Chapter 5: Mother Knows Best

Asmodyus P.O.V

I heard a new set of footsteps coming down the hall towards my office, but I ignored them as I went over and carefully picked up the broken glass on the floor. I set the glass pieces on an empty tray and set the tray aside to discard the glass later. The faint scent of my mother’s perfume filled the air.

“Seems like Malik isn’t appreciative of your efforts,” she said, drifting her way into my office. I turned to face her, relaxing my shoulders as I set the tray of glass to the side.

“Do you expect anything less of him?” I gently poured a bit more liquor into the remaining glass, downing it instantly. My mother went over and placed herself along the couch in the opposite side of the room. I went and sat with her, all the work in the previous few days having gone to my head.

“You have no idea,” I said as I sat on the couch across from her. She hummed and glanced down at the papers I had scattered on the table. Invitation lists, the rejected menus, etc…

“What were you two bickering about this time?”

“What do you think?”

She took a breath, pinching the bridge of her nose. I chuckled softly with a sly smile as I noticed my own mannerisms within her. My mother was a woman who worked in the shadows. It was easy enough for her since she was considered to be ‘the mistress’.

“I understand that seeing through to Malik is a foreign thought to you, son,” she said as she sat up slightly against the couch. “I thought I told you well enough that the best way to learn about the enemy is to understand them.”

“And what if I don’t want to understand him?”

As childish as it was for me to say such things, I was not a naive hatchling.

King Sias had made it clear to me from day one that as the b*st*rd son, I was expendable. At the same time, I knew how important my influence was as the ‘spare’, regardless of the blood flowing through my veins.

“Asmodyus,” she glared at me, “I know you want to get it over with, but you and I both know that unless you have someone to help support and complete you, you won’t have a backing.”

“And will you not support your own son?”

“I am supporting you in the most discreet way I know how,” She crossed her arms, her amethyst eyes staring back at me. “You and I both know that if we want decent change, we need to work where we won’t be noticed.”

I huffed and bit my lip, getting up and heading back over towards my desk; I could hear her following behind me.

“Asmodyus.”

“What?”

“You’re doing all this work, go to the ball at the end of the week.”

“I’d rather not.”

“Is it because of Malik?”

“This is about him finding a partner, not me.”

She grabbed me by the shoulder, turning me around. This grabbing from behind or turning me around was annoying at this point.

“Now you listen to me.” She pointed her finger at me, like I’m sure any scolding mother would. “Regardless of what Malik says, you will go to that ball.”

I turned my face away from her, acting as if she was talking nonsense. When I turned twenty-two, I lost all hope that I would ever find my mate. As a Dragon-borne, your mate was the most important person in your life.

Your mate was supposed to be your other half, the second part of your soul. As annoying as it may be to say, it was true. Your mate was the one chosen for you by the higher powers. This person was the one that was supposed to love you at first sight if you’ll excuse the sickly-sweet trope.

While finding my mate at the ball would make it worth it, it had been so long that I had a hidden fear that I’d scare my mate away. The last thing I wanted was to be alone for the rest of my life on my own mistakes. It was the main reason as to why I refused to actively search out my soulmate.

“Asmodyus,” my mother spoke softer this time, her amethyst eyes filled with worry, “I want to see you happy, son. I want to see you take over Malik and return this land to who it properly belongs.” I nodded and gently nuzzled my face into her hand.

“I know, mother,” I answered her, kissing her hand gently, “If it brings you peace of mind, I will do as you wish.” She smiled softly and nodded.

“Don’t worry about your brother. You let me worry about him,” she insisted. “Your job will be to go in there and find a partner or your mate.” Her words fueled a fire in me that I had all but believed had gone cold. I couldn’t help but get anxious about the idea, simply because I had no leads as to what I was looking for. My mate could’ve been human for all I knew.