A King to Be Feared

by Brea Alepoú

  Titos glanced away from Alfrik and Gin talking about some of their favorite country artists. “Are you interested in country music too?”

  Seth gave him a warm smile. “No. Don’t get me wrong, there are some good country songs, but I’m more of a heavy-metal type of guy.”

  Titos squeezed Seth’s hand. “Me too. I haven’t heard anything new lately, but listening to music and running for your life is hard to do.”

  Seth cupped his face. “We should take some time out of our days and just listen.” The pad of Seth’s thumb graced over his bottom lip. “Together.”

  “I’d like that.” Titos kissed his finger before glancing back at Adom, who seemed to be in his own head. “Adom.”

  His silvery gaze focused right back on Titos’s, and they were slightly dilated. Titos cocked an eyebrow as he felt along the bond.

  “Our resident phoenix is being a grade A brat,” Adom answered.

  Titos shook his head. “What kind of music do you like? So far it’s two for country music and two for heavy metal.”

  Adom’s thick fingers combed through his white facial hair. “I listen to a little of everything, but if I had to pick one, I’d say classical or blues.”

  “I could see that,” Gin said.

  “Why is that?” Adom asked, a thick brow lifted and his silver eyes staring intently at Gin. It was the same look he gave Mazki whenever he was a second away from getting a spanking. Titos bit his lip to keep himself from laughing, especially as Gin broke eye contact with the man.

  “I meant in the way you carry yourself,” Gin muttered under his breath.

  Adom smiled. “It wouldn’t have anything to do with me looking older?”

  Gin’s face went aflame, and Titos lost the battle with his laughter. He wasn’t the only one as Alfrik joined him. Seth was better at keeping himself contained, but a smile graced his beautifully sculpted face.

  Titos reached through the bond to Kail. His troubled edoli almost felt relaxed through the bond.

  Titos: What’s your favorite type of music?

  Kail: Random, but I guess rap or alternative.

  Titos: I want to get to know everyone better. I want to know the tiniest things about you.

  Warmth seeped through the bond and wrapped around Titos like a warm blanket. Kail said nothing else, but Titos noticed that the link between them hummed.

  Titos: Mazki.

  Mazki: I like the sound of your moans.

  Titos chuckled.

  Titos: That does not count.

  Mazki: It’s music to me, so it should count.

  Mazki opened the connection to all the keepers, and Titos felt them all take notice.

  Mazki: Titos’s moans are top-tier music, right?

  There was a collective yes, and Titos groaned out loud.

  “Can I know?” Gin said, reminding Titos that he was left out.

  Titos opened his mouth, trying to form the words, but he shut it. Adom cleared his throat.

  “We all agreed our favorite music is the sounds our mas—”

  Titos let go of both Seth and Alfrik’s hands, rushed over to Adom, and slapped his hands over the man’s mouth. “Lalala,” Titos shouted.

  Rich laughter burst from Seth and Alfrik. Even Gin was laughing.

  “I can guess what you were going to say. Maybe I’ll hear this beautiful music one day for myself,” Gin teased.

  Titos groaned even as his face got hotter. Adom’s rough hands wrapped around his wrist and moved his hands off his lips. He sported a huge grin. Before Titos could say anything, Adom stole his breath with a kiss.

  Losing himself with his keepers, especially while in their arms, was too easy. Everything around Titos went silent, and it all disappeared, leaving behind him and his keepers and the strong bonds they had.

  Contracts were drawn up, and both Gin and Kyo signed them. Gin’s eyes constantly strayed to Titos, and he tried more than once to get closer to him. Seth could tell Titos wanted to get close to the man just as badly.

  Like the others, there was no jealousy, just acceptance. Maybe it had to do with Titos being a soul eater instead of a regular edoli, but they all felt a connection with him, and when another joined, it didn’t feel as if one was being kicked to the side.

  Seth checked the time and walked over to Titos. He lounged on the couch in the library, a book in hand. He leaned against Adom, who brought his work in the room to be next to their master.

  Seth bent down and placed a kiss on Tito’s forehead. Bright green eyes stared back at him. They were filled with so much love and affection. Seth couldn’t help himself as he kissed Titos. Their tongues danced together in a familiar way before Seth forced himself to pull back.

  Titos was left breathless, and it brought a grin to Seth’s face.

  “I’m going to switch with Kail and Adom in about an hour and switch with Mazki in the sky. Kyo is setting up the border now, but we don’t want to take any chances,” Seth said.

  Titos sighed. “Can’t wait till the border is fully up so that all of you are in here with me.”

  Adom glanced up from his papers again, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly. “Soon.” There was so much promise and conviction in such a simple word. Seth felt them deep within.

  Alfrik made his way into the library, and Seth clasped a hand on his shoulder. The man was a few inches taller than him, but ever since their duel for alpha, Alfrik had seemed content with things. He followed Seth with no complaints.

