Bound by Midnight's Spell

Chapter 8

The revelation hung heavy in the air as Patrick absorbed Kai's confession. He stared at his lord, his eyes reflecting a mix of shock and disbelief. The room felt charged with an unspoken tension.

In a cautious tone, Patrick asked, "My lord, do you mean to say that you don't fancy women? Are you... perhaps more inclined towards men?"

Kai's irritation flared, his eyes narrowing at the insinuation. "No, Patrick," he snapped. "It's not about preferences. My body doesn't respond to any gender."

Patrick's shock deepened. "You mean to tell me... you've never... bedded anyone?"

Kai nodded, the admission heavy on his conscience. "Yes, Patrick. I've tried. Hot and heavy on numerous occasions, with different people. I even sought the services of professionals. But nothing. No reaction."

Patrick, his mind racing to comprehend the gravity of Kai's confession, asked in a hushed voice, "Is it... medical, my lord? Could there be a cure, a treatment?"

Kai, his shoulders slumping in exhaustion, looked away. "I've conducted tests, analyses, sought the counsel of doctors. I even visited witches in the hopes of finding a solution. Nothing. No medical condition, no curse. It's as if my body refuses to function as it should when it is about this."

Patrick felt goosebumps prickling his skin at the weight of Kai's revelation. The air in the room seemed to grow denser with the unspoken challenge that now stood between them.

"My lord," Patrick stammered, struggling to find the right words, "I... I don't know what to say. This is... unprecedented. Have you considered seeking counsel from supernatural entities? Perhaps they could—"

Kai cut him off with a weary shake of his head. "I've explored every avenue, Patrick. Nothing. No answers."

Silence hung between them, thick with the weight of the uncharted territory they now navigated. Patrick, torn between his loyalty to Kai and the profound implications of the revelation, felt a sense of helplessness.

The gravity of Kai's revelation lingered in the room as Patrick, still grappling with the shock, sought further clarification. "My lord, does anyone in your family know about your condition? Particularly, your parents?"

Kai's gaze shifted, avoiding Patrick's eyes for a moment before he responded, "No one knows, Patrick. It's a secret I've guarded closely, hoping that in time I would find a solution or a person who could change this."

Patrick's eyes widened with concern. "But, my lord, as the Crown Prince, you're expected to have an heir before ascending to the throne. If this condition is not addressed, it could put the royal family Midnight in a vulnerable position."

Kai's frustration bubbled to the surface. "I know, Patrick! Do you think I haven't considered the implications? But what are the alternatives? To give the throne to Yann?"

Patrick nodded, a resigned look on his face. Yann, despite being of royal blood, was known for his social ruthlessness and cunning nature. He was perceived as a snob, and while he underwent countless training sessions, his physical prowess was no greater than that of an average soldier.

"But, my lord," Patrick hesitated, choosing his words carefully, "Yann is from the royal family. Despite his flaws, wouldn't he be the next in line if you can't—"

Kai cut him off, his voice rising in frustration. "Yann would be a disastrous ruler! He lacks the strategic mind and strength necessary to lead our people. He is interested only in his own gain and advantages. The citizens would suffer, and the dragons would lose their position as the supreme leaders in front of the other supernaturals. It's not an option."

Patrick, realizing the gravity of the predicament, fell silent for a moment. The room seemed to echo with the weight of the unspoken dilemma.

"My lord," Patrick finally spoke, his voice measured, "we must find a solution. A way to navigate this situation without compromising the integrity of the royal family or endangering our people."

Kai's frustration and sense of helplessness hung in the air as Patrick considered the magnitude of the situation. Patrick placed a reassuring hand on Kai's shoulder, silently acknowledging the weight of the burden he carried.

"My lord," Patrick began cautiously, "I understand the predicament you're facing. For now, perhaps the best course of action is to entertain Alexandra. It will appease your mother, and because of appearances, it may buy us some time."

Kai nodded; his exhaustion evident. "You're right, Patrick. I'll endure it for my mother's sake and to keep appearances. But I fear what might happen if the truth gets out. I can't perform my marital duties, and any selected woman would inevitably discover the truth, which will be spread in no time to the entire realm."

Patrick's eyes gleamed with understanding. "We'll find a solution, my lord. For now, let's focus on the immediate situation. Entertain Alexandra, and we'll strategize from there."

Kai, with a heavy sigh, agreed. "You're right, Patrick. For now, appearances must be maintained."

As Patrick prepared to leave, Kai's weariness became more apparent. "Send me my secret drink before I retire for the night, Patrick."

A conspiratorial smile played on Patrick's lips. "Your Nesquick, my lord?"

Kai chuckled, a rare display of amusement. "Yes, my Nesquick. And in the meantime, I will take a shower.”

Patrick nodded, appreciating the quirk that made Kai more approachable amidst the weight of his responsibilities, and totally different from his brother, who didn’t bother himself with talking to the staff or lower ranks, unless he was barking orders. "Consider it done, my lord."

As Patrick exited the room, leaving Kai alone with his thoughts, the shadows of uncertainty and the intricacies of the royal family's struggles enveloped them.

