Chapter 38

  “You want me to find you another to join your group. I have just the person.” Argyros offered.

  Phony pushed off the door with her shoulders while crossing her arms. “You already have someone in mind?”

  “Of course, your sister Latreia has said she is amenable to becoming engaged.”

  “Out of the question.” Phony admonished.

  “My dear, this is not up to you.” Turning to Argyros, he waited for Wes’s response.”

  Phony looked at Wes and her father with resentment. Having had enough of this conversation, now that Argyros had taken the opportunity to insert himself, Wes walked toward the elevated platform and took a seat on its steps.

  “Dozel, Phony, I get that you don’t want to just end up being baby factories. But you also don’t want some random person added.” Looking at phony, Wes added, “Or anyone you have reservations about. So, how about we say you both are in charge of who I take as a wife going forward. I will be responsible for who I take on as a mistress.” Wes finished.

  Clicking her tongue, Phony said, “Offly quick to change your mind about not adding another wife.”

  Responding, Wes shot back, “I never said I was. As I said, you both are responsible for, if and when someone may be added. If you both choose to never add one, that’s on you. Just know the same rules will apply to them as you. I don’t want infighting amongst us. Understanding that there will be some unease in the beginning, I will not tolerate prolonged conflict. I rather enjoy both of your friendly demeanors. Above all, I want peace.”

  Dozel and Phony looked at each other. Phony nodded to Dozel and then nodded over to Wes. Dozel took a step toward Argyros and asked. “Father-in-law, do you not have any other in mind?”

  “I have plenty of others. As much as it pains me to say this to you daughter, you would not have been my first choice to tie to Wesley. Latreia would have been my first choice. I believe her traits and abilities would synergize with his the best. Your mother chose you because she thought you would bring out the most potential from Wesley. Either is a fine choice, just differences on which was the best course to take,” Argyros explained.

  “Out of the question. Never.” Phony replied.

  Dozel took another step forward and bowed, “Then I am sorry, Father-in-law, we will have to turn down this choice. We do, however, wish to reserve the right to change our minds.”

  “Of course, I will relay to Latreia that all hope is not lost.” Looking at Phony, Argyros added, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  Argyros subsequently pulled himself through the air around him and waved goodbye.

  Wes let the room breathe for a moment before asking over Party Chat, “I’m only curious, so don’t bite my head off, Phony. Why are you so dead set against Latreia?”

  “I’ve been compared to her my whole life. She did everything perfectly, while I’ve always had to fight for every little bit of improvement. We both have less than ideal traits, but she no doubt is more suited for you than me.” Phony bemoaned.

  Nodding his head, Wes chose not to say anything else.

  Dozel asked Phony, “You sure you want me to share?”

  Nodding yes, Phony turned around and opened the door to the hallway and left.

  Dozel walked to where Wes was sitting and took a seat next to Wes. Wes found her uncomfortably close, so he naturally took a deep inhale to take in her scent.

  Catching onto what he was doing, Dozel smiled and said, “Phony was quite rude to me when we first met, but over the last month plus, we have had many conversations on how we wanted our lives to go. For better or worse, we are tied to you forever. And thankfully, after a lot of conversations between us, we have come to appreciate. Possibly love that the other has what we lack. Phony apologized for her early rudeness, which is quite rare. Our dynamic is not the norm. From you treating us normally and asking our opinion on things to the way you allow Phony to treat you disrespectfully in front of others is unheard of. Marrying me is another peculiarity that I will ponder the rest of my days.”

  While taking a moment to allow her thoughts to settle, Dozel leaned back and placed her elbows on the steps behind her. “What I’m trying to convey is that we have both come to the agreement that we are ready to grow together. And before your proclamation about not taking another, we were even ready for whoever you welcomed. Phony just told me over chat to tell you that she is ready for life with you to start. I’ve already shared with her that I have been ready. I have been ready since you saved me from the unknown of service, and at first, I thought it was due to gratitude, but that was not the case. I suppose I will never know what took the first step to allowing this, my heart or my head. But we both agreed that we are ready to follow you to our end. Only because of who you are, not because of what your traits tell you you have to be.”

