Lover Sacrificed - Chapter 31

Darius dematerialized right outside the mansion at sundown. He hadn’t seen Nalla anymore. But the acid smell of her tears had been imprinted on his soul.

Ahgony came out of the mansion and punched him straight on his face.

- Ahgs! What the fuck?

- That’s for making me worry about you, motherfucker. And, FYI, supposedly, you were too injured to dematerialize, remember. I just helped you make that story more believable. Plus, now we’re even.

Darius grinned, his split lip burning as he did.

- Lets go in. I need to shower.

He walked in to find he had an audience. Again. The whole frikin´ household was here. Great.

His father looked at him disapprovingly as the Queen, his mom, walked up to him to hold him tight.

- Are you alright?

- Yeah, mom, I’m fine. Ah… I gotta go meet Penehlope.

- That has been delayed.

He stopped midway up the stairs to look back at his father.

- I still need a shower though, so…

- Get your ass back down here.

His nostrils flared and he ground his teeth, but he obeyed.

- What the hell were you thinking D? Fighting after a night of drinking? Not calling for back up? Going to collect jars on your own? Are you trying to get yourself killed?

Can’t die if you’re already dead inside, he thought.

- Dad, I’m sure Ahgony already explained…

- I don’t give a rats ass about what Ahgony told me! Do you have any idea how worried your mother and I have been?

- Dad…

- No! I don’t want to hear it. We are not going to go through another day like this again, you hear me? You are the goddamned royal heir. As such, you should have your own Ahstrux Nohtrum.

*-*-*-*-*

 - No!

Ahgony flinched when he heard Darius’ scream.

- You will not disobey me on this one. Hell, I probably should have thought about it the minute you were born.

The king moved his head, as if he were looking around to see who would be Darius’s Ahstrux Nohtrum. All the brothers lifted their fists, and so did he, even though the king would probably want someone more experienced.

He looked over at Mariah who was pleading with her eyes for him not to volunteer.

But D was his friend. His best friend and brother, even if not by blood.

He would be his future king and Ahgony had been raised to respect that. Always. Above anything.

- Thanks my brothers. As much as I would gladly trust my son’s life into any of your hands. You’re all mated, and I will not do this to any of your shellans. Or hellrens.

Wrath looked in in his direction. He was still amazed how the king actually pulled that off without actually being able to see.

- Ahgony, are you sure you want to volunteer. You will be required to sacrifice your life. Dedicate it to D from here on out. Forever. I’m not going to release you from this like I did Qhuinn.

- I am aware my lord. And yes, I am sure.

The king nodded as his mahmen Cormia, buried her face in his father’s chest. Phury looked at him with respect, with pride. He understood what it meant to sacrifice everything for someone else.

He looked at Mariah again, she was hurt. He wanted to go to her, but knew he couldn’t. Not in front of everyone. Which kinda sucked, because they could make this thing between them work. He knew they could.

- V, get your ink ready.

Ahgony looked at Qhuinn’s tear tattoo, right below his eye, which was no longer red, but purple.

He may no longer be an Ahstrux Nohtrum, but he was sure the brother would give him some advice on how to be one.

Ahgony took a deep breath. His life was about to change completely.