Any Story LGBTQ+ Paranormal/Supernatural Romance

Chapter 22

Charles

The entire Kingdom knew I was now the mate to their new Lord. I was still acting as his Sire and over his guards and tracking down demons when necessary, but I now held a stronger seat of power among the Kingdom than ever before. Yet, that wasn’t what weighed heavily on my heart. It was what Lord Thaddus brought to my attention before he left for his realm.

“Baby, what is wrong?” Daro wrapped his arms around me, kissing the mating mark. “You are so far away from me. You have been since you spoke to Lord Thaddus. What did he say to you? Or are you still upset over everything that went down today?” He tugged me over to the bed, sitting and taking me onto his lap.

I wrapped my arm around his neck, resting my head on his shoulder, soaking in his heat, hoping it would settle the racing thoughts in my mind. Doubtful. Nothing would but talking it out.

“Lord Thaddus told me that I was his heir to the throne.”

Daro went stiff under me. His arms tightened around me as if he was refusing to let me go.

“But he had a solution to the problem.” I sort of liked the solution. It made sense, but he wasn’t ready to retire yet, so it wouldn’t come into play for some time. Thankfully, because I thought that the realms needed time to come back together after being reunited.

“What was that?”

“Combining the kingdoms. Having two Lords overseeing one large kingdom.”

Daro’s arms relaxed around me as he let his chin rest on my shoulder.

“He’s not wanting to step down any time soon, though. He was very clear about that. His demon side is still too strong to not lead over his hoard of demons. He says until his demon grows older, that will not be an issue. Apparently, when the dark demons grow older, their demon side grows restless and decides to settle down for the rest of their lives. He thinks he has not reached that point because he has not been able to be with his mate properly, and the battle he had with his son was very intense and heartbreaking, so his demon is untrustworthy of most people around him these days.”

Daro wiggled back until we were further in the middle of the bed. “Did he say if he thought the dark demons would be accepting of a half-light demon leading them?”

“Apparently, the only reason I don’t have a stronger connection to my dark demon side is that I’m not around the dark demons. It is also why I do not have control of my dark demon’s powers.” Was something I’d always wondered about but had no one to ask. Not that I’d really cared that much. Or allowed myself to care about. I never wanted to hurt my grandmother by seeking out information about that side of myself. “I kept that side of myself closed off out of respect for my grandmother’s feelings towards what happened to my mother. And partly. because of my hatred of how I came to be. It was not easy to know I came to be out of such a violent act to someone so young.”

“I can imagine it wasn’t, but I bet your grandmother was wonderful to you.”

“She was. She loved me. Raised me to be true to myself but never allowed me to look into my other half. It was as if that side did not exist, so when I mated to my first mates . . . She was not thrilled with me. She had a fear of all dark demons, no matter what type they were. She would not speak to them or allow them in her home. They did not hold it against her. They loved her as much as I did and would protect her with their lives if she needed it, but she . . . I think she thought I disrespected my mother by choosing them as mates. She would have loved you, though.” I slid off his lap, laying on my side, and he went with me, curling around my body. “I do think it would be nice to have the two realms living intertwined at a later date. Much later date. It will take time to get the two sections used to being able to travel between each other again. There will be some tension between some mates who are still mated. Some might not wish to rejoin the ones they had to leave behind because they started other lives. Others will be thrilled to return to their lost mates. It is going to be a mess to start with.”

Bigger deal than anyone truly thought about. There would be some threats from both sides. More demons to hunt down for some time, on both sides.

“Well, baby, I think what Lord Thaddus told you is wonderful for you. I think his plan is a good one. And I think that he was upfront about it not being any time soon for you to have to step up, which is good to know, because I can tell you from experience it is not easy to prepare to take over a kingdom. I did so my entire life. You do not want to be thrown into it. You will be at my side and witnessing what I have to do and how I do it.”

There was no one I’d rather learn from. He’d come into his position with a plan that changed the entire Kingdom for the best. He’d done so with one method in mind and rolled with the punches and adjusted when he needed to and still kept his ultimate goal in mind. Achieved it and even managed to get his father back to his mate and me united with a grandfather I never knew I had. He was indeed going to be a great leader. He’d been trained by the best people. Lord Zarus could not have chosen a better person to have given him an heir and raised him.

“You are amazing, sweetheart.” I snuggled closer to him. “Our lives are going to be full of excitement, but I’m looking forward to everything that comes our way.”

“I am too, baby.” He nuzzled my neck. “You know what,” I looked up at him, “when you threw that wall of fire around the throne room, it looked as if the sun rose over you and us. It was beautiful. Sexy as hell.”

“Scared the crap out of me.” It had. I never like when that side of me rises so fast. “Lord Thaddus said he’d be willing to help me learn how to control it.”

“That’s good, baby.”

“It is. I need control over it if I’m going to be beside you. You are going to be a major threat to so many people for a while. I will need all my skills to keep you safe.”

“We will have a wonderful life together.”

“A long one.”

I was sure of that. And it had only begun when Lord Zarus announced Daro as the new Lord to the Kingdom and me as his mate and Sire.