  Dozel had long since gone a shade closer to purple, so Wes spoke as soon as she finished, “I like this version of you better. Although we met as servant and master, I’m glad that it's not staying that way. Need you to be more yourself around me, okay?”

  Dozel sat up and clasped her hands. “I will try, Master Wesley.” Dozel Joked.

  “Is that all you wanted to tell me?” Wes asked.

  Shaking her head, Dozel added, “Phony told me that she will be pushing for me to be the first wife. Of course, I protested, but she said that it was her way of apologizing, and she also got one other thing from me in exchange.”

  “What was that?” Wes asked.

  Dozel blushed and replied over Party Chat, “She gets first priority to share your bed for the next millenia.”

  Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

  “Oh. . . Oh! Is that why she left?” Wes asked.

  Nodding yes, Dozel continued, “You, of course, have to agree to this arrangement, or it doesn’t matter. Taking me as a first wife will bring complications for us three.”

  “As long as you both are happy, who am I to complain. I would have to be an idiot to complain over two beauties.” Wes replied.

  “Thank you for humoring us.” Dozel leaned over and pecked Wes on his cheek before hurriedly jogging out into the hallway.

  Wes leaned back on his elbows just as Dozel had, “Argyros, I know you want to ruin this moment, just don’t.”

  Argyros pulled himself through the air atop the platform. “How did you know I was here?”

  “I just assume you always are. Never going to let me out of your sight, right? Wes asked.

  “Boy, as long as you are here, I will be sheltering you from prying eyes. I’ve already had to punish several of my family members.” Argyros answered.

  “That's why you want to marry me off and ship me out so fast?” Wes asked.

  “Part of it, mostly I just don’t want to babysit you any longer. I will, of course, check up on you from time to time. But as soon as you five leave, you are on your own.

  Wes turned around toward Argyros, “Five?”

  Nodding Argyros explained, “Mordune and Orthol’s boy, Raegar, will be joining you on your travels. And before you ask, yes, that is necessary and non-negotiable. Your station in my family now requires permanent servants and bodyguards.”

  “Won’t that just draw attention to me?” Wes asked.

  “Not as much as you think, most will think you are some rich kid, others will think that you are part of an adventuring party. So long as you don't reveal the terms of your affiliations, the only way that you will draw attention is by a very powerful seer.” Argyros explained.

  Argyros walked down the steps, “Now it's time to fit you for some proper attire.”

  Wes didn’t even have time to stand before Argyros grabbed his shoulder and threw him toward the hallway doors. Just before smashing into the doors, the air in front of the doors swallowed him.

  _________

  The days leading up to the wedding made Wes incredibly nervous. After Argyros kidnapped him to get fitted for a custom suit, he also took him around to various heads of the family to introduce him to everyone. Argyros explained that by meeting the important people, he would not offend anyone.

  When it came time to meet Tyberous again, Wes filled Argyros in on what had transpired on the training planet. Both agreed that avoiding him would be a good idea going forward. In all, two True days were spent making rounds on what Wes had come to find out was a moon. Argyros only brought him back the first day when he had had enough of Wes's complaints about being tired.

  After allowing Wes to sleep for a few hours, he woke him up, and they continued making their rounds. When word started getting around that Argyros was introducing someone personally, people became a lot more receptive to meeting with him. Wes found little care in meeting them, especially considering he had a hard time distinguishing one from the other. All the males in the family tended to look the same for some reason. When Wes asked about it, Argyros waved him off. Only saying that they did not look that similar.

  The meetings were mostly filled with greetings. Every so often, Argyros would allow them to be whisked inside by whomever they had met. That alone helped clue Wes into the importance of any given meeting. But even then, he could not keep track of all the names or discern a face from a name.

