Chapter 35 Zypher #2
I squared my shoulders and opened the door, motioning for Gabriel to lead the others inside.
Once Archer crossed the threshold, I followed them in, allowing the door to fall shut as I moved to the front of our group.
Gabriel and I stood shoulder to shoulder, the vampire’s eyes scanning over the demons gathered in the common room, as we walked toward the chair that always sat centered on the far wall.
As soon as we reached it, he moved to the side, Archer following to stand beside him, and I shifted just enough for Bechora to stand in front of the chair before we turned to face the gathering demons.
“Greetings, Daemonium House,” I started, my voice loud enough to be heard throughout the room. “I have come to present my bonded Dilectus, Bechora Knight.”
Every eye in the room shifted to settle on her, heavy with expectation. Several of the males shifted to wipe their palms on their pants leg in anticipation of touching her hand.
“Good morning,” Bechora said, sweetly. “I’m here to listen to any concerns or issues you may have, as is my duty as Zypher’s mate. The other two males at my side are also my bonded, and have completed my Vinculum.”
Murmurs rippled through the gathered demons, and a male near the back called out. “How can you be certain if you’ve not given us the chance to find out?”
My jaw clenched as I fought against the urge to step in on Bechora’s behalf.
This was a possibility we’d discussed on the way over, and I’d made it clear she would have to handle it without one of us speaking for her, if she didn’t want to risk the demon students disobeying her edict that she wasn’t to be touched.
Bechora arched a brow in challenge, her chin lifting slightly.
“I don’t need to allow you to prove anything,” she said evenly.
“My Vinculum is complete, and I’m not entertaining challenges to that fact.
If you were meant to be one of my bonded, you already would be, as I have been guided to each of my males by a seer. ”
“Apologies,” the male said, stepping forward with his head tilted down, in deference to my Dilectus. “I did not mean to question the authority of an Oracle. Please forgive my impertinence.”
I let out a slow breath of relief. She’d been smart to use her brother’s seer abilities to reinforce her statement that she’d found all of her mates.
“Water under the bridge,” she smiled, though I didn’t miss the way her shoulders relaxed slightly. “As long as all of you will forgive me for taking the time to learn about your culture, before fulfilling my obligations as your prince’s Dilectus.”
My gaze slid to her at her words, and I wondered how true they were. I’d told her things here and there, but given Archer’s knowledge of my kind, I couldn’t be certain she hadn’t had the wolf give her a crash course after she’d learned of her new position as my mother’s heir.
“If that’s settled, I’ll hear any concerns or issues you have,” she continued, easing herself into the chair behind her.
The tension in the room didn’t disappear entirely, but it shifted. Pride bloomed in my chest at how my Dilectus had managed to establish authority and make it clear they weren’t to touch her, with that single exchange. From there, things moved easier; one by one, the demons stepped forward.
Most of them had nothing of concern to bring to her attention.
Curiosity drove them more than anything else.
They introduced themselves and preened when Bechora asked about their abilities and expressed genuine interest in them.
Some were more formal than others, and a few lingered longer than necessary, clearly trying to get a better read on her, but none crossed the boundary she set.
I remained at her side the entire time, Gabriel and Archer flanking her like twin threats made flesh.
It wasn’t subtle, but it didn’t need to be.
The message had already been delivered. Loud and clear by Bechora herself.
It wasn’t until the flow of introductions began to clear that the shift came.
A male near the far wall stepped forward, slower than the others had.
Hesitant, but not uncertain. His gaze flicked to me before returning to her. My attention sharpened instantly.
“Your highness,” he said, with a sweeping bow. “I’m Drazheal Maltheon.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Drazheal,” Bechora replied. “Do you have a concern or issue you need to share with me?”
The male hesitated again. “It’s… it’s my sister. Elthira is a year ahead of me here, a Third Year.”
Bechora’s brows dipped in concern. “What’s going on with her?”
“She’s missing,” he replied, swallowing hard. “I went to her room a few days ago, like I’ve done every evening, and it… it’s just empty. Like she was never there.”
“What room?” I asked before Bechora could reply.
The male's eyes flicked to me before returning to her. “What room?” Bechora asked gently, echoing the question when it was clear the male wasn’t going to react to my breach of protocol.
“One-nineteen,” he replied. It was one of the empty rooms from the paper Gabriel and Archer found in the records room.