The king raised a hand, and silence fell, heavy as a stone. "You all may leave. I need to speak with my son and Master Traver in private."

A murmur rippled through the crowd, and, with a rustle of fabric and clicking heels, the hall emptied. Within hours, the entire palace would be whispering about the heated argument between the prince and his new mage.

Once they were alone, the king rose from the throne and gave them both a piercing look.

"Care to explain what the hell got into you two?"

Alex opened his mouth, then he closed it shortly after. He didn't have an explanation to give him. He didn't know why he argued with the mage; he just knew that that guy got on his nerves.

His father glared at him. "Alex, this wasn't the agreement."

"We had no agreement. You ignored my request and brought this guy here. What else did you expect?"

"A son who, for once in his damn life, would obey without making a scene."

"Sorry if I'm not the shining example of virtue you want me to be."

His father pinched the bridge of his nose. "By the spirits, sometimes you're so immature."

"Sorry to disappoint you on that front as well." Alex turned his back. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going out for a ride."

"We're not finished!" The king rose from the throne, his sharp, predatory eyes. "You're an adult. You have responsibilities toward this kingdom and this court. Do you really think you can still act this way?"

"I—"

"Silence." He turned his gaze to the mage. "And you. Hasn't anyone taught you court etiquette? What possessed you to talk back to him like that?"

"I am deeply sorry, Your Majesty." William—or whatever his name was—bowed low to the marble floor. "Punish me as you see fit."

Alex's lips curled into a satisfied smile. Good. After that scene, his father would surely throw him out.

"Do you find this amusing, Alex?"

The smile vanished from his face. "No, Father, I was just thinking you should send him back to where he came from."

"On the contrary, he'll stay. He will be your Court Mage."

"Why? I don't like him, and he doesn't like me. This will never work."

"Gregoris trusts him, and I trust his judgment."

Alex blinked and glanced at the mage. Had the current Court Mage personally recommended him?

He crossed his arms. "So what? I don't want him."

"Stop acting like a spoiled child."

"I'm not!"

His father shot him a sharp look. "Where were you this morning?"

"I won't tell you."

"You'll tell me right here. William waited, kneeling on that floor for a damn hour—he deserves to know why you were late."

William cast him a sidelong glance, then back to the floor, his expression somewhere between boredom and indifference. A statue would've been more expressive.

"There's no need, Your Majesty. The prince's affairs don't concern me."

"For once, we agree on something."

His father huffed and began pacing in front of the throne, hands clasped behind his back, gaze sharp as ever, fixed on them both.

"I don't care how, but you two will make this work. You have one week to get to know each other and find some common ground. After that, you'll perform the Crown Pact. No objections."

The mage bowed his head. "As you wish, Your Majesty."

Alex rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine."

A week should be plenty of time to figure a way out of this mess. He was even willing to humiliate himself if it meant escaping that bond with that William.

The king sighed and gestured toward the door. "Master Traver, you may retire. If you need anything, speak with the chamberlain."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The mage gave one last awkward bow and left the hall.

The prince turned to look at his father. "May I leave?"

"No, I'm not done yet."

His father furrowed his brow, anger flickering briefly in his dark blue eyes. "I don't care what you do in your free time, but I will not tolerate you being late for appointments."

"If I tell you I didn't do it on purpose, will you believe me?"

"I would, if this were the first time you had neglected your duties."

"As if it'd change anything! Nothing I do is ever enough, especially for you."

"I'm working for you, Alexander. For helping you reign over this damned kingdom. But you always find new ways to ruin my efforts."

"Sorry to disappoint you, Father. For not being the son you wished to have."

"Let it go."

With a tired sigh, the king sank into the throne and rested his cheek on his palm. For a moment, he let his gaze wander over the frescoes, then he looked again at Alex.

"You won't believe me, but everything I do, I do for you, Alex."

"If that were true, you'd have accepted my choice."

"Nikolas is not suitable."

"He's my best friend and a great mage. Why wouldn't he be a good Court Mage? He's already a royal advisor!"

"That's exactly why." His father rubbed a hand over his eyes. "You need someone from outside the court, since the Crown Pact… It'll bind you for life. If you die, he dies too."

Alex flinched, a chill running down his spine. "You didn't tell me that! And what kind of insane ritual is this?"

"I told you, but as usual, you weren't listening."

It made no sense. He could never agree to such madness.

"No. I won't bind myself to anyone."

His father looked at him as though he had said something incredibly foolish. "You have no choice. That's the duty of every monarch in Vellara."

"So he could kill me in my sleep!"

"He won't."

"And how can you be so sure?"

"Because William is reliable and a powerful mage. When you are king, he will be the only person in whom you can place your trust."

This was a real pact with a demon. A death sentence. And now he understood why his father had chosen William; they were alike, with the same sharp, unsettling gaze.

William was there to watch over him when the king could no longer, merely a tool in his father's hands. But Alex had no intention of going along with that farce.

"I will make you change your mind."

He descended the steps and crossed the hall into the corridor.

He looked around and spotted the mage near the stairway leading to the upper floor. He was standing still, looking up at a fresco.

"Hey, mage!" The prince reached him. "We need to talk."

The mage, William, pressed his thin lips into an annoyed expression. "I'm busy."

"You'll have to listen. It's an order."

"I fear I have to disobey."

He tried to pass him, but Alex pressed a hand on the wall, blocking his way.

"You're not going anywhere until I finish talking." He leaned toward his face. "Got it?"

The mage pressed his lips. "You're too close. Step back."

"Afraid I could kiss you?"

William's eyes went wide, his poison-green irises flashing with what seemed like rage. "You have no shame!"

With a teasing smile, Alex leaned closer, aiming to provoke him. "You know, you have a beautiful face, but you're not my type at—"

The slap echoed through the corridor. Alex brushed his cheek with a hand; the pain pulsed under the burning skin.

"Are you crazy? I was joking!"

The mage's eyes brimmed with tears, now showing more fear than the rage Alex had imagined. "How the hell could I have known? You're the damned Crown Prince, you could have done anything to me!"

"I was joking, I already told you!"

"And I told you, you were too close."

Alex opened his mouth, then closed it. Maybe his flirting joke was too much for him, but it was never his intention to scare him. He was teasing him, aiming to provoke him. But it was stupid and childish, and Alex wasn't the superficial man the entire court thought he was.

William shot him a sharp glare and pushed him aside. "Let me go."

Alex raised a hand, but stopped before reaching for him. He was right to be angry, and it was best to give him some space.

But for some reason, he didn't regret that closeness. There was something about that mage that attracted him. Something that he couldn't even name.