Chapter Sixteen
Zypher
I hadn’t seen Bechora since breakfast. I was tempted to seek her out at Magus House, certain that she would be there, but I learned a bit about human realm customs from her mage friend, Miles, over dinner the evening before.
The small male’s terror permeated the air until I made it clear I meant him no harm and merely wanted to understand more about the human realm.
A plan forming in my mind around the male’s advice, I made my way to the training arena in search of Rumlock.
The electricity mage seemed sure that interfering with the professor would only anger my Dilectus, but it was the one thing my instincts refused to compromise on.
Besides, the combat professor was half-demon—that made him my father’s subject, and I was within my rights as heir to question the male.
The hybrid demon-fae was overseeing his last class of the day when I strolled onto the training pitch. Placing his fingers between his lips, he let loose a sharp whistle and dismissed his students.
“Prince Zypher,” he nodded respectfully.
“Rumlock,” I grunted, waiting until the last student was out of earshot. “What is this I hear about you pairing my Dilectus with a bear shifter for her first combat class?”
“I needed to speak with you,” Rumlock shrugged.
“Haven’t you heard of sending a message? You didn’t need to send my fated to the infirmary with a training injury. I could have your head for that.”
Rumlock turned to face me, his lips pressed into a thin line that caused the scar across his left eye and cheek to pucker. “What do you think the bear was, Prince Zypher? Would you have me seek you out directly and out myself as half demon against your father’s orders?”
“My father’s machinations are none of my concern. The well-being of my Dilectus, however, is,” I replied dryly.
It wasn’t a secret among my kind that my father placed a spy within the Academy to ensure the safety of our people on campus.
Lesser demons started vanishing decades before my birth from these hallowed halls with no explanation.
They were written off as fleeing the Academy for any number of reasons, because anything else meant someone was working against the inherent magic that kept students and staff safe.
The disappearances stopped in recent years with the suspicious rise of other supernaturals eloping to the human realm, which only furthered my father’s belief that something was amiss.
“You know my gift, my prince?” Rumlock asked.
“Of course. Filum Viden is the rarest gift of our kind, one of the few remnants of our origin. Your ability to see the threads that connect us was invaluable on and off the battlefield.”
“Yes, well, it helps to know who you can turn against your enemy and who to cut down to weaken their resolve.”
“I’m not certain why your ability led you to pair my Dilectus with a bear shifter, causing her to become injured. Nor why you felt that was the appropriate message to send.” I drawled, crossing my arms over my chest.
“It’s quite simple, my prince. I saw her threads, and the darkness attempting to choke them out.”
My eyebrows rose sharply at his words. “Explain. Now, Rumlock, before I lose patience with you.”
“It’s common for the females of our kind to have many Dilecti. Rare for those not of our kind, but as she is your fated, it would make sense that she shares some traits with our own females.”
“Yes, I am aware of this,” I interrupted with a wave of my hand.
“My own mother, Lilith, was mated to Adam as well as my father. It is well known that Adam’s rejection of their fated bond weakened her power.
My Dilectus having multiple mates doesn’t concern me.
So long as they accept their bond, they will strengthen her.
I am not a spawn that requires reeducation in that regard, and I suspect the darkness you have seen is the true reason for seeking me out in such a dangerous manner. ”
“As you say,” Rumlock nodded. “The darkness that covets her threads is the true concern. There are forces at work intent on keeping your Dilectus from completing her bonded Vinculum. For a female to have so many fated at risk can only mean something is coming that will either restore or completely shatter the balance.”
“How many fated threads does she hold?”
Rumlock clucked his tongue. “You know that is information I cannot share with you, my prince. To speak such things is to invite dark forces to meddle further.”
“You’re a superstitious old man,” I groaned, wiping a hand roughly down my face. “Why tell me any of this if you’re just going to speak in vague riddles?”
“It’s not superstition when I’ve seen the results of speaking such information aloud.
Not when my own whispers have snapped fated threads before they could bond.
” Rumlock scowled. “I may not be able to tell you more, but you know the signs of a fated pairing. What little I’ve been able to share should be enough for you to suss out the rest of your Vinculum. ”
I took a second to consider his words. Even if he refused to tell me how many mates would be part of our bonded group with my Dilectus, he still gave me enough to watch for the signs and find them on my own.
If Bechora’s bonds were truly at risk, I needed to move up my timeline to woo her and begin introducing her to more demons until we found the others.
“One last thing, my prince,” Rumlock spoke, interrupting my thoughts. “You may want to extend your vernacular for your Vinculum to include brood, lest you waste time searching in the wrong direction.”
“Vampires?” I asked. Rumlock pressed his lips together in a firm line and narrowed his eyes at me.
I let out a heavy sigh and shook my head at his refusal to answer.
“Very well. I will brush up on the terminology for other supernaturals. You have done well bringing this to my attention, though I must caution you to find other means of getting my attention in the future. I will not tolerate putting my Dilectus in danger a second time.”
