It hurt to think, to breath or to even blink. I felt like i had just been smashed into a brick wall, why would they tell me now, of all the times they tell me now. I was to be married, that i knew, but of all the filth in the world they chose a lupine, a dirty filthy, rugged, feral beast from the north. He was a Lord from the high mountains on the edge of our world. His name even made me feel sick, but the real sting to this new found wound was not the fact he was a filthy lupine and i was a feline, not that i had no want or need to be married, no that i was being taken away from my home so my illegitimate brother could take my place as head of our family. No it was none of those things, it was the fact he specifically sought me because he was a renounced collector of the exotic. I was a rare flaw in the gene pool, my body had a small error and because of this i was hidden away for most of my life. My father was once a great man, the plague took him and my elder sister before i was born. He was a Panther, tall and strong. My mother was a delicate bob cat, small and harmless. I was conceived and born just as the plague ended and i never knew my father or sister. A year later my brother came along when my mother was in her lowest point and let a far to charming and loyal butler escort her to her room one night. My mother ended up marrying him but they were both killed in a tragic accident when caught in the cross fire of a fight between two rival family's. i had never even had the chance to say good bye to my mother as i was hidden away during her funeral. You see my coloring would hint to others i was illegitimate as well but of course i'm not, no instead of being a dashing black or dark chocolate like my parents would have been i am a canary yellow, i inherited my mothers strips but only on my tail, and they are bright green. As for my eyes, well they are odd to say the least, a solid pink and tend to make the few who have seen me look away or avoid eye contact. As no one in the court would ever see me i saw no need for a corset or ever really minding my waist line, as such i am now a plump, infertile, mutated 18 year old feline literally being fed to the wolves. My brother was ever so kind as to arrange my marriage with this Lord of the north and get my grandfathers approval. I suppose if i'm hidden up in the high mountains i can no longer bring shame to my family. Today was the day i am to meet my new husband-to-be and i have absolutely no idea how i am going to manage to behave myself for more then 5 minutes. He was a collect of the exotic? well id be happy to give him a very exotic monologue if he acts in any way rude. I was already boiling over like a kettle storming around my room getting dressed and brushing my hair making myself 'presentable' for this Lord, oh my word...iv already forgotten his name. It was so simple and very odd, oh dammit all what was it? A knock at my door brought me from my internal panic, but why i was so upset i had no idea. Perhaps it was because i didn't want to be uncivilized like my future husband would be, oh but his name!
"He is ready to see you dear" It was the maid Jenivive who brought be back from my inner ramble.
"Oh Jenivive...im so scared, how could brother and grandfather do this to me? He will just add me to his blasted trophies"
"Now now deary" she walked over and took my hands in hers patting them gently as she always did, after mother had died it was Jenivive who taught me to read and write, just as mother had taught her.
"Everything will be alright, he seems to be very kind, try to think positively"
I nodded wiping my eyes and trying to pull myself together, she shuffled along beside me as we walked down the corridor to the study. I took a long breath before opening the door, at first glance i didnt see him but Jenivive cleared her throat that made me spin around to see him sitting there with a smug little smirk on his face, he was sitting near the door at the wine table coverd in its stains left from what must have been fathers drinking. A large decanter filled with a very fruity vintage sat beside him and he held a glass in his hand staring right at me. he didnt even flinch and his golden eyes looked as though someone had placed a coin in where his eyes should have. He was striking and i was at a loss for words, never in my life had i been so madly attracted to a lupine, even as a girl i always day dreamed of a tall strong lion holding me in his arms, even an equine would have made me happy, but never had i imagined wanting to be near a lupine. He smirked as i hadnt realized my mouth was slightly open and i quickly shut it looking away. I made a short and very informal curtsy muttering 'Good morrow' to him. He held out his glass to me and raised a brow before lowering his head.
"And a fine day it is my lady, care to join me. Also, might i add, you look..." He paused "Ravishing" His voice made my fur stand on end, my dress was tight enough as it was and my fur being fluffed didnt help at all. It was like someone was running an antique velvet along my ears.
"please, come sit" He gestured towards the chair next to his but i insisted on standing. my tongue felt try and my throat was tight. I knew then and there it would be a very long and aggravating night.