"Are we going to wallow in this awkward silence forever, or is someone going to tell me how my son found his fiancée in a whorehouse?" Oma tried to be respectful of her occupation—her whoring, as Maxi made them believe—but the distress in her tone was obvious.
Maxi couldn’t blame the female anyway. Oma had raised a well-behaved son who was supposed to end up with a female from a reputable family, not Lady Anya. The horse shifter had her fair share of people, and Anya was far from innocent. Jealousy was common amongst females, but even where she sat, Maxi could feel the murderous energy radiating off her.
Neither Issac nor his mother knew how desperate Anya was. Perhaps, only Kayla had felt the level of desperation, and it repulsed her; no wonder the two were not on great terms. Desperate Fae ended up doing desperate things. Not that her desperation fazed or threatened Maxi. Anya could try her petty tricks; in the end, she would just have to bury her six feet under. Alive.
"We didn’t exactly plan on falling in love." Maxi knew Issac couldn’t lie. Lucky her for being half-Fae.
She continued, "Issac worked in the King’s army, and each time he needed to let himself go, it was me he sought. He had not been this soft, always cold, rigid, and with that little bit of chivalrous arrogance." Maxi chuckled at the thought. Although she was practically telling a lie, it was based on their relationship so far.
"I can’t exactly recall the turning point in our relationship, but I guess he realized that the world wasn’t all black and white, and he let go of his judgmental self," Maxi said this all while staring at Isaac, and a warmth grew in his chest. Yes, the story was a lie but true at the same time; it was inspired by their encounter.
"We became friends, and I guess that’s how we came to this point. Although there are moments I feel like he’s still closed off, and then some days he’s quite annoying, and I want nothing but to slap some sense into him. And some other times, I fear he will one day realize I’m not deserving of him, but I’ll count my blessings. I’ll live in the moment and let tomorrow worry about itself."
Emotions clogged Issac’s throat, and he felt this slight panic that made him quickly take Maxi’s hand and intertwine their fingers, not caring that his family was watching, "I don’t care. We’d get over this together." He promised her, a fierce protective glint in his eyes.
Only both of them knew what he was talking about, and they were so occupied in their little world, that they didn’t realize they were still in the presence of the family until Kayla squealed loudly out of excitement, her clap reverberating across the room.
She placed her hand on her chest, swooning, "This is the most romantic confession I have ever seen." The youngling then bumped her knee against her partner playfully, "I do hope you’re taking notes." There was an edge of seriousness to her voice.
Calan swallowed, nodding in agreement. His hands suddenly became clammy, and he nervously rubbed them on his pants. The women in this family were somewhat intimidating. Luckily, the focus shifted away from him when Issac spoke up.
"Mother," Issac said to her, his eyes pleading, "I know it may be too late and this may not be what you expected of me, but I need your blessing to officially court Maxi."
Although this was mostly for show, Maxi couldn’t help but feel her heart skip a beat. The fact that he was seeking his mother’s approval made her feel incredibly important. So loved. By the gods, why were these butterflies fluttering in her stomach? In her many centuries of existence, Maxi had never felt so moved. Issac was just too sweet. It was overwhelming.
Oma shook her head with a sigh, and even though this decision was difficult for her, her expression softened. "Have I ever stood in your way?" she said to him.
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