Chapter 15: Vincent

My father needs me. That's all the guard tells me when he comes to retrieve me from my room. Of course, my father can't come get me himself, kings don't do that. You would think he was king of the whole damn underworld by the way he acts.

Sure enough, when I walk into the throne room, he waits on me from the top of the pedestal, looking down on me like I'm some mere servant – not that he should even look down on the servants in the way he's looking at me right now.

"There you are son. You should know better than to keep me waiting, I have more important things to do than to wait on you."

I internally roll my eyes at his words. "You called me, father, and I came as soon as I could."

He lets out a soft chuckle. "Yes, yes. Well, I called you here to see how the search for a mate is going. It's taking you too long."

"It hasn't even been a year yet, father. It usually takes Reaper's at least two to find suitable mates. "

I hate looking up at him on that throne. He's always been such a horrible leader, treating the servants like garbage, and not listening to a word his Lords say. He definitely doesn't listen to a word I say, despite me graduating at the top of my class, despite me being next in line, and despite the fact that I've saved his ass multiple times when it came to planning anything.

"Yes, but you are a prince. I expect more from you."

He shoots me a saccharine smile, and I shoot one right back before saying, "Actually, father, I have found my mates."

He sits up in his seat, suddenly I've piqued his interest. "You have?"

"I have."

He waves his hand, "Well, Vincent, don't keep me waiting. Who are they?"

"Two humans from Earth, technically three. My male has two souls living in his body, so he will count as two once the mating bond is complete."

"And your female?" He raises an eyebrow, as if expecting me to forget the most sacred part of a mating bond.

"Her name is Amri. She's beautiful – strong. I'm sure you will find her presence as my mate satisfactory."

If I prayed, I would pray for him to take that answer as it is, but of course he doesn't.

"Then why have you not completed the mating bond?"

I internally wince. I had hoped he wouldn't ask, but of course he has to know every detail. "It's not that simple, father. Amri needs some…time to prepare before she joins us in the Underworld."

He narrows his gaze, tilting his head to the side as he studies me. He knows I'm lying. I'm just hoping he never figures out what I'm lying about.

"If you are sure she will be so satisfactory, then why does she need time to prepare?"

I stay silent, trying to find a way to explain my way out of the shithole I dug myself into.

"Well?" His face is getting red now. He can't stand to wait; he can't stand to be lied to. Both are happening right now.

I decide to go with the only explanation I can give him right now. "There is a possibility of another mate."

"A fourth mate?" He looks at me as if I grew another head.

I nod. "Yes."

He rubs his chin, looking down on me in the most condescending way I could imagine. "That's a lot to take on at once, Vincent."

"I assure you, your highness , that I can handle it just fine."

I can hear his teeth grinding from across the throne room. He's silent for a few moments as he stares at me, and I wonder if this is the time I make him break.

"I need a timeline to tell the High King. How long until your mates are ready?" He hisses the last part, knuckles white against the arm of the throne he sits in.

"Eight months, Earth time." That's how long Amri has left in Melford, give or take a few weeks. That should be more than enough time to get her to where she needs to be.

"Make it five."

My eyes widen. "Father, that –"

"When I sit upon this throne, I am your king, not your father!"

There he goes. He's breaking. I hear something clatter to the floor behind me and turn to see a servant picking up a vase they must have dropped from surprise. A smile a little, rubbing my face to hide it from my father. Good. The more people who realize what a tyrant he is, the less pushback I will receive when it's my turn to take the throne.

"Of course, my king."

He relaxes a bit into his chair. "Five months. I have a meeting with the High King this evening and I will tell him of your upcoming mating bond. I expect to meet your mates in no more than five months from now."

I bow my head. "Am I dismissed?"

He waves his hand toward the door. Turning on my heels, I walk out the doors of the throne room and nearly collide with the servant from before.

"My apologies, prince!" The lower demon scrambles to adjust themselves and bow their head. I look her over, noting the small horns protruding from her temples and the ashy color of her skin. Her nails clack against the vase she's holding as she trembles.

I lay a hand on her shoulder to calm her. "No harm done. I ran into you so I should be the one apologizing."

She shakes her head, eyes wide. "Oh no, no apology is needed, my prince."

"What is your name?"