  Seth: Watch over him.

  Alfrik: And Gin?

  Seth glanced over his shoulder at Gin. He sat in the window seat with a book in hand, but his golden gaze was solely focused on Titos. He’d flip a few pages, but Seth doubted he was reading. He’d started on the far couch a ways from Titos, but now he was only a few feet from him. The next seat was either the floor or the same couch as Titos.

  Seth: Make your best judgment. Titos feels a connection with him, and so far it seems as if all he wants to do is be near him.

  Alfrik by far was the kindest out of all of them. He might have come to them with a hard exterior, but once he’d been accepted and he realized what they were about, his true personality had shown. A gentle giant.

  Seth nodded and took one more glance at his master before walking out. He hated having to leave his side, but how could he expect the others to if he wasn’t willing to as well. It was only fair as the alpha to lead by example. He never wanted to be like other alphas who only gave orders and never assisted the keepers under them. That would never be their dynamic. With Titos being different, it meant Seth didn’t have to follow the dated way of life. The very one that would have made them more like competition instead of his lovers. He could trust each and every single one of them fully.

  “Kail, you can go in and get some rest,” Seth said.

  Kail rubbed at his eyes and shrugged. “Yeah, probably a good idea.”

  Seth grabbed the young man’s arm before he was able to walk away. Kail’s blue eyes looked back at him, and his thick brow went up in question. Seth was a man who followed their instincts. He pulled Kail to his chest and hugged him. They were all unexpectedly drawn to Titos, but there was a special bond between each other as well.

  Kail was stiff for a second before he melted into the hug, and his arms slowly wrapped around Seth’s waist. They stood there for a little bit longer, basking in each other’s embrace.

  “Thanks, but I’m not glass,” Kail said.

  Even as he said it, his arms tightened around Seth. “Yeah, I know you aren’t.”

  Kail sighed. “I feel like I should be madder than I actually am. And yet here I am mad that I’m mad.”

  Seth pulled back from the hug. “Walk with me.”

  Kail nodded, and they began to walk the path already. Seth could feel a slight difference around the perimeter of the house.

  “You’re not wrong for feeling that. Most edoli would feel it too. Although we are more accustomed to sharing than most humans, when it co
mes to our master, keepers become more possessive in a way.”

  Kail nodded his understanding. “So, what, it just disappears once an edoli Titos likes comes around?”

  Seth thought about it. “Huh, kind of. I don’t think it feels different than any other edoli approaching Titos. Sure, we initially keep the other edoli back, but that’s because that’s what we all have been taught, but if you sit back and think about it, when Alfrik joined us, it took no time at all. He fit in with us.”

  Seth’s gaze took in their surroundings. He placed an arm around Kail’s shoulder and leaned on him. He caught sight of Kail’s sly grin, his long hair up in a bun.

  “You weren’t serious about me getting a spanking too, right?” Kail asked.

  A soft chuckle slipped from Seth. “Are you asking because you really don’t want that or because you’re curious?”

  Kail groaned, and Seth felt along their bond. It was strange—he’d always thought he’d only have a bond with his master, but here he was sharing one with four other men and possibly five. Kail’s felt strangely similar to Titos’s, and he pulled Seth closer, beckoned him to deepen their bond.

  “Both?” Kail said.

  Seth hummed. “Well, if you really don’t want one, then that’s fine, but as of right now, yes, I was very much serious.” He gripped Kail’s chin and stopped their movement. He stared into his endless blue eyes before caving and kissing him. Seth kept it short, but it was just as intimate. “Go get some rest.”

  Seth walked the rest of the perimeter, and the sun started to go down. His eyes adjusted thanks to his manticore wolf. He noticed that his eyesight in the dark was improving even more. Another thing to thank his master for.

  Something glowed bright in the forest. Seth approached slowly, his wolf ready to attack if need be, but the moment he saw them clearly, his shoulders dropped. Liby and Kyo stood close, sharing an intimate conversation. He didn’t want to be rude and stepped back only for a crack to echo around the otherwise quiet area.

  Liby’s blue eyes went right to Seth, and her hand rested firmly on her sword. The moment she recognized him, she relaxed somewhat. Seth wasn’t sure if she really knew how to relax.

  “Sorry about that. Just walking the perimeter,” Seth said.

  Kyo chuckled. “Yeah, and a little spying.” She turned and hammered something into the trunk of the tree. “The barrier will be up shortly. Should be done overnight. The larger one is going to take some time. There is a weak one already up, but I’ll have to take it down and start from scratch so it can be tied to Titos directly.”

  Seth nodded. “Sounds good. Then we will continue to rotate. Liby, you will stay with Kyo.”

  Liby slightly bowed her head, but it was Kyo who sported a smile. “If I wasn’t being paid for this job, I might be tempted to draw it out.”

  Seth shook his head.

  “That is unprofessional and a waste of time,” Liby said matter-of-factly.

