Bound by Midnight's Spell

Chapter 5

On the other side of the realm, in the dimly lit halls of the Midnight palace, Ana and Richard Midnight, the King and Queen of the Dragons, find themselves embroiled in a heated argument. Ana's voice echoed through the corridors, laced with concern and frustration. "Richard, how many more incidents do we need before you take action? Kai's behavior is becoming intolerable!"

Richard stood firm, his expression grave. "I understand your worry, Ana, but he is our son. His beast is untamed and your attempts to make him bed a woman are not helping."

Their dispute was abruptly interrupted as the grand doors of the dining hall swung open, and Kai, their second son, entered, an air of arrogance surrounding him. His parents' gazes locked onto him as Ana's words hung heavy in the air.

"Kai, you are not above reproach! You broke poor girls’ arms" Ana admonished; her tone strained with worry.

Kai scoffed, his eyes smoldering with defiance. "Mother, father, my personal life is not for discussion. Be grateful that I didn’t snap her neck. You will not interfere again, or there will be consequences."

Richard's gaze narrowed, his patience waning. "Kai, your actions have consequences. You cannot dismiss them so callously. Your mother wants what is best for you. You are the Crown Prince of the Dragon Realm and the future Head of the Supernatural Council, and in order to ascend to the throne you need to have a legal heir. This has been the law for centuries! Also, to have balance, your inner beast needs a mate!"

A smirk twisted Kai's lips, his tone cutting. "Sending random women to my bed is not helping. I am the future king. I will not tolerate interference in my affairs. The next intruder will face severe consequences."

The tension in the room was palpable, each word a c***k in the fragile peace. Ana's eyes pleaded with her son while Richard's held a simmering anger.

“Look at your brother. He is one year older than you and already has a mate and 4 children.” her mother added, impatient.

Kai's eyes flashed with impatience as he listened to his mother's words, her concern etched into every syllable. "Mother, I am not Yann," he retorted sharply. "I'll decide my own fate, my own path."

Ana's voice quivered, a mix of worry and frustration. "Kai, you need to understand the responsibility that comes with your position. You will need an heir, especially with all the nobles family’s pressure. Rumors are going around, and we need nobles' support more than ever, especially with all the pressure and tensions that are happening at the border now from the rogues."

Richard, ever composed, interjected with a stern tone. "Kai, your choices impact not only you but the entire kingdom. Your actions reflect upon our family. Leading the Dragons House is about strength, but about politics also."

Kai's jaw clenched; his voice laced with a steely resolve. "I know my responsibilities. I'll choose a mate when I'm ready, and I won't be rushed by anyone."

Tension filled the room, each word a clash of wills. Kai's declaration lingered, a stark challenge to the traditions that had long governed the Midnight family.

The door opened again and his older brother, Yann, stepped in, followed by his wife and his four children. After they greeted with a bow the current king and queen, they took their assigned seats at the table.

“Hello baby brother,” Yann addressed him on a teasing tone. Despite being older by just one year, Yann always resented his brother for being chosen as the Crown Prince instead of him, so he used every opportunity to taunt him in front of others, knowing Kai’s explosive temper.

“I heard something quite exciting this morning, that you put another woman in the hospital with broken limbs,” Yann added.

Ana, his mother, tried to shush him, but Yann continued smiling, continuing, “At this rate, no one would want to work for Kai's chambers, mother. The remaining staff is already terrified of Kai and his and his beast’s violent outbursts. Why should we hide this? A true rules need to be calm and balanced, and have full control over his inner beast.”

Kai leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he shot a fierce glance at his brother. "I don't need your opinion on my affairs, Yann," he retorted coldly. "I can handle my matters just fine."

Yann chuckled, unfazed by Kai's glare. "Oh, I'm sure you can, dear brother," he said, emphasizing the word 'dear' mockingly. "But maybe it's time to consider how your outbursts are affecting our family’s reputation in front of the other supernaturals. News is spreading fast, and we can’t afford to show weakness."

