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Chapter Nine

Rakhai smiled down the table at his daughter and her Elite. They often took meals together and enjoyed it immensely. However, Miya was thinking rather hard about something. That wasn't unusual. For his daughter being so beautiful, charming and fierce, she was quite the intellect as well. She was truly his and her mother's daughter. His beautiful flower sat next to him, sipping her tea and staring at her half finished plate. She had that small crease between her eyebrows that showed when she was deep in thought. Rakhai smiled. He was loath to interrupt her, especially when he could easily guess what was on her mind. The seat next to her that usually was occupied by their dear Matthias was empty. He had not returned from his feeding yet.

"Ask, Father, I know you want to." She groused, letting Maeri braid her hair and pile it onto her head in a complex crown.

Xavin's robotic bird twittered and hopped down the table, upsetting a few people's cups. Jadan growled at it in annoyance, pouring himself a cup of coffee. He was sooo not a morning person. Hiro and Mordred sat at Rakhai's left, the childlike vampire sipping on some warmed blood while Mordred enjoyed a big steak for breakfast.

"What has you so irked, beloved one?" He asked gently, stroking her head soothingly.

Miya huffed and scratched her wrist like she would do when she was younger when she was agitated. The gesture made him smile.

"I did a reading for Matthias and I drew the Desire card and the Heart of Darkness card. I know that he is meant to be with the Dark Lord but I just can't stand sharing him. With Arcaeth, it was different. He knows how our system works. He understands that Matthias belongs to us, to me, he belongs here before any lover or companion. The Dark Lord doesn't even try to learn our ways even though they are Matthias's ways as well." She said bitterly, earning a small smirk from Hiro across the table.

"Miya, you can't expect him to be held by our traditions alone. Matthias will have to teach him to abide by them himself. He is his mate, it is his responsibility. They are bound deeply, not only by mateship but by a curse much deeper." Hiro said, his voice fading to a monotone and his eyes glazing over. "It will not be long now. A death will draw Matthias even closer into the World that abandoned him and he abandoned in return. He will be forced to deal with his past and it will either push him further into the Dark Lord's arms or it will worm it's way into his heart like an infection." His eyes cleared and he speared his princess with a gaze that had the back of a millennia. "It is up to you to decide whether it is worst to have your friend with the Dark Lord or breaking under the weight of their world."

Miya sighed but nodded reluctantly. It was Matthias's duty to protect her as her guard and her duty to protect him as his best friend. She would fulfill that obligation no matter how much the effects would annoy her.



Matthias chose that very moment to walk into the Dining Hall, mussed and frsh from bed. No matter that it hadn't been his bed. Jadan laughed, a loud rough sound at the state his General was in. Xavin smirked into his glass and Mordred laughed outright. It was so obvious that he had just come from one steamy, rough, sex filled visit with the Dark Lord.

"Well, Matthias! You may want to go back to bed. You don't look like you got a wink of sleep all night!" Jadan laughed, making the rest of the table except Miya burst into laughter and light teasing.

Matthias just waved them off with a good natured grin and took his place at Miya's side. She plastered on a smile so he couldn't see the conflict in her eyes.

"How was your feeding, lovely?" She inquired lightly, tugging on his disheveled braid.

He kissed her cheek in greeting.

"Fucking amazing. Just like always. If he weren't so possessive and trying to impregnate me at every turn, he would be quite the lover. We got in another argument this morning."

The whole table suddenly turned to stare, wanting to hear about it. He barked out a laugh.

"You nosy sods!" He grinned, but continued so they could all hear, "He seemed happy that I could only get a full feeding from him now and I told him that there was no way in hell that I could ever be monogamous with him. He of course, hates sharing. He would have failed kindergarden. He is busy thinking of an acceptable solution that will make both of us happy and I am free to hop through anyone's bed until then."

She seemed surprised that the Dark Lord would even consider sharing Matthias for even a short time. It was unusual. He must really be trying to make it work.

"You better hop to it then! That man is going to do anything to get you to stay with him and it could involve anything underhanded as well." Maeri said quickly.

"What are you suggesting?" Keiran, their Shadow Wraith, asked with a deep frown in place.

She shrugged but her serious expression didn't match the careless gesture.

"What I mean to say is that Voldemort did kidnap and rape Matthias, not matter how much his Incubus enjoyed it, so we shouldn't trust him just because he's Matthias's lover now! We should put up extra precautions! Set our General up with Wards and protections that Voldemort won't expect."

Rakhai looked at the unconcerned Matthias for his opinion on the matter.

"What do you say, Matthias?" The Arch Bishop asked calmly.

The General spread a generous amount of spice butter on his bagel and took a bite.

"Whatever puts my crew and Miya at ease, Master Rakhai."



The Arch Bishop nodded and Miya at her best friend, letting him wrap a loving arm around her waist.

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