The professor let out a derisive snort. “She was never in danger. The magic in the arena wouldn’t have allowed her to come to mortal harm.
But I will account for your most protective instincts should I need to speak to you outside of classes in the future.
I wish you luck, my prince, and will pray to the Morrigan on your behalf. ”
“I doubt the Fae goddess cares for our kind, but I thank you anyway,” I replied with a curt nod before turning to leave.
“Who better to care for a species born of war than the Goddess of death and war herself?” I heard him call out as I strode from the training pitch.
I couldn’t help but chuckle at how Fae the half-demon seemed in his belief before letting my mind mull over the information he’d given me.
The professor provided enough clues to figure out that Bechora had more mates than was usual even for my kind, and unlike other females who mated into demon Vinculum, not all of her Dilecti would be demon-kind.
I was going to need allies, to not only win her over and complete our bond, but to help find her other males.
A wide grin split my face as I decided I knew exactly who to ask.
I arrived at Magus House moments later. Several mages milled around their common room, giving me wary glances when they noticed my presence. Not wanting to waste time assuaging their unwarranted fear of my kind, I grabbed the collar of the nearest male mage.
“I’m looking for Miles Dalton. Where is his room?”
“Room two-oh-one,” the male squeaked out.
“Thank you.” I smiled, releasing his collar and patting him on the shoulder before making my way to the stairs on the other side of the room.
It took me a few minutes to find the correct room, but I was pleased when Miles opened the door after the first knock. The sudden loss of color in his face that greeted me was another story.
“Are you well, Miles?” I asked, studying the lean male for any signs of injury.
“Uh, um, Zypher. Hi, uhm, hello. What can I help you with?” His words came out jumbled with a slight tremor.
Grabbing his shoulder gently, I turned him and walked him into his dorm.
“If you are unwell, I can return another time. I simply wished to ask for your assistance. The knowledge of human realm customs that you shared with me over dinner allowed me to realize I will need to… date… my Dilectus if I wish to win her over.” Miles shuddered under my grip.
“You are unwell, I will come another time.”
“N-n-no,” the mage stuttered. “I’m not sick.
I’m just…” He paused, looking over his shoulder at me as if to gauge my reaction.
“Honestly, a demon showing up at my door is terrifying enough, but you’re…
well, you and I know B said she’d make sure you didn’t rip me apart for touching her hand in spellcasting, and I washed my hands at least a hundred times just in case—”
“I see. You’re babbling, but you’re afraid of me,” I interrupted, causing Miles to pale further as his eyes widened.
“I have no wish to harm you. Even if you weren’t friends with my Dilectus, your consideration for the impulses males have toward their fated is enough to know you’re no threat to me. ”
“Uh, good, that’s… that’s really good,” Miles mumbled, pushing his glasses up his nose with one finger.
I released his shoulders and let him lead me to the couch in the communal space of his dorm room. Miles motioned for me to take a seat while he nervously gathered up textbooks and loose papers spread along the coffee table.
“You said you needed my help with something?” he asked without lifting his gaze from the items he gathered up.
“Yes. I’d like to plan one of these dates you spoke of at dinner. Something that will impress my Dilectus.”
“I’m not really sure I’m the right person for the job,” he replied with a wry smile. “I mean, I barely know Bechora. Shadrie would probably be able to provide you with better information on what she likes and dislikes.”
“I’m sure the ice mage would tell me what I wanted to know, but you are less likely to spoil the surprise. After all, us males need to stick together, yes? I think that’s called bro code.”
Miles’ head snapped up, and he let out a laugh of disbelief. “Who taught you bro code?”
Letting my amusement show clearly on my face, I grinned at him. “I may not have had reason to learn your realm’s customs before Bechora, but I met others from there. This is my third year at the Academy; it’s not like I could avoid them completely.”
“Why would you go out of your way to avoid supes from the human realm?”
“They tend to hold the most unflattering beliefs about my kind.” I shrugged. “Listen, Miles, I will make you a deal.”
The mage paled again, his body going still. “No, no deals.”
I couldn’t help the frustrated sigh that left me.
It was obvious the male had learned some of the more unsavory beliefs about demons and our penchant for deals.
Contrary to what many believed, we didn’t steal the souls of those we made deals with, nor did we eat babies, as I was once accused of doing.
We simply provided our end of the bargain for them to act as a conduit that enabled us to access the innate magic of their world—magic we wouldn’t be able to access and wield otherwise.
“No deals. Not like that,” I assured him. “I simply wish for us to be friends and for you to help me plan a date with my Dilectus, if you’re willing.”
Miles’ posture relaxed, and a small smile spread along his lips. “Okay. I still think Shadrie would be the better option because she knows B better, but I’ll do what I can to help.”
“Perfect. Now, tell me how these dates work in your realm.”