Gerome’s father opened the door to the guestroom without bothering to stop and knock. He stepped into the room with Gerome on his heels. Running and hiding wouldn’t help him, so he tried to keep it together and not let his new mate see how much he dreaded this moment. Emotions rode high in him: anger, fear, hate, resentment. They all battled for first place.
In the middle of the room, his future mate waited. His face downcast, his blond hair hid his expression. He stood nearly as tall as Gerome but wasn’t as solidly built.
“Gerome, this is your mate. Luis, this is Prince Gerome, your mate. You will obey and follow him, as your parents ensured me you’d do.”
Luis said nothing. He still hadn’t even looked up—a somewhat rude gesture in front of the king. Didn’t he know the protocol? This behavior shined a bad light on Luis, even though they hadn’t spoken a word. The man most definitely needed to learn a few rules.
First, he wanted to see what Luis looked like for himself. But that wouldn’t happen if the king remained in the room. “Please, father, give us a few minutes.”
The king looked at him, the question clear in his eyes. Did his parent honestly think he’d run away? The hold his father had over him was too strong for such a stunt. If he wanted to run, he’d be long gone by now.
“Ten. Then I’ll be back,” he said, iron lacing his voice.
Yeah, Gerome got the message. They wouldn’t try any bullshit. “Thank you,” he said quietly. Ten minutes wasn’t much time, but it was better than nothing. His father quietly left the room, bathing them in silence.
“Please tell me you didn’t agree?” Luis’ quiet voice was barely audible.
Time to show the man some of the ropes so he’d know how things worked in a mating. At least he didn’t look like he’d put up much of a fight.
“Why shouldn’t I? Our fathers arranged it, and I can’t go against them. You know that.” Luis wasn’t someone he would’ve picked if he’d had the choice, but he had to make do. And Luis didn’t have to know how much Gerome despised what he was forced to do. Luis just needed to know who ruled in this mating.
“Yeah, I know. I just thought... I thought you could stop them. Stop this.” He jerked his head toward Gerome.
“They made a deal. There is nothing we can do.” If only Luis would look up. Keeping his head down was either a show of defiance or submission.
“I know. I hoped you wouldn’t do that to us. I mean, we’ve never met before. How should we... we can’t just jump into a mating and hope all goes well. What if we don’t get along or don’t like each other?” Luis’ broken voice gave him away.
Gerome resisted the urge to pull him into his arms. He couldn’t. It would cast a completely wrong picture. One Luis couldn’t have. Controlling his mate once he realized how little strength Gerome possessed wouldn’t be possible at all.
He pushed his hands into his pockets so Luis couldn’t see his balled fists and cleared his throat. “We will get along as much as we need to. The deal is done. It doesn’t help to mull over it, so be obedient and we’ll get along fine. It’s the way things have been done for hundreds of years now and nobody will change a law because you are hesitant and want to get to know me.” He sounded harsh, much harsher than he wanted to, but comforting his mate wouldn’t happen anytime soon.
“I didn’t—don’t you want to have a mate you love?” Luis’ voice bore no hope.
“There is no such thing as love in a mating. Forget about that fairytale. A mating is based on a few things, like dominance and obedience. I won’t say submission, since I’m not into BDSM, but make no mistake: you’re mine now, and you have to follow my orders without question.” The hard words nearly stuck on his tongue, but Luis needed to know it, and Gerome needed to say it. Saying them out loud helped to remind him of the reality. And boy, they needed to become his mantra. As soon as they had established their rules, he could forget about Luis and concentrate on other stuff again, but until then, he needed to keep up the façade.
“Have you never been in love? Are you seriously convinced this is how a mating should be?” Luis finally looked up, catching Gerome’s eyes and causing his breath stop for a second. His mate’s striking blue eyes captured him. The strong features, combined with the blond hair and seductively full lips made for a stunning appearance.
Dammit, his father knew him too well. Gerome’s personal feelings aside, at least, Luis looked handsome enough to represent a future king’s consort. With this man by his side, he wouldn’t have to be ashamed to show up in certain places.
“No, I haven’t, and yes, this is how it’s done. Now let’s get this over with, I have more urgent things to do. The father of my child is missing and, with him, our unborn baby. I need to find them as soon as I can.”
“But... this is wrong. We don’t know each other. I have a life, my studies, my friends. There is no way I’ll be your little... whatever. And what do you mean that you have a baby? And a partner?”
