Page 36 of You Will Obey

Marco snorted and looked away, a slight smirk on his face.

“Enough of this,” I said. “I want to get on with the night’s ritual and festivities.” I rose to grab my branding iron from the table beside my throne. I turned to Somchai, who swallowed hard. I could hear him gulp. Sweat seeped from his pores and it was filled with the scent of his fear. “You may not be aware of this, Somchai, but my line of vampires are the elite amongst the Legion. We can do what other vampires can’t. We are the strongest, for even the youngest of my line can take out a vampire two thousand years old with their will. We control fire, are immune to sunlight and both dragon and werewolf venom. Our bones are very hard to break, but silver can still kill you.”

“Can it kill you, Father?” Somchai asked.

I cocked an eyebrow. “Don’t get any ideas.”

“I think we’re far past that. Besides, it’s not like I’d ever have the opportunity. I know vampires have willpower over their children, Sire,” Somchai said.

“True, we do. But you won't want to once you truly accept the gift I’ve given you. As you can see, I don't give it often. I have fourteen children, and only ten were chosen by me because I wanted you. You were not an obligation, but a desire. There is much for you to learn, but I’m a dragon Knight and a vampire Prince and silver hurts me, but it could never kill me,” I said. I had no problem telling him that because I didn’t fear him. He wouldn’t hurt me even if I gave him the chance. He was a rebel, but he wasn’t as gung-ho about it as Noel had been. He only wanted to keep his crew alive, while others in the group wanted to blow shit up.

“So, we’re the strongest out of all vampires, Sire?” Somchai asked.

I nodded. “I am well-known among the Legion and now so is Dante, who is another hybrid. He is a wolf, dragon, and vampire. My line puts our King and my Father, Ara, above all other vampire Royals. After tonight, I will teach you everything you need to know about your district, the Lords presiding over it and the other territories, and Princes. For now, you need to take the oath, the brand, and be accepted by your brothers.”

“Will the branding hurt, Sire?” Somchai asked.

“Oh indeed, but you will heal. Are you ready?” I asked.

He swallowed. “No choice really, Sire.”

“You always have a choice, but if you make the wrong one, you must be ready to face the consequences,” I told him.

“I’m ready, Sire,” he said, resolving himself to his fate. Which was smart.

“Do you pledge to uphold the rules of our Legion?” I began the oath.

“Yes, Sire,” he replied. “I’m sure you’ll tell me what they are, but I have no choice but to uphold them.”

I smirked. “You have a choice.”

He sighed. “Not if I don’t want to suffer needlessly, Sire.”

“As long as you keep that in mind, you’ll find that you were meant for this life,” I said, then continued. “From this point on, no more interruptions.”

“All right, Sire,” Somchai said as he looked up at me with a mixture of sadness and fear in his expression. It was expected, because he didn’t fully understand what he was swearing to, but it would all become clear in due time.

I was pleased with how well he was handling everything. A practical person, by nature. Someone who didn’t see the point in complaining about things he couldn’t change. He was going to make an excellent child.

“Do you pledge to serve the Kingdom of Ara, our vampire King?”

“Yes, Sire.”

“Do you pledge to uphold the standards of the House of Théoden?”

“Yes, Sire.”

“Do you pledge to carry out your duties as General of the Kingdom of Ara, and Edict of the House of Théoden?”

“Yes, Sire.”

I turned to my other sons. “My children, do you accept Somchai as your brother?”

“Yes, Father,” they said in unison.

Earlier, I’d already got the acceptance from my other sons before they headed to bed to rest for the day. It was important for me to make sure all of my children welcomed their newest sibling.

“Do you accept him as your fellow soldier and General in the Kingdom of Ara?’

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