Reggie’s Reasons by Lisa Oliver
Chapter Seventeen
One of the advantages that came from being a demon, apart from hunky good looks and killer wings, was the ability to see into the heart and souls of other beings. Mind reading wasn’t one of Dirkin’s skill, but he could see in Bevan’s aura that the older vamp wanted Reggie alone. As sex was completely off the table because Reggie had already been claimed, Dirkin could only imagine Bevan had been playing the long game and hoping he could convince Reggie he couldn’t rule without Bevan’s expertise.
“There’s so much more to it than that,” Bevan said at last. “You’re a demon. You have no idea of the protocols that need to be gone through, the courtesies that need to be…”
“Is Reggie the vampire prince of Italy?” Dirkin didn’t need to hear Bevan’s spiel and neither did Reggie.
“Yes, but it’s not that simple…”
“So, under vampire protocol, Reggie outranks you, am I right? His rank among vampires, from the day he turned twenty-five is roughly equivalent to the Coven Masters here in US, yes?”
Bevan was not happy. “In some circles that could be implied, yes. However…”
“There is no however, he either is or he isn’t.” Dirkin tightened his grip on Reggie’s shoulder a moment. “We’ll simply go to the Coven Masters and find out what needs to be done there.”
“Or we could pop over to Italy and speak to whoever is running the royal household there,” Balthazar suggested. “A drop of Reggie’s blood and they’re going to know who he is right away.”
“You can’t do that!” Bevan’s face was developing red blotches. “I’ve been planning this for over twenty years. I have lists, programs, information compiled about the ranking families, the prince’s duties, who he needs to see, who he can trust. Stephano left extensive instructions on what Reggie would need to know before he takes up his position. Instructions that will take weeks to understand and absorb before Reggie can be presented before the vampire court.”
“What’s your part in all this, Bevan?” Reggie asked suddenly. “You’re not Italian. You were born in this country and was running this coven well before my parents came along. Why did my parents entrust you with all this information? Who were they to you?”
Good question. Dirkin stared at Bevan, daring him to lie.
“We struck up a friendship, your father and I,” Bevan said stiffly. “He and your mother were visiting, traveling the country and had called in to pay their respects to the ruling coven leader in this territory. I offered them lodgings…”
“I bet you did.” Dirkin smirked. “Must have been quite the feather in your cap hosting royalty in your own house.”
“You were very young, Reggie,” Bevan continued. “Not more than six months old at the time and starting to move around. You were born in Italy, and your parents were on a grand tour, introducing their son to vampire leaders in Europe and the Americas. However, it wasn’t easy traveling with one so young. When I gave them the offer to stay for a while, they gladly accepted.”
“What happened to their staff, the people royals would’ve depended on when making such an important trip?” Dirkin’s gut was telling him Bevan was cherry picking his facts. “Why didn’t they return Reggie to Italy after the royals’ deaths? One of the ruling families there would’ve happily taken on the raising of a prince, I’m sure.”
Bevan was quiet for a long moment, then his chin went up as he looked down his nose. “There was a scandal.” The words were clipped. “One of the enforcers was charged with killing the royal couple and they were all ordered to return to Italy.”
“You said they died in a car accident,” Reggie cried. He would’ve jumped to his feet, but Dirkin was still holding his shoulder.
“They did. At least that was the official story. But someone had interfered with the brakes on the car. When questioned, one of the enforcers claimed responsibility, but because the Coven Masters were unsure how many other staff members might have been involved, they were instructed by the European Council of Vampires to send all the staff members home to face charges there.”
“And they left me behind like a forgotten suitcase?”
“There’re a lot of holes in your story, Bevan.” Dirkin glared at the coven leader. “When Reggie’s parents died, accidentally or otherwise, that doesn’t explain why Stephano entrusted you with his care, and why he secured an oath from you to keep certain facts secret until my mate’s birthday, and then be responsible for telling all once he was an adult. That would imply he knew his days were limited.”
“A child that young, not even a year old, couldn’t be entrusted to the care of someone who might have been in on the plot to kill his parents.”
“But the vampire court did make efforts to get Reggie home to them after that, right?” Dirkin really didn’t like the way his mate seemed to think he’d been discarded like a piece of luggage. “How did he end up staying here with you?”
“Because Bevan made a deal with the devil himself,” Balthazar growled, jumping to his feet. “I fucking knew I’d seen you somewhere before. I could never work out how you came to summon me the night of Reggie’s transition. But my name is part of Dad’s welcome pack. You made a deal with my dad, didn’t you? Dad! Dad! Get your ass up here.”
/~/~/~/~/
“A deal with Lucifer?” Reggie couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “I don’t get it. A deal for me? Bevan swapped his soul to control me?”
“Oh, my hunky young vamp, I’d never barter a soul for the rights to someone else’s life.” A sultry voice filled the room as smoke started coming up through the floor. Seconds later a big form, dressed entirely in black appeared. Reggie gasped because not only was the face inhumanly beautiful, but it also shone with innocence. This is the infamous devil?
“Lucifer, no last name, at your service.” Lucifer swept into a deep bow. “So, young Reggie,” he said as he straightened again. “How is life as a royal prince treating you?”
