by Brea Alepoú
Seth: You are supposed to be keeping your eyes on our surroundings.
Mazki sighed through the bond, and Titos covered his mouth to hide his laughter.
Seth: I know you’re laughing over there, Titos.
Titos: Me? Never.
Seth: Adding him simply because he finds our dynamics interesting won’t be enough.
Titos nodded his head, even if his gaze was steadily drawn to Gin, and he wondered what type of edoli he’d be. He couldn’t blindly give in to his desires.
Adom: Agreed, but it ultimately rests in our master’s hands.
Titos: I’d prefer if everyone was okay with it first. No matter what my title is, I won’t be ruling over all of you as if you’re mindless bodies.
Alfrik hugged Titos even tighter.
Kail: I’m still a little unsure if I’m okay with it. I just may take a little more time.
Titos’s shoulders sagged a bit, and the heavy weight in his chest lessened slightly. Kail wasn’t unreasonable; he was willing to work with them. That’s all Titos could hope for at the moment.
Titos turned in Alfrik’s arms and placed a kiss to the man’s thin lips. The coarse hair of his beard tickled Titos’s face.
“Better get over there and be all kingly,” Titos said.
Alfrik smiled, and it lit up his face. “Of course, Master.”
Titos groaned, but he refrained from correcting Alfrik. They still had guests, and Titos knew the importance of looking the part. Even if he hated being called master. It felt as if he was more important than his keepers, but that was the furthest thing from the truth.
“Is this doable?” Adom asked.
Ginger fiddled with her bright green hair. “The overall territory only stretches to the city over, and the previous king already had a thin barrier placed there long ago. It could do with an update for King Titos.”
Thank goodness for Ginger. She wasn’t only the best asset ever, but she’d been around the territory a lot longer than any of them. Her knowledge was invaluable.
Kyo glanced Titos’s way. “I’m sorr—”
“Kyo,” Gin interrupted.
The siblings had an intense stare-off as Titos held his breath. If she decided they weren’t the risk, not only would he have to continue to not sleep with all of his keepers, but they’d be on high alert at all times. At least with a barrier, they’d have some type of added protection.
Liby walked over to the sibling pair, and Kyo’s shoulders rose instantly. Liby bent over slightly and whispered something in Kyo’s ear. Her eyes went right to Titos. He had no idea what Liby was telling the woman, but he could only hope it was in favor of a barrier.
Ginger made her way over to Titos, and she gave him a soft smile. “I just hope Liby doesn’t put her foot in her mouth.”
Titos cocked an eyebrow. Liby was cold and quiet. If anything, Titos was surprised she was talking at all. She mainly said nothing; she was more of a slice everything up type of person.
“Fingers crossed,” Titos said. He should get to know everyone better. He might have been new around there and entrusted into the role of king, but he still needed to give it his all.
“Are you in need of anything, Ginger? You do so much for us. I want to make sure you’re well taken care of.”
A deep red blush crept up Ginger’s round face, and her painted purple lips turned up in a huge grin. “No need for that. Thank you.” She dusted off fake lint from her blouse. “You have done more for me than anyone has ever done. I love my job, and I am truly grateful that you have allowed me to stay and work for you.”
Titos looped his arm with Ginger’s. She went a bit stiff but soon relaxed as Titos smiled at her. She wasn’t just his worker or the person who got everything done mysteriously. She was more like a mother.
“Don’t be afraid to tell me if you need anything, Ginger. If you need a day off, you got it. You work too hard sometimes.” Her eyes went soft and a little watery as she stared at Titos. “Don’t make me cry. I’m having a good makeup day.”
Titos placed a quick kiss on Ginger’s cheek. “I really am thankful for you. I doubt I’d be able to run half of the stuff you do.”
Ginger waved her hand in the air. “I do what I can so that you can focus on what you need to do. It’s a team effort.”
Wasn’t that the truth? Movement in his peripheral pulled Titos’s focus as Kyo and Gin made their way over toward them. Titos stood up straight once more. Liby walked past the siblings and moved to stand right behind Titos. He wondered what was said.
