"Claimed? Are we talking joint taxes, or...?" He had a feeling Toka wasn't talking about taxes.
"A union of body and soul."
"Union? You mean sex? I have to have sex with Mr. Personality so the demons don't tear me apart? Wow, okay. I can do that. A few drinks and it'll be like any other night at the club." He reached for the wine bottle, only to have Toka gently lay a hand over his.
"It's more than sex."
"First it was just sex, now it's more than sex? What's he want, a commitment? It's going to take more than one night chained up in his basement with him growling at me to win me over. Okay, and an amazing dinner, but I'm not that easy." He popped a couple of grapes into his mouth. Khalon and his warriors had saved Riley's life, and he was grateful, but it didn't give the guy the right to have him locked away in his castle like some medieval princess, or prince, apparently. It wasn't like he asked for any of this. He was an unwilling participant in this bizarre situation.
"Khalon is a Soldati king and a great warrior descended from the fiercest Soldati warriors. Every Soldati king is destined to be mated with an equally powerful creature, one of the great priestess's choosing. This mate will rule at his side as his lover and prince. The union makes the Soldati more powerful. It's a position of honor and privilege. Khalon's mate is meant to bring greatness to him and his kind."
"And instead he gets stuck with me. Yeah, I can see why the guy would be pissed." No one had ever mistaken him for a warrior, much less a prince. Four years of art school, and what did it get him? A string of crummy jobs and a long list of clients who wanted him to either work for a pittance or give his art up for free. His mother was right. He should have been a pharmacist.
Toka leaned over and took hold of Riley's wrist. He pushed up the sleeve, revealing the tribal bands around Riley's forearm. "This is Khalon's mark. It was imprinted on your soul from birth by the great priestess, waiting to be revealed the day your king arrived to claim you. Today was the day you were to be claimed, which is why the demons found you and why you were able to see them. The all-seeing Eye led Khalon and his warriors to you." He released Riley's arm and Riley couldn't help but run his fingers over the black tribal patterns.
"How did the demons know where to find me?"
"Your life force. We each have a force of energy unique to us. When a new Soldati prince or princess is revealed, their life-force energy will emit a pulse so their mate can find them. Unfortunately the Soldati king and his warriors are not the only ones who can sense or feel this pulse."
"Has the great priestess ever been wrong?"
Toka shook his head, his delicate red hair swishing with his movement. The guy was adorable. "You've been chosen for a reason."
"I hate to break it to you, but I'm just a regular guy. Unless cooking the perfect poached egg becomes a superpower, I've got nothing."
Toka smiled sweetly. "We'll see."
The room grew quiet and Riley wasn't feeling so hungry anymore. "There's no way out of here, is there?" Even if there were, Riley believed Toka. If he went out there on his own, there was a chance he'd run into more of those demons. It would be kind of tough serving up cappuccinos with demons tearing at his mortal flesh, and he wasn't talking about the morning coffee rush.
"I know you have no reason to trust us, Riley, but you saw the demons for yourself. They will kill you."
Riley couldn't help his curiosity. "And if they do?"
"If unclaimed, a new mate will be revealed to Khalon. If claimed, the demons will no longer hunt you, as they fear the power of the Soldati prince as much as that of the Soldati king. However, if you are claimed and happen to be killed, Khalon is destined to live without a mate for the rest of his immortal life. There will be a void he will never be able to fill."
Riley swallowed hard. Well, that sucked either way.
The doors opened and Riley recognized the tall dark-haired guy who walked in. It was one of Khalon's warriors. Toka swiftly jumped to his feet, his hands clasped in front of him and his head slightly lowered. Riley noticed the way his cheeks flushed.
"Rayner."
"Toka." Rayner smiled warmly. He took hold of Toka's hand and put it to his lips for a kiss. "Thank you for taking such good care of our prince."
"I'm only doing my duty, sir."
"Of course." Rayner released Toka's hand and turned to Riley. "I hope you have enjoyed the king's hospita
lity. In the morning we set out to the temple of the great priestess. Khalon will present his case in the hopes of getting the mark removed. You will be returned home."
Riley stood. "The priestess can remove the mark?"
"The great priestess can do anything. She is the one who marked you, and therefore the one who can remove it. Khalon will be given a new mate, and you may return to your life unaware of what has transpired." Rayner bowed and turned to go.
"Wait, what do you mean I'll return unaware? I won't remember?" Riley wasn't sure he liked the sound of that.
Rayner bowed his head. "That is correct."
Before Riley could say another word, Rayner bid him good night and excused himself. Riley sat back down, moving his gaze to Toka and watching him smooth down his embroidered tunic. Seeming to realize he wasn't alone in the room, Toka cleared his throat and motioned to a long gold rope hanging from the ceiling beside the bed.