Any Story LGBTQ+ Paranormal/Supernatural Romance

Chapter 19 – Daro

Charles erupted the entire back of the throne room into a row of fire, separating us from . . .

“Lord Thadus?”

“What are you doing here, Thadus?” Father’s tone held tiredness, but love. There was something lingering between them two. Whatever went down between them had not been resolved. And my gut said it had not been what they told the kingdoms.

“I . . .” Lord Thadus nodded his head at Charles, “was called by . . .”

“You have no claim on my husband.” I charged to stand next to Charles. I’d aimed to get in front of him, but his stiff arm stopped me from blocking him. He did not seem to mind me being beside him, but apparently blocking his fighting area was out of the question.

“I have no claim on anyone in this kingdom that is true, not even my,” Lord Thadus hung his head, but I caught a frown marring the depths of his blackened eyes as he dropped to the throne room floor.

Father leapt over the wall of flames Charles had created, catching the ends of his jeans on fire, uncaring about how they licked their way around the material as he fell beside Lord Thadus, wrapping his arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace.

“Sweet Thadus, it is time you told him. Let him know. It is killing you. It has killed our Kingdoms,” my Father motioned to Charles, who nodded and released the wall of fire, but the driving urge to fight and protect coursed through our mental connection. “My son and his mate have the perfect plan to bring to you this time.”

“I’m sorry I invaded your Kingdom, Sweet Zarus, but I could not help it. I felt both pulls, yours and his. I could not let either of you hurt the other. Is it my grandson that put me in my place?”

I’d heard wrong; I’d had to, but I did not get a chance to replay the words in my head because the dire urge to attack flowed over me, and it was not mine.

I wrapped my arms around Charles’s chest, holding him in place as much as I could, but he still shoved me forward until we were halfway to Father and Lord Thadus.

“Father, a bit of help here.”

I yelled, getting their attention. I could not look back to see if either of them responded to my distress-filled shout, but something must have worked because Charles went limp in my arms and his once warm body went cold, which triggered my own inner demon.

“What the fuck, he’s cold as ice?”

“He is fine. I just called on his light demon, that is all, Prince Daro.” Lord Thadus said. “It was the only way I could settle his raging beast. I was careless with my words.”

“You think.” I snapped at him, pointing my finger. “What did you think you were doing dropping a bomb like that while you knew he was already on the fucking edge of controlling himself. You threw my mate into an uncontrollable rage. You should know better; you are a fucking Lord.”

“Son, calm down. Please, you are breaching every protocol.” Father moved between Lord Thadus and me. “Please forgive him; they are newly mated. I mean just last night.”

“He is my grandson’s mate. Your son?” Lord Thadus looked me up and down, nodding. “I approve. He will be a great addition to Charles, do you not think, Sweet Zarus?”

“Father,” I pointed my fingers down to his legs, “you are burning. Put it out before it goes higher. That was a stupid move.” It had been, but it proved he still loved Lord Thadus. The secret that had been revealed also told me quite a bit. “Let me guess: this secret is why you two really broke ties. Not because of a love affair on either of your parts.”

Lord Thadus walked up to my Father when he was through swatting the fire out with his light streams, wrapping his arms around him. “It was. I never wanted to leave your father. I have loved him with every breath in me since the moment he . . .”

“It was either we break ties or I kill his son and start a war between the two kingdoms,” Father said, snuggling into Lord Thadus’ side. “We chose to split the two kingdoms and keep this a secret.”

“We each chose our kingdoms over our love of lives, and I chose to give my grandson a better life than what he would have gotten if he were raised by my son, whom I ended up having to eliminate five years ago because he tried a coup on me.”

“Oh, Sweet Thadus, I’m so sorry.”

My father leaned up, kissing the corners of his lips. It was then that I caught sight of the edge of a mark just under the edge of the famous high-collared shirts father was famous for wearing all the time. The two bastards had truly done the unthinkable. At some point, before they decided to do the best thing for the two kingdoms, they had mated one another.

“You two are mated?”

“Daro.”

I ran my hand over Charles’ forehead as he moaned my name, coming back to himself. “It’s fine. I’m right here, baby. Right here waiting for you to come back to me.”

“Are you safe?”

“I am. There is no danger here. You can relax and remain calm. I promise. No threat to anyone. I am fine. Father is fine. Kingdom is fine. Just relax, Sire Charles.”

“So cold, want my demon back.”

“Give it back to him.” I looked at Lord Thadus, who nodded and snapped his fingers, and warmth immediately covered my arms where I held him, and he quit shivering and relaxed further into my arms. “Better, baby?”

He nodded, smiling up at me. “Did I hear him correctly?”

“Yes, baby, but relax for now. We will talk when you are at full strength.”