Chapter Text
Yuri stared at the paper in his hands in disbelief. What? He is going to contract bind me on my birthday?
He crumpled the paper in both hands and threw it across the room as he let out a cry of frustration. Fucking Victor goes gallivanting off to presumably find his soulmate. Why do I have to pay for his mistakes?
Yuri glared at the paper ball and grinned as it burst into flames. The paper incinerated, burning so completely that nothing remained save a scorch mark on the stone floor. Did our father fear that his spare would leave as well? Like I could. Not with what he has over me.
He stomped over to the bed and sat down on the edge. He ran his hand through his hair, pulling sharply at the tangles. I am not even sixteen. Can I even bond with someone? I guess it does not matter, the magic in the contract binding ceremony will bind me to whoever my father chooses. I will never even have the opportunity to try and find my soulmate.
***
A Week Later
“Congratulations on your appointment, Altin.”
Otabek bowed. “It is an honor to be chosen, sir.”
The commander walked down the hallway, motioning for Otabek to follow him. “Only the most talented and trustworthy are appointed as royal guards. You are one of the youngest personal guards ever appointed. I expect great things from you.”
“I will do my best not to disappoint, sir.”
The commander sighed. “Honestly, just try to last longer than a week?”
Otabek tilted his head slightly in confusion. “Sir?”
“You will be guarding the crown prince. He is unfortunately notorious for dismissing his guards.”
Otabek hummed softly. I had heard that. I thought it was nothing more than a rumor. I will have to work hard, and not offend the prince.
He faltered slightly as a strange, sharp pain flared in his chest. The stress is starting to get to me. I need to calm down before it affects my performance.
The commander stopped at a door in the royal wing. He knocked firmly twice and waited for a response before opening the door. “These are the prince’s chambers. I will introduce you to him and then leave you to your duty.”
Otabek resisted the urge to rub his chest, to alleviate the pain that only seemed to get sharper. It feels like something is trying to rip out my heart. He took a deep, calming breath and tried to push down the pain as he followed the commander into the room.
The room was richly appointed, with tapestries on the walls and thick carpets on the floor. The furniture all had the look of age and care. Otabek stepped to the side of the door and waited, breathing shallowly through the intensifying pain. What in the lower realms is wrong with me?
The only other person in the room was a young blonde man, sitting on the couch with his head down. His hand was bunched up in the material of his shirt, over his chest, like he was in pain.
The commander stood at attention and cleared his throat.
“What do you want?” The prince’s words were short and his tone conveyed his irritation.
“Your highness, if you would pardon the intrusion. I have brought your new guard.”
The prince turned his head away. “Another one? I thought for sure that you would give up by now.”
The commander fidgeted slightly. “Your highness, whether you want guards or not, your father insists. It is for your own safety.” He started to walk backwards towards the door. “This is your new personal guard, Otabek Altin. I hope that he will be more to your liking than your previous guards.”
The commander closed the door, pausing long enough to quietly add, “May the Gods be with you, Altin.”
The prince rubbed his chest vigorously. “Great. Just great. This has been the worst week ever. First that announcement from my father, then, just as I finally got rid of that last stick in the mud guard they stuck me with, they turn around and give me another one. Why in the lower realms do I even need a guard. He never lets me go anywhere. He might as well just drop these pretenses and keep me in the dungeon rather than in the royal apartments. And are you going to fucking say anything…?”
The prince looked up at Otabek as he said this, their eyes meeting. Otabek’s eyes widened in surprise as a surge of magic flowed through his body. He felt something click into place with an almost audible pop. Soulmates? No, I cannot be soulmates with the prince… can I?
The prince’s eyes went wide. “Oh, fuck. Do not…” His eyes rolled back in his head as he passed out, his body sprawling over the couch.
Otabek rushed over to the couch. He passed out… this is normal. Breathe, Otabek. You have known all of your life that you are a strong familiar. You were taught that your mage would collapse like this when you bonded. He crouched down next to the prince’s head and checked his breathing. That does not stop these strange feelings, like I need to protect him.
He shook his head. I am his guard. It is my duty to protect him.
He muttered softly to himself, “Do not what? He did not have the chance to finish his thought. It is obvious that the prince was worried about something. Perhaps I should wait for him to wake before letting anyone else know what happened.”
Otabek straightened and gathered the unconscious prince in his arms. He held the prince so that his head would rest against him as he carried him to the bedroom. He laid the prince out carefully on the bed and covered him with blankets.
He pulled a nearby chair next to the bed and sat down. Otabek took the prince’s hand and watched as his face relaxed. The prince’s breathing fell into a sleeping rhythm, showing that he was now in a deep, healing sleep.
Otabek sighed as he leaned his elbows on the bed. “I have always heard that magic fatigue is hard on the body, and that bonding is, usually, the worst case that a mage will ever face. This is the best that I can do for him. All I can do now is wait until he wakes.”