Ciel sighed heavily as they waited for Mordred and his mate to arrive.
"Are you alright Ciel, you don't seem to be feeling very well. What can I do to help you?" Ann asked kindly.
"I'm fine, I'm just tired. I'm sorry Ann." Ciel replied. Sebastian had decided that it would be best for Ciel if he saved the announcement for another day. Ciel was grateful to him for this decision as he wouldn't know how to react when the Queen expressed her own happiness.
"It's alright Dear, I understand. You have a lot going on."Ciel smiled faintly.
Ann wasn't at all what he had expected. She didn't seem demonic at all. Her face was kind and pale, her emerald eyes were soft. She reminded Ciel of his own mother in many ways.
"Mordred is officially late." The King growled drumming his clawed fingers on the arm of his chair. Ann placed a hand on his massive shoulder.
"I know how frustrating this is for you my dear, but please try to be patient, he is our son." Ann soothed.
"Yes, and so is Sebastian, yet here he is, on time. A bit early in fact. That boy needs to be more responsible Rhiannon, he's over a thousand years old, it's high time he learns to follow the same rules as everyone else. When I was his age-"
"I'm sorry Ciel, I know you must be ready to go, had I thought that you would be subjected to this, I would have-"
"It's fine, but I'm not doing this again, I have better things to do that listening to your father complain."
"Of course, I'll do my best to get you home early tonight." Sebastian promised, taking Ciel's hand.
"Are you feeling alright?"
"Mostly I suppose." Ciel replied quietly. Sebastian looked at him skeptically.
"Why don't I believe that?"he asked.
"Because you're over protective." Ciel pulled his hand away from Sebastian.
"Pardon me Your Majesty, my queen, prince Mordred has arrived." A short female demon said softly.
"Send them in Tani." Ann instructed. The servant gave a short bow and exited.
"Now remember my dear, this is family night, be nice." The Queen requested standing to greet her eldest son.
The dark, shadowy figure entered, beside him, Nephthys walked slowly toward the group. Ann held out her arms to her son.
"Mordred, my son, welcome, please both of you come and sit down." She said embracing her son briefly before leading the couple to the group.
"Father, I apologize for being late, the fact is that on the way here, Neph panicked and we had to stop at Geo's store." Mordred said rolling his crimson eyes.
"Tell me Mordred, since when have you ever allowed your mate to take the lead, you are a prince of hell and the dominate figure, you could have easily gotten here on time. Furthermore, to place all the blame on your mate is disgraceful. You were not raised this way. As the dominate mate, it is your duty to care for her and protect her from harm. So far, I've seen you do neither one. You know how I feel about being late and how it angers me, had I ordered your mate punished because of these actions-" The devil growled, only stopping at his mate's touch.
"Be grateful that your mother is everything I am not. It is her gentleness that stops me from turning to the old ways of punishment." Mordred bowed and made took his mother's hand..
"Truly I am grateful Mother, such a gentle soul you are, I wish I could have been more like you." He kissed Ann's cheek and sat down with Nephthys at his side in the empty chairs at the devil's left side.
"Bastian, no greeting for your favorite brother?" he called.
"There would be, if indeed I had one." Mordred shook his head.
"Such a mean little thing." He muttered.
"Do not provoke me tonight Mordred, I'm in no mood for your inability to behave yourself." Sebastian warned.
"I wouldn't dream of it Brother, it would be such a shame for our mother to witness your violent outbursts." Sebastian quickly leaned forward in his seat, glaring at Mordred.
"My outburst, who was it that nearly killed one of the staff simply because he had nothing better to do?"
"You went there did you, tell me, the entree isn't very talkative tonight, what happened brother, did he-"
"Leave my mate out of this Mordred." Sebastian's eyes began to glow dangerously.
"Honestly, I don't know why you just don't give that thing to the gatekeeper, it's of no use to you. I would've done it the second that thing you claim to be your future mate became a demon. He's a waste of-" Sebastian was out of his seat, he lifted his older brother to his feet by his throat and stared deeply into his eyes.
"Say one more thing, look at Ciel in a way I find disrespectful, talk to him, come near him and I will end your life. I don't give a damn what you don't like, who you don't care for or your beliefs. In fact, when Ciel is in the room, or close enough to be seen, cast your eyes to the ground. Do not even let me think you're thinking any thought at all that has anything to do with him. Do you understand me?" Mordred smirked.
"Are you so hell bent on this bondage that you will kill your own brother over a little thing like that?"
"I mean it, this is your one and only warning."
"Sebastian, sweetheart, let go now, you have made your point." Ann said loosening Sebastian's grip on his brother. He stood still watching Mordred closely.