Adom: From what I could tell, there is definitely some history between Liby and Kyo, and she might have used it in our favor.
Titos bit his lip as his stomach tightened. Was that the right thing to allow? Liby shouldn’t have needed to use her personal life to get them what they needed, but the fact still stood they absolutely needed the barrier.
“After careful consideration, we might be able to take this job on,” Kyo said.
Titos glanced over to Gin and caught a charming smile from the man. It oddly helped put Titos’s nerves at ease.
“What are your terms?” Titos asked.
Adom moved closer to them, and he could feel all of his keepers through the bond, aware and waiting.
Kyo’s gaze swept up and down Titos and then roamed around him, only stopping briefly behind him where he knew Liby stood.
“I’m assured you are not like most rulers and that you don’t subject your edoli as the others do.”
Titos’s nodded. He’d been in the lower ranks of edoli society and knew firsthand how harsh it could be. He’d also seen families torn apart if an edoli who had the ability to shift was born into a family that were mainly hunters; they’d be stripped away to be raised with higher-standing edoli. Titos had no desire to do such things. He wasn’t mad with power.
Kyo sighed. “We are not affiliated with any house, but it is getting harder and harder to stay that way,” he said.
Gin rolled his eyes. “What my sister is beating around the bush about is we would like asylum here in exchange for the barrier.”
Kyo looked ready to punch her brother, but she plastered a smile on her face and nodded.
Adom: The trouble that they undoubtedly have will come looking for them.
Mazki: Eh, add it to the list of fuckers coming for us.
Seth: It is not that simple. We don’t know who or what is after them.
Titos listened to all of his keepers go back and forth as he stood there staring at Gin and Kyo. “What are you seeking asylum from?” Might as well get the biggest question out of the way.
Gin opened his mouth to answer, but Kyo covered his mouth and gave him a pointed look. “I get that you aren’t like others, and I can see that for myself a bit, but that doesn’t mean I trust a king.”
The word “king” held nothing but pure disdain. Seth growled, and Adom stepped closer. Titos could feel the frustration practically rolling off of Liby through their link. Everyone around him clearly took offense to how Kyo felt about rulers except Titos. He got it.
“Fair enough, but you are asking me to place my territory and my keepers in more danger. I’d prefer if it’s not unknown,” Titos said calmly.
Kyo’s hand had traveled down to her hip, resting on a weapon, Titos was sure. Gin, on the other hand, although clearly aware of everyone around him stayed perfectly still.
“That’s fair, but if you lack papers from the council, I’d say you’re already in a shit ton of trouble,” Kyo pointed out.
Kail: She isn’t wrong.
Seth growled through the bond, and Titos sighed.
Titos: Everyone, calm down. She is clearly wary.
“The council doesn’t know of our assistance yet,” Titos said. It was only a matter of time now, but he’d cross that bridge when he got there.
“Kyo,” Gin stressed.
Titos pulled on one of his curls. “I need a service from you, and you want the safety of my territory. All I’m asking is who
you are running from. I prefer not being blind when someone comes to attack us.”
Kail: It’s a shit experience.
Titos wholeheartedly agreed. Kyo glanced over at her brother, and they seemed to have a wordless conversation. “Okay.” She looked anything but. “The Dehyrus house—it’s where we were born and spent years there locked away.”
Titos knew of the house. It was run by a king and said to be one of the largest territories. Unlike his native house, Dehyrus was known for its magic users. Made sense as to why Kyo was highly sought out—if she’d grown up in the Dehyrus house, then she’d learned from some of the best. Even the council sent their magic-using edoli to the famous territory to learn.
“Why?” Adom asked.
Kyo looked ready to murder him. “That is per—”
“Kyo if you want assistance, then you need to be open to it,” Liby pointed out.
Titos glanced over his shoulder. Liby stood there, straight-backed as always. He’d have to think of some way to thank her. He turned back to Kyo, but it was Gin who spoke.
“Edoli there who can use magical items are placed higher than any others. The king decided he’d only take magic users instead of the shifter type of edoli.” Gin side-eyed his sister. “And Kyo is the best at using defensive magical items because King Arlo declared that Kyo join his harem.”
