The First Book of Demons

Chapter Two

"I will not take an Asuri as a mate," Prince Balthazar said, his broad shoulders straightening as he stared defiantly down at his father. Lord Sultan Sami had called him for an audience in his office, and Balthazar knew the moment he got the summons that it would not be pleasant. His father usually found him in his private quarters or in the royal gardens when he wanted to speak. He only ever summoned him the his office for official business.

His father was seated behind a low wooden desk, scattered with stacked papers of decrees and petitions and other things that involved ruling the kingdom. The entire room was made over in shining white marble, with carved out windows that ran all along the top to let the sunlight filter in. On the other side of his father's desk were two thick silk cushions. Balthazar had declined to sit, preferring to stand.

"You do not have a say in the matter," Sami said, calmly rising from his own thick cushion to square off against his first born son, and the crown prince of his kingdom.

"The Asuri are not fit for mating," the young prince scoffed, brushing a strand of his dark hair behind a pointed ear. His father was an intimidating man when he was giving an order, but Balthazar was not one to be easily intimidated, not even by his father.

"The Devasi and the Asuri have been allies for millennia, Balthazar," Sami said, fighting the urge to sigh. He was tired and the thought of another fight with Balthazar made him grow weary.

"A useless alliance," Balthazar argued, his chiseled jaw tensing. "We need not pander to their desires."

"We cannot afford to risk a war with Asur," Sami said, his voice rising as he tried to talk some sense into his son. A son that looked so much like him. He had inherited the noble charcoal eyes and stark black hair of the royal family. He had also inherited his grandfather's stubbornness.

"So you bow to his will?" Balthazar spat, his words dripping from his lips like acid as he barred his fanged teeth. It was an insult and provocation but Balthazar didn't care. He would never mate with an Asuri. They were cowards in his book, always skulking about in the shadows and hiding.

"I bow to necessity," Sami growled, his eyes hardening, "Something you must learn to do if you are going to rule this kingdom when I'm gone."

"She is blue," Balthazar said, his voice lowering a bit. In spite of his recent rebellious behavior, he knew when he had pushed his Lord Sultan too far.

"Then you will learn to like that," Sami countered, his voice softening a bit.

"I will not mate her," Balthazar said his voice low as he turned to leave. A fierce growl ripped through the room, stopping the young prince in his tracks.

"I may be your father, boy," Sami growled out between gritted teeth, "but disobey me as your Lord Sultan and I will not be lenient. You will mate her, and you will do it before the next new moon."

Lord Sami let out a heavy sigh as his son left the room without another word. He had grown more and more disobedient as of late. Sami could sense the desire for power growing in his son's heart, and it churned his stomach with worry. He had learned firsthand the sacrifices that had to be made for the kind of power his son desired.

"My Lord," Darius interrupted the Lord Sultan's thoughts as he entered the office with a deep bow. He was the Divan of the kingdom and he was Sami's right hand man. He made sure that the decrees made by the Lord Sultan were carried out. He was the enforcer of the Royal Family's will throughout the kingdom. The short, balding man settled himself cross-legged on a cushion opposite Sami, pulling out a number of scrolls from the bag he always carried at his hip. He began to unravel the first one, an official edict that needed final approval before being sent out to the entire kingdom.