~ ZARA ~
Derrik shrugged. "Arranged marriage was all I knew. And I was lucky—my wife was a dear heart. But it took some time to see that. As we grew to know each other and she learned she could trust me, she… blossomed," he said, smiling, his eyes trailing off to the side thoughtfully. "Her culture baffled me though. They were very tribal compared to my people—even more obsessed with the family and bloodlines than my nation. And, the brutality…" he shook his head sadly.
"Over the years I encouraged her to cut ties with her family after what they'd put her through. But she showed me the way. The wisdom. She never completely cut them off—not even the father who she admitted to fleeing."
"Why not?"
Then he turned to look at me and his eyes locked on mine, and it became very clear suddenly that this wasn't a casual conversation. That it may not even necessarily be coincidence that we'd met tonight.
