Karry stared at Malachi a moment longer before she burst into laughter,not because she actually found humor in the situation but because she could not believe what he had just said to her. This man, this vampire, who ruled and headed the family that so many beings feared, was asking her a seemingly normal human woman to be his queen. There had to be something wrong with him she knew that now. When she finally caught her breath, she glanced up at Malachi,her lavender eyes watering with tears of mirth.
"I'm sorry but I think I misheard you, did you really just ask me to be your queen?" she asked
"I did yes, though I don't know why you would find that so funny." Malachi replied his voice showing his confusion
"I am human, I have a group of vagabonds that follow me. What do I possibly have that would prompt you to make an offer like this?" Karry asked
The question hung in the air between them for a few moments before Malachi turned back to his desk and lifted a file from it, one that suddenly made her blood run cold.
"Before your father and you disappeared from the world, you were once a rather wealthy family that lived on the Lorna family grounds. It says here that your father had you admitted for testing under the scientist Dr. Roland Mason, the man who is renowned for his work in DNA engineering." Malachi said as he looked down at the file he held
Karry felt her breath freeze in her lungs for a moment before it exited her body in a fast exhale. She had been certain that when Mason had went under ground he had destroyed all the files that could be used to link him to his research, apparently she had been very wrong.
"I don't see what that has to do with your offer of marriage." Karry said trying to play it off
Malachi gave a glance at the woman trying his best to hid his exasperation, surely she could see that he knew what had been done to her. She should know that he was offering her protection, or...maybe she had yet to hear the news of what was happening.
"I know that you were one of his experiments that he is trying to pretend don't exist, and right now there is a radical group that is trying to find and kill any of the people he worked on. You managed to live and thrive despite what he did to you, which means this group will be looking for you and the people you lead." Malachi said patiently
Karry nodded her head, she had not heard of this threat and even the excuse of it did not explain to her why he had offered her marriage. Apparently the look on her face made him aware of her confusion and so he continued.
"There are reports from several families that hold land and a few of the still existing human towns that many people fear you. There has been documents thats state that people have seen you shift your forms and that you are a strong leader, one who will do whatever you have to so that you can protect those people that follow you. That is why I am offering this marriage, I need more people that will defend my lands and you will need protection. The only way I can ensure that you receive that protection is if you are married to me."
Understanding hit her then and she felt a bit odd for not getting it right away. The LeSabor family was always under attack, other families wanting their lands and wanting to be the ones that were known for taking down the most powerful family known across many lands. With her abilities she would be able to find any spies that had been sent here to try and destroy them from the inside. If the group looking for her found her, then the LeSabor family would lose a valuable asset that had pretty much fallen into their laps. If the head of their family married her however, that would cause the group to back off, they wouldn't want to risk the anger that would come from attacking her.
"So this is more like a business arrangement then. I give you what you want and in turn you will provide for myself and the people that follow me."
Malachi nodded his head, his icy gaze running over her again and Karry had to stop herself from shuddering from the heat that curled through her at that look. Her mind must not be working correctly for her to consider his offer, but as much as she didn't like the idea there was merit in what he offered. She ran a hand through her black locks and looked at Malachi from the side as she thought through his words. He simply sat there,perched on the edge of his desk, the picture of masculine strength, and waited for her answer. After several more minutes of deliberation, Karry had reached her decision.
"I will except your offer." Karry said