Kai clenched his fists under the table, a low growl escaping his throat. His parents exchanged worried glances, sensing the escalating tension between their sons.

The atmosphere in the room became charged with hostility as Kai pushed back his chair, rising to his feet. "Enough, Yann," he warned, his voice low and dangerous. "I won't repeat myself."

Their father, Richard, intervened, trying to defuse the tension. "Boys, let's not ruin this family breakfast with unnecessary quarrels. Yann, perhaps you could share some news about your family or house affairs. And you, Kai, put your affairs in order, as indeed you need staff to serve your chambers. The best solution would be to go by yourself and select your own attendants from the Slave House. Maybe, in this way, you would find the right omegas instead of accusing your mother of interfering,” the king added in an absolute tone.

“And find yourself a mate. I give you 6 more months starting today. If you don’t have anyone selected till that time, we will decide a chosen one for you and our choice is final. You are 30 years old Kai!!! At your age, I already had you and your brother.” The king added.

“But father,” Kai interjected, but his father shook his head.

“We had enough, Kai. You have a strong beast, and physically you are an unmatched warrior of our realm and a cunning businessman, but you need someone to support you on the social aspect, my son, to provide you with an heir and to appease your beast. You need a wife to handle the social circles and the diplomacy that you are lacking. Not everything is brute force.”

Yann smirked at Kai with a malicious glint in his eyes, before shifting the conversation to more neutral topics.

After the tense family breakfast, Kai made his way back to his chambers, attempting to steer clear of any further conflict with his family. The growing frustration within him was palpable, and as he entered his room, the omega maids cleaning the space immediately sensed his foul mood.

A hushed silence fell over the room as the omegas exchanged uneasy glances. Kai, his eyes flashing with irritation, barked a single word, "Leave!" The omegas scattered, disappearing in an instant, not daring to be in the line of fire.

Once alone, Kai paced back and forth, running his hands through his hair in frustration.

“f**k!” He cursed himself for allowing his temper to be manipulated by Yann's provocations. He knew better than to fall into such traps, but his brother had a knack for getting under his skin.

As he brooded in his chambers, Kai couldn't shake the feeling that Yann had orchestrated the entire situation. The perfectly placed words to their mother, the calculated influence to send a naked woman to his bed, and the timely ultimatum from their father—all felt like Yann's cunning handiwork.

Kai gritted his teeth, vowing not to let his brother's machinations dictate his choices. The beast within him simmered, an untamed force that threatened to break free, his bloodlust at the surface.

In the depths of his chambers, Kai grapples with the complexity of his relationship with Yann. The rift between them had roots that dug deep into their childhood. Yann's resentment has been evident ever since Kai's Dragon beast manifested itself prematurely at the tender age of 10, instead of 18—an unprecedented occurrence within their Dragon realm. It sent shock waves through the entire supernatural world.

The significance of the Dragon beast's awakening was profound. It marked a dragon's passage into adulthood, a time when their strength and dominance typically emerged. For Kai, this manifestation set him apart, unparalleled in power and might even among the older dragons.

His unexpected rise to the role of Crown Prince stirred deep-seated envy in Yann. According to tradition, Yann, being the eldest son, should have inherited the throne, as happened for generations. But Kai's extraordinary abilities and the strength of his beast defied all norms, which convinced the King and the High Council to appoint him as the Crown Prince instead of his brother.

From that moment, a rift happened between him and his brother. Yann, realizing that a direct confrontation with Kai would be a lost cause due to Kai’s unmatched strength, resorted to clandestine strategies, meant to damage his image. He engaged in manipulative games, carefully crafted to provoke Kai's explosive temper. Yann reveled in pushing Kai's buttons, especially when there was an audience, knowing full well the volatility of his brother's emotions.

The tension between the brothers was a constant undercurrent, a clash of wills and ambitions that echoed through their interactions. Kai understood the intricacies of his brother's machinations and the underlying resentment.

