Any Story LGBTQ+ Paranormal/Supernatural Romance

“Daro, you have to have guards. You are at risk every moment of the day here. it is not like in your sector.” Father made a solid point, but still, the guy father wished to follow me around all the time, or assign others to do so, was someone . . .

Hell, who was I kidding? I had to stand there, forcing myself to breathe. The guy my father called in to secure me was hotter than anyone I saw in the sector. In fact, he was exactly what I told my grandpa I was looking for in a man. Tall. Bald until his scalp shone, until one could see their reflection. Muscles thick and hard enough that a brick would bounce off of them. I’d like to see how much cum could splatter off his eight-pack abs. Even with all that, Grandpa always told me I’d never find such a man inside our community. How right he’d been. It only took me giving into my father’s request to take up my position as his heir to locate the man of my dreams.

“Daro, you have to have guards. You are at risk every moment of the day here. It is not like in your sector.”

A fact I learned the first moment I arrived in secret. Father didn’t even know how much danger he was in from within his own castle walls. Even with all that knowledge and the plan I had concoted there was a limit of what and who should be around me. Was he one of them? Could I let him follow me around? Would he be loyal to me? Me alone, or would he report to my father as well?

“I will not be tied down by a horde of guards.”

“At least give for one guard to remain at your side.”

Father deemed it necessary to guard me. He’d spoken about it before my arrival when he wished to escort me to the castle. Even then, I had a plan formed, sort of one. One that grew bigger and deeper when I arrived early and saw the state of the at ease at which I hid myself within the castle for so long and created a league of support for my cause. It was because of my cause and those loyal to me that I would not lead an enemy into the midst of my den. Someone not willing to aid equaled an enemy, and I would not lead them straight into my mission’s headquarters.

But how did I decide if the sexy, ass man that one day would be in my bed, was loyal to only me?

“Will he be loyal to me?”

The question seemed simple and direct enough that father would see it as a competent question from a leader whose outsider’s family trained him. It’d also prove just how much smarts and leadership was installed into him throughout his youth, even though his mother and grandpa provided him much more of a gentle life.

“He is loyal to both of us.”

How to take that? Charles, the guy who would be his bedmate and control his life, once I decided if he was loyal enough to forgo enlightening my father on my conquest. The way Charles’s eye stared me down told a story of pure judgment. What kind, though? Was he gauging me as a human being or a leader? Was it both? What told the best part of his story was how he never once glanced at my father. His attention remained on me. It was that that had me doing the one thing no one should do until they are one hundred percent sure of the situation.

“Can I trust you with what I do?”

“I would be at your side twenty-four seven, as any guard I assign to you.”

“No. You, and you alone.”

“Sir, I have another job, I must do in order to keep the kingdom safe.”

“He’s correct, Daro. Charles can find you someone as good as him. That I can promise.” My father moved to my side, resting his hand on my arm. “Charles is not even on my guard team. Sire Charles is either at my side or on the hunt for trouble makers no one else can handle. He is gone most days of the week. It is even hard for me to get him to be inside the castle walls long enough to sit at my side.”

Too damn bad, father. He would be the one to guard me, or no one. “It will be him, or no one.”

“Why is that?”

Because I’m going to take you to my bed and make you scream my name louder than you’ve ever screamed before. “Father says you are loyal to us. I again ask you, are you loyal to me?”

“I would be, but I can not be tied down to the castle. It is not within my nature to be enclosed within four walls. I’m sorry, Prince Daro.”

It would be even harder for him to be enclosed within the inner walls of the castle, but I’m sure he’d be able to do so once he discovered the true reason behind my goal. It would decrease the number of days he’d be gone from the kingdom and how many people he had to track down each day, giving him more time to spend with those he cared about. Like me.

“Will you agree for him to station at least one guard to stand at your side during our social and priority meetings?”

Shit. Imagine. Father and the press needed their image to remain intact. It would explode soon enough; might as well give him that for as long as I can. “Fine, but he is only to stand there at the time and he has nothing to do with me before hand, or after. We clear on that front, father and Charles.”

“We are not clear on this at all, Prince Charles.”

“Sire Charles,” Father faced Charles, locking eyes with him until the two of them were in a stare-off so in-depth that neither appeared willing to give up. The fact that such an act was taking place, without Sire Charles being struck down by my father, showed a relationship between the two. Such an act made me second guess my decision to draw him into my life.

“Lord Zarus, must I remind you that you took away both of my lovers because you and yours could not get over a dispute?”

“Do not bring that monster into this. I am asking you a favor.”

“A huge favor, Lord Zarus.”

“You are always wanting to slow down on the number of hunts. I’m sure you will be able to get more time to yourself while guarding my son. Am I not correct, Daro?”

Charles’ eyes flickered toward him for a fleeting second before he began shaking his head no. “It does not matter. I am of no use behind four walls. Your kingdom will suffer without me tracking the worst of the worst.”

“It might be weakened, Sire Charles, but there are still others out there who can do what you do. Albeit slower.”

“There is no way around this, is there?”

“No.” I held my hand out to him. “I promise to give you an entire day or two off fully to do as you please.” It seemed important to him, and I wanted him to have what he wanted, other than to support my father. And I’m sure if he does not come along to begin with, that he would be convinced to in time. “Fine. When do you wish me to start? And which room are you occupying, so I know where I will be bunking?” Charles crossed his arms, but there was a small smile in those eyes as he talked