In the bustling kitchen, Patrick approached the chef, a man with a stern countenance but a soft spot for the eccentricities of the royal family. He leaned in, speaking in hushed tones, "Chef, His Highness requested his secret drink, the Nesquick. Can you prepare it for him and send it to his chambers at the earliest?"

The chef nodded, acknowledging the request, and surveyed the kitchen for an available omega to handle the task. His gaze fell on Sarah, an older omega in the household with years of service under her belt. However, his eyes also caught sight of Tiny, the new human slave girl, standing in the corner. Actually, her name was not Tiny, but as she was not able to speak, and she trembled to make any move, plus considering her petite frame and being only skin and bone, they were calling her Tiny.

The chef approached Sarah and, with a firm but hushed tone, instructed, "Sarah, His Highness requires his drink. Deliver it to his chambers immediately."

Sarah's eyes widened with a mix of apprehension and reluctance. She took a step back, her hands trembling slightly. "No, Chef, please. I cannot approach His Highness's room. Not after what happened with Angie. I won't do it, even if I get punished."

The chef's expression hardened. "Sarah, this is not the time for insubordination. Take the drink to His Highness."

Sarah stood her ground, a defiant glint in her eyes. "Why not send Tiny? She's new, and she won't refuse."

The chef scowled, growing impatient. "Enough, Sarah. Stop wasting time and deliver the drink."

Sarah hesitated, her fear palpable. "Chef, please. I can't go there. Not again, as I saw with my own eyes how he threw out Angie with her broken legs from his room. It was horrible, Chef. Even now I can hear her screams when I close my eyes."

The chef, losing his patience, gestured toward Tiny. "Fine, if you don't do it, send Tiny. Just get it done. The last thing we need is an angry Crown Prince."

Sarah glanced at Tiny, her eyes filled with sympathy for the trembling newcomer, but at the same time she steeled herself to be selfish. "Tiny," she whispered, "take this to His Highness's room. Be careful, and don't linger. I will guide you till you are closer to his door."

Elena, who had been observing the exchange with wide eyes, nodded meekly, with her eyes in tears and trembling like a leaf. Sarah handed her the Nesquick, and she scurried out of the kitchen, the drink cradled carefully in her hands.

As Elena navigated the corridors, her heart pounded with anxiety. Her heart raced with trepidation, a knot of stress tightening in her chest. The weight of her mission felt almost suffocating.

Summoning every ounce of courage, she hesitantly raised her hand and knocked on the door, the sound echoing in the corridor. The silence that followed only heightened her anxiety. Swallowing hard, she pushed open the door and ventured into the room, her eyes scanning for any sign of life.

To her initial relief, the room appeared empty. The air in the chamber seemed to lighten as she cautiously stepped further inside. She carefully placed the Nesquick on a small table, her movements delicate as if trying not to disturb the atmosphere.

Just as she turned to leave, a sudden gasp caught in her throat. Her eyes widened, and she whimpered in shock. There, in front of her, stood her master—Crown Prince Kai—clad only in a bath towel wrapped around his hips. The sight paralyzed her, her pulse quickening in the sudden surge of tension. Elena, frozen in place, felt a flush of embarrassment coloring her cheeks. The atmosphere crackled with an unspoken tension as Kai, his expression inscrutable, regarded her with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine.

Kai's eyes widened as he caught sight of the petite human slave girl, the unexpected encounter triggering a visceral reaction within him. A surge of primal energy coursed through his veins, and he felt the unmistakable pull of his inner beast awakening, threatening to take over. The room seemed to shrink as he grappled with the tumultuous force within.

With sheer determination, Kai fought to maintain control over the impending metamorphosis. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as his aura, a tangible manifestation of his inner struggle, rolled in powerful waves around him.

He attempted to rein in his instincts, to control the raw energy that surged within him, but the force of his restraint wavered.

Approaching her like a predator closing in on its prey, Kai's movements exuded an unbridled intensity. Elena, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and anticipation, took hesitant steps backward until she was pressed against the wall behind her. The cold surface offered no escape as Kai, undeterred, advanced toward her.

With a predator's grace, Kai closed the distance, and Elena could feel the tension in the air thickening. The sound of her own heartbeat echoed in her ears as she awaited his next move. He cornered her against the wall, his imposing figure casting a shadow over her, and she shivered as his big arms caged her against the cool surface.

Closing in, Kai's head tilted slightly, and he inhaled deeply, his breath grazing the nape of her neck and behind her ear. A low, appreciative sound rumbled in his throat. "Hmm... lilac."

The one-word declaration hung in the air, laden with unspoken implications. The tension between them was palpable, an electric charge that crackled in the confined space. Kai, his eyes dark and intense, continued to scrutinize her with a gaze that seemed to pierce through the layers of restraint.

Kai, succumbing to the primal urges that had momentarily overridden his control, leaned in with predatory intent. With the tip of his sharp teeth, he grazed the delicate skin of Elena's ear. A shiver coursed through her body, an electric zap that ignited every nerve ending.

Suddenly, a soft thud echoed through the room, drawing Kai's attention away from his primal approach. His eyes widened in confusion, followed by alarm as he saw the tiny, skinny girl crumple to the floor, her weak body unable to withstand the overwhelming aura that surrounded him.