Pacing around, Kai beckoned for Patrick, his loyal butler, who arrived promptly with a bow. The camaraderie and history between them lingered beneath Kai's stoic façade. Patrick, a rare hybrid between a Dragon and a vampire, had been a constant presence in Kai's life since childhood. Though Patrick had been appointed to serve the Midnight household, Kai had personally retained him after he was relieved of his main duties and was replaced, considering him an indispensable pillar of support.

"Patrick," Kai began in a tone that didn't betray his inner turmoil, "How many staff members do we have currently working in our castle wing?"

The butler hesitated for a moment, a glimmer of concern crossing his eyes before he replied, "Nine, Your Highness."

Kai's brow furrowed at the unexpectedly low number. "That's far fewer than it should be. We should have at least 25 staff members. What's the reason for this deficit?"

Patrick asked for permission to speak candidly, a request Kai granted with a silent nod. "The staff is scared, Your Highness" Patrick admitted, his voice tinged with concern. "Many have requested transfers or attempted to flee, but such actions are met with immediate punishment. The omegas are terrified by your beast and the rumors, and they can’t complete their tasks when you are around due to your strong aura, and the humans… the last one you put her in the hospital last night."

The weight of Patrick's words settled heavily in the room. The revelation struck a chord within Kai, confirming his fears that his beast bloodlust was increasing gradually, despite his relentless struggle to control it.

Kai felt a surge of frustration and helplessness. The realization that his actions and the state of affairs within his home were causing such fear and desperation among the staff weighed heavily on him. It was yet another reminder of the control his brother wielded, his influence seeping into every facet of their lives. He had control over his beast most of the time, despite the bloodlust, but the fake rumors, coupled with his displeasure at being approached by any female presence, were the main leverage points which his brother used to discredit him.

As Kai stood in his chamber, wrestling with the implications of Patrick's words, a sense of foreboding gripped him. He knew that if things continued down this path, it would only be a matter of time before everything spiraled out of control. His brother put him in a tight spot.

Kai, steeling himself against the oppressive weight of his brother's influence, turned to Patrick and declared, "Today, we will visit the Slave House to address this matter."

Patrick nodded in acknowledgment, a glimmer of hope sparking in his eyes. At that moment, Kai was resolute — he wouldn't allow his brother to manipulate his emotions and control the narrative. As the crown prince, he would confront the challenges that lay ahead, as he didn’t get this position for nothing.

After a short phone call, Patrick turned to Kai, “All arrangements are made, Your Highness; the Slave House is expecting your arrival to make your selection.

One hour later, Kai and Patrick were seated on a couch with a representative, while a mere number of just 5 slaves were on display in front of them.

“This is it?” Kai turned impatient to the representative.

“We have a few more, Your Highness”, the representative said, sweating nervously, being affected by Kai’s beast, “But they are not trained, just new arrivals.”

“Show them to me, I have no time to waste,” Kai replied again, irritated.

After a few commands, the doors opened again and another 7 slaves were pushed in the room.

“Only 7 more? Are you joking?” Kai asked incredulously.

“Your highness, your brother, Prince Yann arrived yesterday and selected a large number for his household, with the instruction to be delivered immediately.”

Kai’s temper flared, as the plot was unveiled clearly. It was yet another of Yann’s plans to discredit him: the naked maid in his bed, the mention of lacking staff in his wing, …

Now, if he returns without staff, it will be flagged again as a failure in front of his parents, which will tarnish his image even more. At the same time, he would not buy the first 5 displayed, as he was sure that maybe one or more were spies already planted.

“The first 5 can go. I am interested in the last 7 you brought.” Kai said, while stepping in front of them and looking at them one by one.

And then, the most shocking thing happened. When he arrived in front of a pitiful, battered, underweight blonde girl with dark green eyes and a trembling figure, with serial number 59675C, his beast spoke to him for the very first time in his head.

“This one.”