“Alex is just a friend. He’s got a boyfriend, but before that, we had a one-night stand, and he got pregnant. Now he’s missing. And my father will only help me if we mate. So, this is it.”
“I’m sorry. Really. But why not mate this Alex guy then? It’d be much better. You know him already. And maybe he wants you?”
“Because Alex has a partner,” Gerome said slowly, punctuating each word. Luis shouldn’t question anything, and Gerome didn’t need to explain or justify anything to him, but he did it nevertheless. “Because he loves Sam, and because I would never do that to him. He’d be miserable, as would Sam. Alex is lucky enough to have someone who loves and supports him unconditionally, and I wouldn’t take that away from him.”
“But you’re doing it to me! Forcing me! Am I less than he is? I don’t want that either. And I won’t mate you, just to be clear!”
“You fucking will. Do you think I want this? Think again! But you are mine now, and you better know your place.” Enough was enough. He closed the last two steps to Luis, invading his personal space. He grabbed his mate’s chin and forced him to look up into his eyes. “I won’t take any bullshit from you. My father bought you, plain and simple. Your father or mother agreed, so there is nothing you can do. You will learn not to talk back to me, or I will have to teach you your place.”
Luis flinched and averted his eyes as much as possible given their current situation. Quietly, he answered, “My mother. I didn’t even think of my father belonging to her. For the most part, I’ve been brought up amongst humans, and I didn’t know matings like that were legal.”
“That still doesn’t change anything.” Gerome stepped back, releasing him. His behavior was harsh, he knew that, but he simply didn’t have the time and patience right now. And Luis was his, so he didn’t owe him any explanations.
The door opened, interrupting them, and the king stepped in again. “Can we start now? I don’t have all night.”
“Yes, my king.” Gerome turned to his father. “Let’s get this done.” He straightened his shoulders, bracing himself for what would follow.
His father pulled a little bag from his pocket. He took two ritual stones from it, holding them in the palm of his hand and stepped between Gerome and Luis.
“With the power of our ancestors, with the force of our past, and with the strength of our coven, these two souls are bound together. They agree to mate, to share a union stronger than time.” He closed his fingers around the now lightly glowing stones. “May this union be blessed by our gods.”
It was that simple to change the lives of two people. Now they’d have to have sex, and the deal would be complete. Gerome shivered as cold crept over his back. He doubted it had anything to do with the mating ceremony itself, but with the things that would happen next.
The king stepped back and dropped the stones back into the little bag. “Now, go on and do the last part. I want to see proof of the mating.”
“I will not come to your rooms and show you the mating mark. I will go through with it, but not when you order me to report back to you. We’ll go to my apartment, and you’ll see proof of the mating in the morning.”
Gerome stared at his father, willing his eyes to stay cold and hard. Despite everything he’d been forced to do, his father would not tell him when to have sex. That was beyond gross, and he simply wouldn’t stand for it. The king had gotten his wish: they’d started the process. Backing out wouldn’t happen, not if Luis wanted to live, so he’d have to go through with it. The king would kill Luis if they didn’t complete the mating now, and Gerome didn’t want to imagine what would happen to Alex if he didn’t keep up his end of the bargain.
His father’s hard gaze didn’t look like he’d allow Gerome to go at his own pace, though. Gerome stared back at him, pushing his resolution into his expression. He wouldn’t lose this fight.
Finally, after a near eternity, the king glanced away. “Okay. There is no way out. You know that. I trust you, and I want to see the proof in the morning,” he said, his voice still hard. He turned around and left the room without another word.
Gerome’s breath left him in a rush. Somehow, he’d thought the king would put up more of a fight, but then, he’d already won... gloriously. Now he could be generous.
“Let’s go to my rooms. We need to get it done.” Gerome turned to the door.
“Do I have a say in this?”
So he still hadn’t given up? Gerome slowly faced his mate again. “No,” he forced out between clenched teeth, his patience slipping. If Luis didn’t shut up and follow his orders, they’d have to settle the rules the hard way, and Gerome wanted to avoid that, if possible. “Now get moving before I have to make you,” he growled. If Luis questioned him one more time, he would either strangle him or beat his ass. Not really—he seriously hoped Luis wouldn’t force him into violence. He opened the door and strode out into the hallway praying Luis didn’t see through the façade and disobey him. But he followed, falling into step behind him. Thank the heavens.