  Just when Wes was about to break from the hell of greetings, Argyros proclaimed that they were done. With the wedding now three True days away, Wes wanted nothing more than sleep. So when Argyros brought him back to his personal quarters, Wes began dragging his body over to his room to rest, only to be stopped by Argyros one last time.

  “Boy, we need to have a word before you go. It can not wait.”

  Wes allowed his shoulder to sag before waving for Argyros to follow him up to the platform. After they both settled in, Wes in his customary chair facing the entrance, and Argyros in the chair with its back to it, Wes asked, “What can I do ya for?”

  Squinting Argyros spoke, “Unless you want to continue the training from your home world, I suggest you speak properly with me, little one.”

  Not having the energy, Wes only managed to raise his palms to shoulder height.

  Argyros allowed his Mana to leak out of him, like he had done before on his home world. The same silver flecks provided the light as soon as they were engulfed, that, in conjunction with the reflection from Argyros’s silver eyes, gave Wes the same eerie feeling that it did after their first meeting.

  “Nia will be along for your wedding, but she will have minimal interaction with you. Act as if you do not know her well. We are trying to pass off our Phony as being smitten with you on that day. She or I will be making a scene to make it look like we don’t approve of this.”

  Wes jumped in, “Doesn’t add up, if you guys didn’t approve of something, it simply wouldn’t happen.”

  “If you would allow me to finish. Phony will be taking part in this charade, and we hope to at least create enough of a question that the truth becomes muddled.” Argyros finished.

  “Still not explaining how we are supposed to pass off being allowed to do something without your blessing.” Wes pointed out.

  “Without giving too much away, we need a good reaction from you with all the seers that are likely to be there. You have been assigned as my protégé since the first day you got here. The was more of a happy accident. I didn’t want anyone to mess with you until I got my chance to tighten the rope around your neck. But my beloved, in her infinite wisdom, mapped out your future. That will be unknown to all. We are trying to pass off that you two have become smitten with each other.” Argyros finished.

  “And how does Dozel fit into that?” Wes asked.

  Argyros answered, “You will have to wait and see, young one. Just know when the time comes, don’t worry about dying.”

  Nodding, Wes put his hand on his head and fell back into his chair.

  Argyros followed, “Moving on, Lateia will be there, and I hope you change your mind about including her.”

  Wes held up his hand, “That is not a decision for me to make anymore. I have given that decision to my two future brides-to-be. If they wish for me to take another, that's up to them. And although I’m not completely averse to taking another, it's not what I want right now for myself. But if that’s what the other two wish, I will take another, I am, after all, a Man. I am only concerned about upsetting the trust and goodwill we have built up amongst each other.”

  “You do know what you say goes right?” Argyros asked.

  “Of course, but dominating someone to the point of not allowing them freewill is not in my nature. Knowing that at any moment I could become a tyrant to them makes me want to consider my thoughts and actions carefully.” Wes allowed his whole body to melt into the chair, “I know that I will not always make the right decision. Snap choices will have to be made from time to time. Just when I can, I will always stray on the side of allowing them to keep their freewill. I guess you could say, our happiness together is really the main concern.”

  Wes watched as a smile broke across Argyros’s face. Enough for the cracks in the corner of his eyes to come out. “I understand, I will go and share my thinking with them then. Have a nice rest, Wesley.”

  Argyros fell through his chair and disappeared, while Wes begrudgingly scraped himself from his comfortable seat and made his way to his bedroom. After reaching his bed, he kicked off his boots and sent out a Party Chat to the girls. “Sorry if he’s not there already with you. Only wanted to inform you that I may have sicked Argyros on you two. Going to bed, I’m exhausted. Wake me if anything important happens.” After half a second, Wes corrected himself. “Even if it's not important, you can wake me the same.”

  The girls called back over chat one at a time.

  “Night, Night Honey.”

  “Night, Master Wesley.”