“I… Er… there seems to be some issues.” Reggie couldn’t stop looking at Lucifer’s face. He could see the resemblance to Balthazar, and he’d always thought Dirkin’s friend was handsome, but Lucifer took it to a whole new level. Deep eyes that seemed to overflow with compassion, and a hint of humor. A nose so straight it defied genetics and full lips quirked in a playful smile. The chin line was sharp enough to slice bread, enhanced by a tight goatee. “Bevan… I just… if you don’t mind, can you tell me what’s going on?”
“Well, it would seem someone is trying to circumvent their bargain.” Lucifer shook his head slowly as he looked at Bevan who had slumped in his chair. “Years ago, Bevan called to me. Gave me a big song and dance about how much he wanted to nurture a young child temporarily in his care. He seemed to think I’d believe he’d wager his soul for the rights to raise a child, but hey, it’s my hobby, so I agreed.”
“So, you did give me to him?”
“Nope, I did not. I would never commit an innocent soul forever to the care of someone who was so power hungry he stunk with it.” Holding up his palm, a scroll appeared. “Now let me see – the devil’s in the details.” Lucifer grinned as he unfurled the scroll. “In return for Bevan’s soul, it was agreed he would care for the infant known only as Reggie in this document, until he came of age, or went through his transition, whichever came first.”
“Which would be why, when my mate was going through his transition, Bevan was trying to restrict his blood intake and was behaving in a provocative manner towards him… while he was just fifteen,” Dirkin added.
Lucifer fixed Bevan with a glare that wasn’t pretty. But it compelled Reggie to add, “Nothing happened. I grew too big. Bevan kicked me out of the house and sent me to train as an enforcer until I went to college.”
“But… How did that happen?” Lucifer was looking at Dirkin. “I sent you there that night specifically. I knew Bevan’s contract was coming to an end. You were supposed to protect the young vamp until he came of age. You weren’t hanging around here that night by chance, you know.”
“Dad, you’ve only got your welcome pack to blame for that,” Balthazar shook his head at his father. “That twat summoned me, and it took all my negotiating skills to keep Dirkin from being permanently stuck in the shadows. As it was, he was stuck watching Reggie for ten years and one day. They’ve only been claimed a week.”
“Well, aren’t you a slimy piece of shit.” Lucifer sneered at Bevan.
“You reneged on our deal,” Bevan cried. “I wanted control of the boy so my rank would increase when he stepped into his position.”
“And you had that, scumbag. Control of the boy – a boy who is only a boy in vamp terms until he transitions. Then he became a young adult. Dirkin was sent to protect him from the likes of you. If you’d been a decent parent to him, hadn’t tried to seduce him the night of his transition or hamper his growth, had actually been someone he could trust by the time he became an adult, you would’ve had your rise in rank. You’ve only got yourself and your deviant urges to blame for all this shit.” Lucifer looked murderous.
“Mr. Lucifer, sir,” Reggie said hesitantly. He’d never seen beauty look so dangerous. “Bevan was a decent enough father until the night of my awakening, if that makes any difference. As a child, I always believed he cared for me, and I never wanted for anything.”
“Don’t bother sticking up for me,” Bevan sneered. “I don’t need it. The mighty Lucifer isn’t as smart as he thinks he is. He’ll be waiting till hell freezes over before he gets my soul. I’m not dying anytime soon.”
“That’s what you think.” Lucifer smirked, flexing a hand suddenly covered in a black leather glove.
The mood in the room turned so suddenly it was like someone had flicked a light switch. “You knew what I wanted.” Bevan backed up in his chair. “You told me yourself you could see in my soul. You knew I was only taking the child so I could increase my rank and be the new prince’s trusted advisor. I would’ve been set for eternity with rank and all the power I could ever use, and I didn’t get any of that.”
“I gave you exactly what you asked for – care of the boy until he transitioned.” Lucifer hadn’t stopped smirking. “Words have power and those were the words you told me. Someone should’ve told you when you deal with the devil you have to watch for every loophole.”
“No. No. I have to die of natural causes. You can’t kill me to collect my soul. That’s not right. That’s not fair.”
Lucifer sighed. “No one reads the fine print anymore. A soul bargain never lasts longer than twenty-five years. I would’ve been here sooner, but I was busy. But I’m here now. Dirkin, Baz, time for you to take Reggie home to Italy. I’ll make sure the court knows to expect him.”
“Wait.” Reggie didn’t know how he felt about Bevan’s impending death, but he had one last question. “Bevan said there was a letter. A letter from my mother. Was that a lie too?”
“If I’m dead you’ll never see it,” Bevan cried. “I’ll take the secret to my grave.”
“There was indeed a letter. Here you go, young Reggie.” An envelope appeared in Lucifer’s hand, and he held it out. “It’s time for you three to go.”
“We’ll leave Italy for another couple of days, if that’s all right, sir,” Dirkin said quietly. “I think Reggie’s got a lot to process before taking up his position.”
“And that’s what I love to see - genuine caring between mates. It reminds me not all mortals are pieces of shit.” Lucifer smiled, a happy one this time. Still clutching his letter, Reggie felt his molecules break down and Bevan’s office disappeared.