Kyo rolled her eyes. “Literally. He didn’t just want me as a keeper but as some concubine.” Her eyebrows dipped, and her nose scrunched up.
Kail: I thought not everyone sleeps with their keepers?
Mazki: Yes, that is the case most times, but rulers have the right to demand it. Most don’t because they believe it below them.
Titos: They are staying.
There was no argument in the decision that was made. “Okay, thank you for telling me. You’re both free to stay here.” Titos glanced at Ginger as he was about to add to the woman’s workload. But the smile he received back told him she didn’t mind one bit. “If you would like to stay in the main house, that’s fine with me. I’m sure two spare rooms can be made available. If not, give Ginger a little time. She can find an available house somewhere in the territory.”
Ginger nodded with a smile on her face and her phone out. “Consider it done. The two spare bedrooms are on the second floor, and they are getting aired out currently.”
Adom: She is truly a hard worker.
Titos: Yes, we’d be knee-deep in bullshit if it wasn’t for her.
Kyo jutted out her chin and stared deeply into Titos’s eyes. He stood there unflinching as she came to terms with what he said.
“Thank you, we’d like that,” Gin said. He smirked and took the tiniest step toward Titos. “And I’d like to stay in the main house.”
Kyo’s shoulders dropped. “I’d like it in writing that you won’t force my brother or I into being your keepers or pledging to your house.”
Gin rolled his eyes.
“Okay, that’s fine,” Titos said. He shrugged. “I have no need or desire to force someone to be with me. You are free to leave whenever you want to. Both of you.”
Kyo still looked somewhat skeptical of Titos, but she nodded nonetheless and shook his offered hand.
“I’ll get started once everything is signed,” Kyo said.
“Give me about thirty minutes, and I will have all contracts ready to be signed,” Ginger said, already walking away with phone to ear.
“Ginger’s thirty minutes is more twenty tops. She just might surprise us in ten.” Titos watched the green-haired woman go before turning back to his guest.
“You are a stran—different kind of king,” Kyo said.
Titos: Am I strange?
Mazki: Yes, but it’s what makes you the best.
Kail: Hundred percent weird.
Seth: No, but you are different in a good way.
Alfrik: I like your strangeness.
Adom: You stand above the rest, is all.
All of his keepers basically agreed with Kyo’s assessment, but Titos didn’t think it was a bad thing that he was a bit odd. He wasn’t raised to be a ruler; it kind of just happened.
“Why don’t we stay outside for a bit longer, or at least until Ginger finishes up with the paperwork,” Seth suggested.
Titos smiled at his alpha keeper. Seth had nothing to feel guilty about, but he also knew his keeper and knew the man wouldn’t be free of guilt anytime soon.
Titos threaded their fingers together. Business had been taken care of. With Kyo and Gin both staying in the main house, he didn’t feel the need to keep up the stuffy facade. Maybe it would put Kyo more at ease.
“I’d like that. Are all of you staying out?” Titos asked.
“Yes, might as well. There is no reason to go in unless you are there,” Alfrik said.
A smile tugged at the corners of Titos’s mouth. He offered his other hand to his lava bear shifter. It felt right being in between two of his keepers. He’d prefer it if all of them were around him at all times. It might seem like a bit much, but Titos had been lonely his whole life, and now that he had people on his side, he never wanted to feel the unbearable weight of loneliness.
“While I’m out here, I’m going to look around some more for better centering points,” Kyo said.
Titos stopped walking and looked at both siblings. “Gin, are you going with your sister?”
“Hey, I can take care of myself,” Kyo said. She gave her brother a pointed look. There obviously had been some words said between them.
Gin shrugged. “I was actually hoping to stay and get to know you.”
Titos’s heart did a little flutter thing, and he bit the inside of his cheek to keep the smile at bay. “That would be nice.” Titos tried not to let his hopes get up too high. So far each of his keepers had fallen in with him with ease, even with them all being different. Would Gin be the same way? Titos hoped so, but at the same time, he knew not everything could be perfect.
