Chapter 1 Chapter One

Fianna. 

“James, give me some good news other than going to pretend I love my family.”

I strode into the dining hall, my stiletto heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. James, my nervous personal assistant, walked behind me, fussing over the train of my black dress. I didn’t slow down a bit. He was used to it. 

“Fianna,” James began, his voice tight. “The XO circle knife fighting is in two days. Are you going to be the only—“

I knew what he wanted to say so I cut him off. “Register my name. Again. And make sure I get the first line up, I will like to go in there first and get the fuck out.”

XO knife duel. A competition within the circle of the made Irish families. Unlike the other ladies who just sit around and fawn over muscles and handsome faces, I partake in the fight. I have been the only woman in the ring. I relished it. 

The thought of facing men who thought they were untouchable made my heart pump with excitement. What was pathetic was watching the other ladies swoon at them. 

I shook my head at the memory. 

I walked toward the main table. Eyes followed me, glares cutting across the hall. I wasn’t supposed to be here—Well, according to Irish tradition fanatics. I was a lady and I wasn’t supposed to be in a room dominated by family heads and business kings. 

But my grandfather, Callahan himself, had invited me. And when he does that….well, you don’t argue.

I reached grandfather, placing sweet kisses on his both cheeks. 

“Dia duit, Daideo,” I greeted softly. Hello grandfather. 

His handsome face turned to me as he replied warmly, “Dia is muire duit, a stór.” Hello and blessings, my treasure. His eyes lightning up with pride as usual. 

I bowed a bit to my father, and patted my big brother, Ronan on his shoulder before I moved to the end of the table. There was a spare chair so I let myself sit. 

This was supposed to be a normal dinner I guessed. Business talks, drugs and weapon shippings. 

Except the Slanes were present. 

My stomach churned. My lips parted before I could think of stopping them. “Why the fuck is the entire Slane family here?”

My father twisted his face and hissed. “Fianna, mind your manners!”

Manners and respect were the last things on my mind when our most hated rivals were seated at the same table. The enemies I had grown to hate and loathe. They sat like they owned the room. 

How had I not been informed? Why was this a surprise? 

My eyes narrowed at my family. Was this supposed to be another ‘You shouldn’t know much as a lady’ situation? 

I glanced at the Slanes with fury. The father, stern and ugly looking, twisted the champagne glass in his hand. The mother sitting with her permanent smug expression and—their son……

A typical annoying version of bland. The vanilla boy. 

Before I could voice out my displeasure again, my grandfather’s eyes collided with mine. Silent warning lurked behind his gaze. It was a way of telling me not to say a damn thing again. 

He cleared his throat, commanding attention without raising his voice. “Let’s proceed with the dinner.”

Everyone obeyed, including the Slanes even though their irritation seeped through their expressions. That made me smirk—Callahan over Slanes anytime. My appetite on the other hand, was gone so I retrieved my phone instead. 

A message blinked on the screen. 

“Looking forward to our duel, Tiger.”

I grinned, my fingers flying over the screen instantly. This was the kind of thing that made me happy and not some crappy dinner with enemies. 

“I always win. Just so you know, fucker.”

My veins thrummed with anticipation. I love the chaos and bites that came with the duel. The thrill of being underestimated and—

“Quite surprising that Callahan didn’t teach his granddaughter some table manners.”

The sharp cut of another voice ruined the moment. It was him. Slane senior. That smug, annoying bastard. 

I didn’t even care to look up. “Am I interrupting your meal? No. Then I suggest you mind your business. The fact that you are here with your people already ruined my appetite. Thanks to you, grandfather.”

Ronan leaned closer, his cologne hitting my nose. “Fianna, show some manners—”

I sneered. He knew better than to scold me that way in front of these people. 

And then…a calm but furious voice sounded in front of me. 

Slane's son spoke,“My family will be happy to teach her some manners, after all, we will be getting married soon.” He smiled at me. “She’s in good hands.”

Silence. 

A fucking suffocating silence. Every eye in the hall turned to me but mine were fixed on my grandfather. 

I blinked slowly and deliberately. My lips curved into a faint, dangerous smile. Over my dead body. 

Was this boy crazy? He was certainly not talking about me getting married to him. 

“What’s going on here?” I asked, my voice cold and controlled. 

Grandfather cleared his throat in an awkward manner. That was a bad sign. He was about to say something that would make me turn this place into a bloodshed. He placed his cutleries down and finally spoke…..

“Mo Stór, after careful consideration between both families, an arranged marriage has been proposed to put an end to this war.”

I froze mid-breath and scoffed. “To stop the war? How does this make any sense?! Why do we need to stop the war…?”

“Listen first!” My father’s fist hit the table loudly. 

I barely glanced at him. He must know he doesn’t have a say in this. 

Grandfather continued. “This marriage is the only logical solution. We now live in the country with laws, with innocents. A war between the Callahans and Slanes would destroy everything we’ve built.”

This was ridiculous, absurd. Outrageous. 

“This is a parody right? Some deranged theatre you’ve been rehearsing while I play the fool? You want to sacrifice a Callahan at the altar of Slanes?!” 

I turned my gaze toward Slane’s son and like I had expected, his hands were trembling slightly. He was such a weak asshole. All he knew how to do was fuck around the ladies in the city. 

“You want to arrange my life like I’m a pawn?” I continued, pointing at the vanilla boy.“Marry him..? This spineless decorative lamp? Over my fucking corpse.”

My grandfather’s lips parted like he wanted to say something but I didn’t allow it. 

I bowed slightly to him even though he had disappointed me. I offered them all a smile—sweet, poised and deadly. 

“I reject this marriage proposal,” I said, my voice low. “And I will never, under any circumstances, accept Slane’s heir as my husband.”

I said what I said and stood. Murmurs rippled behind me, but it didn't matter to me. I had been through worse. 

Only one statement from the vanilla boy caught my attention. 

“I will go after her. She is just a lady, no different from others.” 

His voice was surprisingly confident, opposing the fact that he was just trembling a minute ago. 

I smirked hard, my fingers brushing the edge of my bag. And with a swift move, I drew my tiny knife. A flick of my wrist, and it lodged in the wall behind him. 

His scream pierced the hall. High-pitched, ridiculous and satisfying. 

I didn’t bother looking at anyone again. I strode toward the door and James caught up. 

“Get my knife,” I said, turning to him. I could handle anything but my favorite knife getting lost.