They walked through the long hallways of the palace. Tasteful colors and expensive paintings decorated most of the walls. The queen had picked out all of the displayed, original artwork. As the king’s mate, she couldn’t work or have a position inside of the coven. So she decorated and looked after the palace, which was a good occupation for her.
Luis followed on Gerome’s heels in silence until they arrived at the entrance door of his apartment. Maybe there was hope for his mate after all. Gerome opened the door and went straight into the living room. Sam sat on the couch watching TV. He’d introduce them later. Dealing with Sam’s questions and pity would be too much for him right now.
Luis still followed him like an obedient dog. Okay, that was enough. He didn’t need a dog. He didn’t need a mate either, but that was beside the point. Somehow, they needed to find a middle ground. Maybe he should introduce him to Sam now and just get it over with.
“There’s food in the fridge. Make something for yourself if you’re hungry,” he told Luis quietly. He wasn’t going to cook for the man.
Then he looked over to Sam and called out, “Sam, I want to introduce someone to you.”
Gerome watched as Sam, a curious expression on his face, made his way over to the kitchen. “Sam, this is my mate, Luis. Luis, my friend Sam. The partner of my child’s father.”
“Pleased to meet you.” Sam held out his hand. Luis ignored it and simply nodded.
“Can I sit down or do I have to eat standing here?” Luis asked, his voice tight. He didn’t have to ask. Was this a way to annoy Gerome? And just when he thought Luis would follow his rules.
“You don’t have to ask me. Do what you fucking want,” Gerome hissed. He turned to Sam, schooling his expression. “Someone showed you the guestroom I hope?” Sam had nothing to do with this, and Gerome would keep him out of it. Alex’s partner had enough sorrows.
Sam nodded. “Yes, thank you. I hadn’t thought of it, but it is easier for me to stay here.”
“It’s no trouble. It’s safer at any rate. I guess you waited up so I could update you. My father went to work with his men, and we should have some results soon. Until then, there’s, unfortunately, nothing I can do. I have to do one last thing to make this mating official. My father won’t tell me anything without seeing proof.”
“What do you have to do?”
Heat spread across Gerome’s face, and he looked at his hands. He didn’t want to think of what he’d have to do soon. Sickness rolled in his gut, and he swallowed hard to keep it down. “I have to consummate the mating. You know...” he trailed off. He doubted he’d have to say the words. “There will be a mark on my neck, which will tell everyone I’m mated. It only appears after the mating is fully complete, and it can’t be undone.”
“But you—you never even... is this allowed?” Sam stammered. “Can I do anything?”
“I wish, but no. We’ll retire soon and get it over with. You go to bed and get some sleep, and in the morning, we will see what my father and the trackers have come up with.” It was true. There was nothing Sam could do. If there’d been a way out, he’d have found it. But his time had run out, and if he didn’t mate, they might never find his baby, something he couldn’t even consider.
“Really?” Sam stepped closer to Gerome and wrapped his arms around him. Stunned by Sam’s action, Gerome hesitated a second but then hugged Sam back. He slowly relaxed into the embrace, breathing in Sam’s familiar scent. It gave him something he could cling to, something to get some strength from when everything else failed.
“Thank you,” Sam whispered in his ear.
“You’re welcome,” Gerome whispered back, his throat closing. Sam’s kindness brought tears to his eyes. Damn. He couldn’t cry now, but he couldn’t hold back either. A tear made its way down his face, rolling over his cheek before he could catch it. Swallowing hard, he stepped back and ran a hand over his face, embarrassed by the emotions so close to the surface. He needed to get a grip. “Go to bed. It will be okay.” Gerome forced his lips into something resembling a smile. Sam shouldn’t worry about him. Gerome would deal with the consequences of his mating.
“Okay. Good night.” And with that, Sam left. The door to the guestroom snapped closed, telling Gerome he and his mate were alone again. Sam most likely wouldn’t sleep much, but Gerome could do nothing about it. He’d crash as soon as he got the chance, but he’d been awake for too long now. Not even the sorrow over Alex and the baby would keep him up.
“Are you finished eating?” he asked Luis, who just shoved the last piece of his sandwich in his mouth. Luis simply stared at him, his eyes wide. Would he tell him to fuck off? He waited for it, but Luis nodded and rose, standing next to the table until Gerome took the lead and made his way over to the bedroom.