Free Myopia (Young Adult Zombie Paranormal Romance) (Wisteria Series) by Bisi Leyton Page A

reign. However, that wasn’t the case with the palace of the First Pillar because, for some reason, there was no one left from that pillar.
    Stories floated around, trying to explain what had happened to the lost Pillar. Some people said Dy’obeth ghosts had taken them away. Others believed they’d turned into bloodthirsty Dy’obeths, but the rational explanation was that they died as a result of a virus thousands of years ago. The end result: their palace stood empty.
    The First Pillar’s palace was particularly intriguing, as there were sections of it that no one could get into. Scholars and engineers had been trying to decipher the locks for as long as anyone could remember.
    This was why the Lord of Jarthan was one of the Seven Elders. He stood for the First Pillar.
    “Lord Rafel, Sen-Son Bach, I am honored to have you both here.” The sentinel at the stone door of the palace stepped aside.
    Walking through, Bach noticed a massive construction of rock and iron, used to wedge the door open.
    “We have to keep that there; otherwise the door may never open,” Lord Rafel explained as they walked.
    Bach knew this. He'd toured the different palaces as a child.
    “My son came to talk to me about you,” Lord Rafel said. “Enric seems determined to not allow you to name Alba as your intended. Do you want to?”
    Bach froze. “I do not know how to answer that.”
    “You can always talk to me. I have tried to be there for you boys after your mother died. And I will always try to serve your best interests.”
    “Thank you,” he replied cautiously.
    Rafel was right. He’d been more of a father to Bach than Sen Aleix. It had been Rafel who’d explained to Bach what the Terrans had done to his mother, and had persuaded the Sen to allow Bach to go on the Great Walk on Earth. So, it was weird having this conversation with the man about his daughter.
    “I am too young to get married.”
    “Well you don’t have to marry for another four years. I am surprised your father has not explained this to you, actually. There is a lot about your life your father should have told you. Listen, you do not have to name your intended until you turn nineteen and officially complete your Great Walk, because after that you are technically a man. Four years later, you will marry her.” Rafel tapped his foot on the ground. “I like you, Bach, and I would like you to name Alba as your intended, but only if you want to.”
    “Alba is so amazing and beautiful…”
    “Papa, please do not talk about what you do not understand.” Alba appeared at the end of the hall. “I care about Bach, but I have so much to learn and you need me here.”
    “Alba, you should not have been eavesdropping.”
    “I was not. I came to look for you. The Sen-Filla Lidia of the Second Pillar has arrived. She is asking for you. As I came in, it was very easy to hear what you two were talking about,” she continued. “And since you were talking about my life, I do not call that eavesdropping.”
    “Bach, we will talk about this later.” Rafel hurried out.
    “Do not worry, I do not want to pledge to you either.” Alba’s green eyes lit up. “I will talk to him.” She left.
    Walking out a few minutes later, he saw Alba standing on the bridge. The girl’s gaze was pensive as she watched the calm waters below.
    “Hi.” He walked up to her.
    “I think my father is going to go ahead with this pledge between us.” Sighing, she continued to watch the wasters. “This is going to ruin everything and destroy any chance at happiness for the both of us.”
    “We should go and explain it to them. Make it clear that neither of us want this.”
    “No, my mother is doing this to punish me,” she explained. “I am just sorry you have to be the one who has to carry this burden.”
    “What burden?”
    Pausing, the thin girl stared at him. “Suppose they believe a Famila guy is in love with a Terran. They would be so disgusted they would do something harsh to