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“I don’t care who. A slave, a matron, a willing Ur’gin if you must. You need to find someone to bear your children.” That army of his. He is obsessed. I can understand his desire to have protection from the dark elves, but the lengths my father is willing to go disturbs me.
Worse, it annoys me.
“I do not need to be told to find a mate.”
“Then why haven’t you found one yet? I am tired of reminding you of your duty.” If he’s tired of saying it, I’m tired of hearing it…
Being a Prince affords me certain privileges like rejecting Yedina without consequence, but it also means pressure from my father. Pressure to do what he wants when he wants me to. If there is one thing the King of Demons hates, it is being defied.
And I’ve defied him many times, both publicly and secretly. I have yet to engage in a lethal rebellion, and it’s impossible for me to gauge just when I will cross that line. I probably won’t know until I’m dead.
But I’d rather incur my father’s wrath than bow down to him eternally.
“I am well aware of what you believe my duty to be, father.”
“Then fulfill it. You are a Prince. Start acting like one.”
“There are eight other Princes you can turn to who can operate in my stead.” I haven’t spoken to my brothers, so it is possible that they have gotten this exhausting speech, but I have a feeling the King is focusing most of his attention on me currently.
“Do not concern yourself with what your brothers do.”
“Why not? There are only so many matrons and humans. I am sure a few of them are more than interested in breeding with them.” He is wasting his time trying to convince me when he could find a willing participant ready to spread their seed.
“Yes, there are those ready to do what is necessary, but we need everyone. If we’re not careful, our numbers will decrease and make us vulnerable to an assault from Protheka.”
“That’s fine, but I am not interested in creating offspring.” After a childhood with a father whose face I’d never even seen, I found the prospect of children… inconvenient.
I never viewed myself as particularly warm or inviting, but I do want a home life that brings me comfort. I don’t see myself as capable of that with a child.
I never had it, so I cannot give it.
All I can hope for is a mate that I can spend time with and not grow weary of them.
“I’d rather find a suitable mate to spend my life with.” The chaos magic that surrounds my father bubbles with his anger. I know this is meant to intimidate me.
The King only shows emotion when it is beneficial for him. I used to wonder if he was capable of feeling anything outside of a desire for power. I no longer worried myself with such thoughts, but it would be advantageous to know my father’s plan if only to stay ahead of them.
“You are insolent, like your mother. It is foolish to waste time searching for such a connection. The royal blood flowing through your veins has a greater purpose.” The low growl he emits is meant to act as a warning.
One I do not heed. “It is what I want, and I will take the consequences and sacrifices that come with it.”
“You would sacrifice the livelihoods of your people for something so insignificant!”
I almost chuckle. The Demon King would subject his people to the harshest of circumstances if it meant he held onto his crown. “I will fight when I am needed, and you should expect nothing more.”
The King leans back in his throne, shaking his head. The fabric of his hood swishes as his eyes bore holes into my skin. “You waste your potential.”
“I waste nothing.”
“Oh?” The room falls into silence for a few moments as my father allows his disappointment of me to linger in the air.
Years ago, this might have been devastating, but my concern regarding his opinion of me only extends to whether or not he wants me dead.
“You spend your days on useless hunts, attacking creatures that fall far below your rank. Engaging in fights you know you will win.”
I hold my tongue, keeping myself from spitting out that he does not allow me to fight in a real battle.
My victory against the gilak only happened because I went against his orders. Everything good and exciting in my life is the product of a rebellion. Akos. Laura…
