so…malicious.
- Yes. You used to be a friend of mine.
- I never was sweetie. I am and always will be your brother.
- I don’t think that one should be so different from the other.
- Well they are. And I have to tell you the truth.
- And what truth is that?
- Well… you know that Audric’s wife is dead. For some time now, almost sixteen years now.
- So?
- He had some bedwarmers yes, but…
She got infuriated. – Axell, I’m not a whore.
He just laughed – It wouldn’t be the first time that someone of the Dulkre family became tangled with a Hyarxen.
- He is thirty years older than me.
- And he never slept with a person from his own family. He is the only royal heir that had wed someone with other blood than his. He might feel a little bit excluded, why couldn’t he start bedding with his first cousin to change his luck
-Enough. – She said raising her voice, blushing. -That’s…. rude.
Her brother’s eyes opened wide. His mouth formed the most stupid little smile while he began to say : - Maybe… could it be that you like him, sissy?
-I…- She stutter.
- Oh… yes, you do. You should, after all, he is a very handsome man.
- Yes but I didn’t…
-You are ambitious.
- I…-She repeated. She didn’t know what to say. – Where are you heading?
- Well my sweet and innocent sister- He started to talk very slow, treating her like a child. He stroke her brunette hair very softly and whispered:- I think that you are the one who could free us from this antique and useless pact that has our families entwined.
- Ferrum pact? Why would you ever…?
It was the first time she saw her brother really angry. He grabbed the book she was reading and threw it out of the window. The broken glass fell to the floor with a horrific sound.
-I’m sick of this stupidity. I’m sick of mourning for members of my family that have to die because of this fervor. And, If you ask me, I do not fancy this whole brother-sister marriage neither.
- Axell, we swore an oath to the Hyarxen family.
- Oh, I did. Young and idiotic as I was, I did. But you did not. You are still too young, and perfectly free.
- I could never…
- Think about it. If you play your cards right… who knows, maybe they will become our servants after all this time. Personally I would like to see Egbert hang from a tree.
What he was saying, his plan, was something like an answer to all her prayers. But she wasn’t so convinced. The work of all her family could be lost.
- Why me?- She asked softly.
- You have all the missing pieces. And Audric… his eyes melt everytime he sees you. He is the key for this.
- His son is my same age, and his daughter is three years bigger.
- So?
- I don’t think he sees me that way.
- He is not stupid Martinique. You are precious, young, and unbearably smart. He has spent his whole weekend’s nights talking to you about books. What kind of grown up does that?
- He is very unusual.
- No, he is not. Everybody might think he is, but he answers to all the natural instincts we all have to.
- Why are you so sure?
He didn’t answer, just smiled and gave her a soft pat on her back.
- You should start wearing tighter dresses to your meetings sissy. You are a very dangerous option for him, but very very tempting. And if he’s as delirious as you are for those storybooks, then he will be fascinated by the turn his life is about to give.