"Mother will not always be able to save you, I know you, one day you will slip and when you do, it will be the very last thing you ever do." Sebastian turned and sat back down next to Ciel. A deep, low growl was barely audible from the youngest prince. Without a word, Ciel reached out to him, taking his hand and giving it a comforting squeeze. Sebastian looked to Ciel and the sounds soon ceased and a faint smile appeared on the demon's face.
"It's alright Sebastian,calm down now, we're here for your mother, not to fight."
"Of course, you're right Ciel,forgive me." Ciel smiled.
"You were protecting me, there isn't really anything to be sorry about other than losing your temper in front of your mother, she doesn't ask us for much, this is important to her. Let's try to get through this." The king and Queen exchanged side glances and smiles.
"My precious Ciel, whatever would I do without you?"Sebastian leaned close,nuzzling the younger demon softly.
"Shall we tell them?" Ann asked leaning back into her mate's arms.
"I think now would be the perfect time." The devil cleared his throat causing Sebastian and Ciel to give him their attention,
"My son, when first you mentioned young Ciel to me, I had my doubts about your relationship and because he is so young, I feared he would not fully understand the commitment of being a mate. I saw the look in his eyes during my questioning, and I see it in you both now. I told you that I reserve the right to refuse your bondage to each other and again I was surprised when you corrected me. You would not refer to your union as a bondage, as Ciel is not your prisoner. To see young Ciel react to you in this way is more than I could have expected. I give my blessing to your marriage and wish you an eternity of joy and strength to overcome any obstacle you may encounter "
"Father, mother, Thank you, It means so much to me to be honored with such an amazing gift." Sebastian said grinning.
"My Ciel is my everything, and I am grateful that you have been open to us. "
"You will take care of each other, through the good and bad times, I see so much of your mother and myself in the two of you. You have found your forever love, hold on to it both of you. Bondage is not something to be taken lightly, just because you accept a proposal, does not at all mean that you should stop trying to keep each other. It is a constant goal to be worked on." the king said.
"You never gave us your blessing,"Mordred complained.
"That is because you have not shown us reason to. You do not understand the meaning You were ready to allow your mate to take the blame for something I know damn well you had control over." The king said angrily.
"So Sebastian's the perfect son, is that what this is father, as I recall, it was not I who ruined your collection of crystal dragons, nor was it I that caught the family tapestry on fire." Mordred shot back.
"no one is perfect Mordred, I may have done those things, all accidentally of course, however, it most certainly was I that broke Mother's favorite statue, which I might add was given to her by our grandmother, a priceless family heirloom out of anger. Shall I continue, I have more." Ciel rolled his eyes.
Such children, if this is what it's like to have a brother, I'm so glad I was an only child. I'm adding to this nonsense I must be mad. Ciel thought. A sharp pain traveled through his abdomen causing him to gasp sharply. Instantly Sebastian was kneeling at his side, his hand stroking Ciel's hair lovingly.
"Ciel, what is it, are you alright?" He asked pulling him into a hug.
"It happened again." Ciel whispered in his ear, resting his head on Sebastian's shoulder.
"Backing down are you baby brother, you're soft." Mordred taunted.
"Say what you will, my Ciel is above all else, whatever I may be doing, He is first priority. You are not even on the list. Do you need to lie down Ciel?" The young demon nodded. Sebastian stood up with his future mate in his arms.
"Mother, Father, I apologize, my Ciel isn't feeling well at the moment. Please excuse us."
"Of course Sebastian, we understand." Ann said gently.
"Take a good look Mordred, Sebastian knows his responsibilities and he looks after his mate, as it should be. As I have cared for your dear mother all these years and will continue to do. Can you say the same?"
"How is that even fair to compare -" Sebastian closed the throne room door behind them, still carrying Ciel.
"Are you feeling better now?" He asked with concern.
"No." Ciel replied gabbing Sebastian's black jacket tightly and burying his face in his mate's chest.
"If you don't feel better soon after we get home, I want you to see the healer, just to be sure everything is alright." Sebastian said exiting the castle and climbing into the carriage. He didn't bother to put Ciel down.
"It really hurts." Ciel said quietly, Sebastian kissed his head.
"I know love, I'll do whatever I can to ease your pain, no matter what it may be, I swear to you that I will take care of you. I love you so much Ciel. I always will." The older demon's heart was breaking as he thought of what that promise might mean. He looked down at Ciel, who was still clinging to him in pain.
"Rest now Ciel, I have you, and I will never let you go." He comforted fully intending to keep his promise, no matter what the cost.