Kyo turned on her heels to walk away. “Wait, Kyo, you might be able to handle your own, but we have enemies of our own.” Titos glanced over at his guard. “Liby will go with you, if that’s okay.”
A huge grin took over Kyo’s face, and she sauntered right up to Liby, her braid swinging as she went. Liby, of course, stayed perfectly still and kept her face impassive. They were opposites but similar at the same time. Kyo gave off carefree vibes, and she smiled so easily. Liby was stricter and by the book. Everything about her was in place and not a hair out of line. But both of them were clearly badasses.
“All my keepers are out here, so if you wouldn’t mind, Liby,” Titos said.
He wouldn’t force her; if she truly didn’t want to be left alone with Kyo, then she wouldn’t have to. He’d send someone else instead, but he wasn’t about to let Kyo go out alone. The barrier wasn’t up yet, and there was no telling who would pop up and attack. Even if Kyo wasn’t really a part of Titos’s house, his enemies didn’t know that.
Liby nodded, and Kyo actually giggled. Titos was pretty sure it was unusual for the woman. She’d been nothing more than a hard wall toward everyone except Liby.
“You can smile more. I know you’re happy to be spending time with me,” Kyo teased Liby.
And for the briefest of seconds, Titos had seen the corner of his usual stone-faced, guarded mouth curled up.
Titos: Anyone else see that?
Alfrik: She smiled.
At least Titos wasn’t the only one taken by surprise.
“Those two make the strangest pair. If only they wouldn’t break up every five seconds,” Gin said.
“Pair… wait, they are together? Or not?” Titos asked. How Liby had acted before, Titos could have sworn the two weren’t. Titos made a mental note to ask Liby about it later.
Gin smiled at him and moved in front of him. He was careful not to get too close. Both Alfrik and Seth growled in warning.
“No, but that’s only because Kyo and I couldn’t stay in one place. And they argue over the stupidest thi
ngs. But maybe now they will have a better chance, with us…” Gin shrugged, not finishing his words.
But Titos heard the hope. He wanted a place to belong, and more than anything, Titos could understand that. How he’d longed to be wanted and cherished.
Titos: Is it so crazy that I am easily swayed by him?
Seth was a steady strength through the bond, and his large hand tightened in Titos’s.
Adom: Not in the slightest. We are all just happy to be with you, and we know that you adding Gin will not take you away from us.
Titos was thankful for Adom’s reassuring words. He helped put him at ease, and his shoulders relaxed a bit more. Still, Titos checked each bond, and all of his keepers agreed with Adom’s words. Kail was skeptical, but he still sent warmth through the bond. Titos made a plan to spend more time with each of his keepers individually right then and there.
“Maybe,” Titos finally said to Gin. He caught the moment of disappointment in Gin’s golden gaze, but Titos had to be careful.
They started to walk around, and Titos took in more fresh air. It was peaceful, if rare. He’d learned to take these moments whenever they presented themselves.
“Tell me more about you, Gin,” Titos said, finally breaking the silence.
“Oh, well, what do you want to know? I can give the basics. I’m twenty-two years old. My favorite color is black. I enjoy listening to country music.” Gin hummed and tilted his head.
Titos had stopped short. “Wait, you like listening to country music?”
A huge grin came over Gin’s face. “Yes. Are you judging a book by its cover?”
Titos’s face went aflame. It hadn’t been his intention, but Gin, from his pierced ears to jewelry and painted nails, didn’t seem like a country music enthusiast. Titos couldn’t help but picture a cowboy-looking person when it came to country music.
Gin chuckled, and again Titos couldn’t help but gravitate toward him. He took a step forward, pulling both Seth and Alfrik along with him.
“What’s your favorite song?” Alfrik asked.
Titos turned and looked at his lava bear shifter; the man looked intrigued by Gin’s choice in music. He needed to learn more about everyone. Sure their lives were a constant go, and they had shit to do, but Titos wanted to know everything about each and every single one of his keepers. They weren’t just there to protect him; there was more between them.
