Married To The Mad Vampire Lord - Chapter 565

Chapter 565: The unexpected event at the wedding_Part 2
Max felt their father’s eyes on him and turned to find that he was being studied with those intense dark eyes that always made him feel as though his father could see straight through someone’s soul. He didn’t look away. Instead, he asked quietly, “For how long are you going to keep them out? The demons, I mean.”

Rohan, who could see exactly what was wrong with his elder son, looked away from him. He had once thought that allowing the boy to choose goodness over the ways of many dark demons would mean he would grow up to be whatever he wished to be. Instead, it seemed that choice had twisted his mind in other ways. Max had done something to himself, something that was slowly destroying him from within. Rohan didn’t like this, not one bit.

He had shared his concerns with his wife the night the boy returned home, and just as he had noticed it, she had as well. She had tried to talk to Max, to make him share what was haunting him, but he had said there was nothing. And when a grown son says it’s nothing, you can’t force him to tell you what’s wrong, Rohan thought. Then he answered his question.

“We don’t need to keep them out anymore. Your grandfather’s people are already taking charge now. We searched Mirehaven last night so the wedding won’t get any unwanted guests today. Everything is clear now.”

Max nodded, aware that the dark demons were already multiplying. Kamari and Annika had long since given birth, and it had been a blessing for their grandfather when they bore twin sons, sons who grew faster than most and were now serving not just their king, but his father as well.

“We have fished out the ones lurking in Velmere and sent them straight to your grandfather, where they are locked up,” Rohan said. “They are easily intimidated by our kind, and once they realize we are eliminating them, they will back off. Power, strength, is what rules the world of demons. The strongest always win, and we are the strongest.”

Aryen added his insight as well, “Lately, there haven’t been any around, because Finn hasn’t sensed them. The brothels and the fun houses are clear. At this point, I don’t think they pose much of a threat to us, but we just came out to make sure.”

Max suddenly felt guilty. To think that he had been planning to move away from home and live somewhere far away, when there was a chance his family could become a target to another kind of demon race. He had let his own troubles rule him, wanting to escape, but now he realized he couldn’t do that anymore, not when these other demons hadn’t fully given up.

“Is there any chance they will get to us in the future?” Max asked his father.

“We are not certain of the future. All we know is that they are not a threat at this moment, especially today. Zyran and the others will be surrounding the wedding venue and keeping an eye on things, and your brother has the gift to sense a demon from miles away, just as you can manipulate anyone’s memories. We have the upper hand, Max. You don’t need to worry about us; you already have so much on your plate,” Rohan said, patting his shoulder. He didn’t want to burden the boy further when he was already struggling with personal things and feelings he would never share with anyone.

“I am not worried; I know you can handle it,” Max lied. “What about Elle? Won’t she be in danger if she gets married and moves away from the family?” he asked, trying to sound casual despite his concern.

“We have thought about that, but it’s no big deal since Eryx lives in Mirehaven. It’s Velmere they have their eyes on,” Rohan assured his son.

Max nodded, then turned to his brother, who was talking to Aryen about another brothel they should check after the wedding for demons. He narrowed his eyes.

“Finn, I believe you heard Papa. No more brothels or demon hunting. Grandpa’s people will handle the rest.”

Finn’s smile fell, and he muttered, “Are we really brothers? You are such a killjoy. You should loosen up and go check out the brothel yourself. I bet you wouldn’t want to leave the place.”

“Finn,” his father said strictly, scowling at him.

Finn ducked his head and hid behind Aryen. “Yes, Papa?”

“Your brother is right. No more brothels. I have already assigned Zyran and his twin. You can resume your studies once Elle’s wedding is over. That goes for you too, Aryen, you can focus on your work.”

Aryen let out a sigh of relief and looked more grateful than disappointed. “I was already getting tired of pretending I like getting seduced, Uncle. Don’t worry, I will make sure Finn never sets foot in another place like that. His physique makes one forget his real age.”

“Traitor!” Finn gasped, staring at Aryen. “I thought we were on the same page. You know what, whatever. I’m out of here. Being in Rosey’s company is starting to seem more appealing right now. At least she gives me a good fight, not lecture me like a little boy.”

With that, Finn stalked off, muttering with his hands shoved into his pockets, “I wish I were born first before a certain someone. I’d have had so much fun in life and done whatever I wanted. Life is beautiful, if only you loosen up.”

“He is talking about me, isn’t he?” Max asked, staring at his brother’s disappearing broad back.

“Don’t mind him, whatever he says. He looks up to you more than anyone else and boasts to his friends that his brother is great and the coolest person on earth. He can be annoying at times, but Finn is one of the kindest,” Aryen said with a smile, trying to ease any tension that might grow between the brothers.

“I can see you two have gotten along so much,” Max said, realizing how his distance from home had kept him from being close to Finn the way Rosey was. He hadn’t even been there when the boy was born. He had returned home once when Finn already looked about five, and the next time when he looked closer to fifteen.

Just as he wasn’t close with Finn, he wasn’t close with Aryen either. Even when they were little, he and Aryen never truly played together, because by the time Aryen was old enough to walk, Angel already looked like a teenager.

“Yes, we have,” Aryen replied.

Then, after a brief pause, where they stood awkwardly beside each other, staring at the cow in the barn that was slowly chewing its jaw, Aryen glanced at Max’s strong side profile, contemplating whether he should speak the words lodging in his throat. He wasn’t as close to Angel as his twin sister was, and he knew this wasn’t something he should bring up so casually. Still, after a moment of hesitation, Aryen decided to speak anyway.

“I know I shouldn’t say this, because I promised not to let you find out that Finn told me,” he said quietly, “but I can’t help it. Is it true that you will cure my father? Is it true that his heart was corrupted a long time ago and you keep him away somewhere?”

He asked the question with a subtle, hopeful look in his red eyes, one he tried to contain behind an indifferent expression, but it didn’t work.

Max shared a look with his father, and his father gave him a look like it was up to him to decide what he wanted Aryen to know. Max hesitated only for a moment before answering.

“Yes,” he said. “Uncle Rav is not dead, nor is he away in another land like everyone made you believe. He is in Velmere.”