The Mark of Ankh (Book One of the Mark Series) (Completed)

Extra #1- She is so Beautiful- Fane's POV

A/N: Has anyone checked out the first chapter of 'Collecting the Pieces of the Shandhi Sword', yet?

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(The day of the wedding)

I looked at my daughter in her wedding dress and couldn't help but feel like a proud father. I had to admit that the dress looked ugly, but for some odd reason, Jaz couldn't help but pull it off. I watched her stare at herself, trying to keep my emotions in check before clearing my throat.

"You look beautiful," I said, growling at myself when my voice cracked at the end. I hated the feeling of dread coursing through my body, because I knew that she wasn't my daughter, no matter how much I treated her like it, nor how much she looked like me. "Not as much as you have looked the other day," I added, not knowing if she would find me calling her beautiful today offensive.

She sighed and turned to look at me, her green eyes light underneath all the mascara that my mate had made her wear. She looked me up and down before tucking a piece of hair before looking down. "I don't feel beautiful," she replied. "But thank you for the compliment." She showed her neck towards me, submitting to me because I had been her Alpha.

I couldn't help but clear my throat to hide back a chuckle, even though I knew that she caught onto me not trying to chuckle. "Enough of that," I said. "You are almost my equal. You don't have to submit to me any longer."

She shrugged and grimaced, and I could tell what she was thinking of. "The only person that I have to submit to is Clarice," she replied in disgust, shuddering.

I couldn't help but sigh and pull her into a hug, not saying anything. I needed to know that my daughter was there. I needed to know that she was safe, even though I knew for a fact that it wouldn't last.

"Hug me, please," I said, my voice cracking a bit. I knew that she was surprised that I was hugging her, but I couldn't bring myself to tell her the reason why. "Just this one last time, where you are still a free woman and not having as much of a responsibility than being my daughter."

She caved to my plea and hugged me, catching a whiff of my scent as I did her. "I still have responsibilities, Father," she replied. "I will just have more responsibilities than what I had in the past."

I couldn't help but chuckle, because she had no idea how true that was. She had no idea what the Shandhi was about, and I cursed my father for not letting me tell her anything that will help her survive. I chuckled again and nodded my head. "And, I love how you make anything so simple." I pulled her back and kissed her forehead.

"I learned from the best," she replied, causing me to smile. She kissed my cheek, and I could feel the love that she held for me. "You need to go. It is time for you to get ready for the event." She glanced me up and down, causing me to grimace because I wasn't even in a suit yet.

I couldn't help but sigh and move a hand through my hair, grimacing some more. "I guess I do have to wear a suit," I said, not really wanting to wear one. I held up my hands when I saw her give me a "really" look and chuckled. "Alright, I will leave you to your contemplating of life. I'll see you in an hour or so." I left without another word, my heart sinking. I knew that I wouldn't be able to see my daughter for Goddess knows how long.

I looked up at the ceiling and blinked back the tears. "Please forgive me, Jaz," I muttered. "Please."