A look of surprise crosses her face. I would bet all the money in the world that no one has ever asked her name before. Most servants here in the castle were born and raised here, and some do not even have names.

"I do not have a real name, my prince, but my friends call me Serei."

I smile at her, "Well, Serei, I'm sorry I ran into you." She goes to interrupt me, but I hold a finger up, "Whether you think an apology is necessary or not, I want to apologize."

She bows her head again, a soft smile on her face. "Your apology is well received."

"I hope you have a good evening."

With that, I leave the hallway and head to my room. I've felt the persistent tugging of Zain waiting for me since before I left the throne room.

I'll have to tell him we have to speed up Amri's training. She needs to be ready in five months. I haven't heard of anyone doing what she needs to do in that amount of time. Damn my father for doing this. He knew I was lying to him, though, and that makes him skeptical. Skeptical of me. Skeptical of Amri. The last thing I need is him looking into her.

I open my bedroom door to find him lounging on my bed, shirt nowhere to be seen.

"I thought you were out collecting souls, but usually that doesn't make you as pissed off as you look right now."

I sigh, sitting beside him on the bed and looking down at my tattooed hands. "I was with my father."

"Oh, King Balthazar. Lovely man." I can hear the sarcasm rolling off him in waves, so I turn around and shove him. He laughs, rolling around to his stomach and resting his head on his hands. "What did he want?"

"He wanted to know how the search for a mate was going."

"And?"

I take a deep breath, wondering if now is the time to tell Zain why I have him and Callyx training Amri – pushing her to her max.

I can't, though. I can't push that burden onto him .

"He's not happy about the possibility of Damion joining us."

Zain scoffs, "I'm not happy about Damion joining us."

I smile and tilt my head. "Are you sure?"

"What the hell does that mean?"

I shrug, "Just curious. You seem to have warmed up to him pretty fast."

"I had to, Amri doesn't give me much of a choice. And there is no ‘possibility' of him joining us – he is."

I raise my eyebrows, "He is?"

Zain nods to me. "He hasn't told her yet, but he's going to say yes."

"How do you know?"

"He told me, right before we caught some new patient making our girl uncomfortable. Callyx warned him off, though."

"Do you think it worked?"

I see him shrug, or shrug as much as he can while laying down. "I don't know, he didn't seem very fazed. In fact, I'm a little worried that he took it as a challenge."

I get up from the bed and head over to my mirror. "What's his name?"

"Royce."

"Royce what?"

"Um, Odin, I think."

I wave my hand in front of my mirror, "Royce Odin." It's unusual enough of a name that there shouldn't be too many people the mirror shows me before he shows up. Zain comes up behind me, denying four people before he tells me, "That's him."

He's lying in his bed right now talking to himself. He looks like he a Viking from the hair flowing around his face onto the pillow and the tattoos lining his arms and chest.

"I want you to keep an eye on him. Something doesn't sit right with me."

"Already planned on it."

"Good." I turn to face Zain and rub my palm against my forehead. "There is one more thing."

Zain narrows his eyes, "What is it, Vince?"

"My father wants the mating bond done in five months."

"Five months! You told me we had eight! There's no way I can get everything done that you want me to in five months. We just started training a few days ago!"

I shake my head. "Too bad, Zain. My father is telling the High King five months, so we have five months. Get her ready."

"What are we even getting her ready for? You've never given me an explanation."

He's right, I never have, and I can't until the time is right. She deserves to know first, and if I tell Zain, I won't only be betraying her, but he'll have information that could put him at risk.

"You'll get an explanation when it's time. Your job right now is to train her, make her stronger. Make her confident in herself and her abilities."

Zain steps closer and shoves a finger into my chest. I can see Callyx rising below the surface, ready to jump out and defend his brother. "My job? My fucking job? I'm not some lackey, Vincent, I'm your mate!"

"Yes! You are! But right now, I need you to trust me!"

"Then tell me the fucking truth! Right now, Vincent, or I swear to God – "

I grab his wrist, bending it backward until he drops to his knees. "What, Zain?" I bend down and put my mouth right near his ear. "What will you do to me? I may let Callyx control me in bed but do not be fooled into thinking you hold the power here."

He looks up at me, anger in his eyes, but longing at the same time. "Yes, sir."

"Five months, Zain. I need her ready in five months."