Any Story LGBTQ+ Paranormal/Supernatural Romance

Chapter 21

Daro

The three of us said nothing while we walked through a hidden tunnel behind the throne to Father’s private sitting chamber. Once inside, Father headed to the bar that sat on the far left of the room. Lord Thaddus went to the oversized, fluffy-looking red chair and flopped down, kicking his leg out in front of him.

“I’m glad you kept this chair, sweet Zarus.”

“I could not throw it out. You always loved it. It does not go with the decor, though.”

I sat on the black leather loveseat across from a black metal-framed, glass coffee table in front of the chair.

“Son, what do you wish to drink? Scotch, or Bourbon?”

The two of them acted as if nothing had gone down. Should they not be upset? I was. Anger coursed through me. Anger that the castle had been invaded. Anger that my mate had been upset so badly his dark demon arose so fast and uncontrollably. Anger that major facts had been hidden from the Kingdoms. Anger that those secrets affected so many lives. Took so many lives. Took so many partners from demons’ lives. Yet, I knew they’d done the lesser of the two evils. A war between the two Kingdoms would have taken many more demons’ lives. Damn, they’d really been in a tight spot.

Charles walked in, and all the anger washed away from me, leaving me worried. He looked so tired. He rubbed his temple and frowned. Neither Lord seemed to realize just how much distress stretched across his face.

“Baby, is everything okay?”

“Just hard to explain the unexplainable. I’m thankful that Lord Zarus protected my reputation among the Kingdom and managed to keep Lord Thaddus arrival a secret, but coming up with a sufficient tale. . .”

“Were you able to?”

“It sort of was . . . some of the guards came up with their own theory after spotting my mating mark.”

“Oh shit!”

“Yeah.”

“They thought he went after you?”

“Some did. Some thought he went after both of us. Some thought he went after just you. There was a mixture on that part.”

“Well, there was a good reason to lock people out. At least.”

I chuckled, drawing two strange looks and Father asking me what was wrong. I quickly recapped what Charles told me had happened while Charles went to fix him a drink.

“Take a seat.” Father waved Charles away. “I’ve got it. Scotch or Bourbon? Son?”

“Scotch,” Charles and I said in unison.

“Did you give them the order to keep it quiet?” Father asked.

“I did. Made them oath swear it.”

“How well does that work?” Lord Thaddus took the drink that Father held out to him.

“Pretty well, but it means we will have to make the announcement of their mating later today. I’d hoped to wait until tomorrow and set up a small gathering to do so, but . . . We can delay the gathering for them.” He held out the drinks he poured for me and Charles to us, then went back and got his, walking over to Lord Thaddus and sitting down on his lap, groaning as he leaned his head back against him.

“What will you two do once the realms are opened back up?” I took a sip of my Scotch, letting the burn ease away the tension that had built from seeing them be so relaxed after the excitement that had taken place.

“Spend some much-needed time together.” Lord Thaddus kissed father’s cheek. “I never got to give sweet Zarus a true mating moon.”

“I do not need one. Did not need one then.” Father locked eyes with him. “I knew when we mated our time together would be . . . intermittent, but I knew we belonged together then and I know we do now. I do not need any mating moon to know that.”

“How will a former Lord and the current Lord of the dark realm be able to continue a mateship? It is not like . . . Father, are you going to be joining him in the dark realm now that you will be able to?”

“I do not know yet, Daro. We will have to discuss it. I think to start with we will work on rebuilding our relationship as soon as the realms are reopened.”

“And just how are you proposing we do that?” Lord Thaddus took a huge gulp of his Bourbon.

“Not by telling the Kingdoms the truth. I do not want any demon to know that I was the cause of the realms being shut down. They’d come after me.” Charles made a valid point, which was why I’d not even suggested it. Going at it the way I’d always planned, having a sit-down with him was the best course of action. It really didn’t matter what we said at the sit-down, long as we were both on the same page about opening the realms again.

“Like we are doing, you be willing to take a meeting with me. I’m sure, now that the threat of a possible war between us due to your son’s horrific crime against one of our demons, that you agree there is no reason to keep the realms closed.”

“I do. Nor do I wish to. I wanted to reopen them five years ago, but I could not see a way to reach out to sweet Zarus to bring up such. Not the way we left the Kingdoms believing our relationship ended.”

“Well, you had no relationship with me. In fact, you never knew me, so you tell your demons I brought the peace offer to you, and I tell mine that I reached out to you to broker a reopening of realms. Both sides get to look good.”

“Sounds good. When do you wish to make the announcement?”

“Since I will be taking over tomorrow with Charles at my side, we can give it a week and then announce that we will be opening them up again. Then we can do so the day after. How does that sound?”

“Sounds like sweet Zarus has a very amazing and bright son.”