  Kyo rolled her eyes. “Not a waste. I’d be spending it with you.”

  The words looked to go right over Liby’s head. Seth cleared his throat before either one of them could go further into it. He excused himself and continued to walk around, making sure that the place his master called home was safe as could be.

  Finally, heat covered Titos from head to toe; there was some part of him touching one of his keepers. He knew he’d missed it, but now that he got to wake up with them again, he realized just how special it was. Even if it was a huge furnace pile on the bed. Titos wouldn’t trade it for the world. His eyes fell shut once again, and he snuggled into Adom’s chest, the thick hair tickling his nose.

  “It feels like it’s a hundred degrees in here,” Kail grumbled. His head was solidly on Seth’s chest, and his leg was tossed over Titos’s waist.

  “And yet you’re snuggling in further,” Titos pointed out.

  Kail groaned but didn’t deny it either, his tattooed arm laid on Seth. Titos could easily lose himself tracing all the intricate designs that decorated Kail’s flesh. On multiple occasions, he found himself lost in their beauty.

  A wandering hand tickled up Titos’s spine. “If you’re all up, then why not make it hotter?” Mazki’s sultry voice wrapped around Titos like a caress.

  Titos groaned and squirmed, trying both to get closer to Mazki’s skilled hands and run away.

  “Are you teasing Titos first thing in the morning, boy?” Adom said. His voice rumbled throughout his chest, and Titos felt every single word.

  A head popped up, half of Mazki’s dark hair stuck up, defying the law of gravity, and the other half clung to his face. Laughter burst from Titos, and soon the others were joining in. Mazki didn’t make matters any better as he winked and blew kisses to Titos.

  “How in the world do you have so much energy in the morning?” Alfrik asked. His voice was deep and grumbly. Even with his voice sounding so rough, it still came across as gentle.

  It had Titos’s body reacting on its own. He was truly lucky to have not one but five men all to himself. They desired him just as much as he needed them. All eyes were on Titos in an instant. Heat enveloped the bond and had his toes curling. Everyone was indeed awake.

  “Good morning,” Titos said.

  A growl from Seth had Titos sucking in a breath as the fine hairs at the back of his neck stood on end. Mazki’s hand was on him once again, gliding up his body and leaving goose bumps in its wake. Titos’s body reacted instantly to his keeper’s sounds and touches. There was no way in hell he was capable of holding anything back with them. Everything always felt electrified when it came to being with his keepers.

  “It’s morning for sure, but good?” Kail asked, his voice dropping down an octave. His dark blue eyes smoldered with desire.

  “I’m sure we can change it to a good morning,” Mazki added.

  Titos’s heart battered around in his rib cage. A shiver worked its way down Titos’s spine, and he barely held back the moan that threatened to break loose. Soft lips brushed against Titos’s shoulder, making him gasp out a moan.

  He glanced over his shoulder and locked gazes with Seth. His alpha’s hazel eyes simmered with heat.

  “Seth,” Titos said breathlessly.

  “Yes, Master?”

  The way “master” rolled off Seth’s tongue had Titos all too aware that they were in bed fully naked, and he wasn’t the only one hard. He bit his bottom lip. He hated when they called him master, and yet he couldn’t find it in him to be upset, not with the soft kisses being peppered along his shoulders and across his back. Mazki’s hands continued to wander on Titos, but all too soon, more hands joined in.

  A tattooed hand flashed in front of Titos’s view and wrapped around his hardening cock, making him groan. Titos’s head fell back for a second, and his eyelids fell closed. He basked in being touched by all of his keepers. It was easy to lose himself. He knew exactly who touched what part of him. It was as if he were standing outside of his own body but enjoying the touch regardless. His mouth was taken by Adom in a toe-curling kiss. His facial hair tickled Titos as their tongues intertwined.

  He moaned into the kiss as Mazki pinched his nipples, making electricity dance throughout his body and shoot right to his cock. For everyone to have just woken up, it was a surprise that they were all so active. It had been so long since they had enjoyed being in bed all together.

  Titos sucked in a breath as the kiss ended. His lungs burned, but still, he was ready to push past it all. He’d teeter on passing out to continue kissing his keeper. His eyes fluttered open, and he instantly got lost in Adom’s silver eyes.

  “You are beautiful,” Adom said.

  Heat blossomed over Titos’s face, more than likely making his cheeks look like red tomatoes. Titos leaned forward and stole another kiss from Adom. But all too soon, he was being pulled back. A whimper slipped free as his lips tingled. Alfrik cupped Titos’s face and brought him in for another kiss. It was gentle in every way. The way his tongue enticed Titos’s out and moved
slowly against him, it was like a slow dance right to his heart. Titos melted against his giant keeper and became nothing more than putty from a kiss alone.

  Alfrik kissed the corner of Titos’s mouth and down his neck, his thick auburn beard scratching against Titos’s flesh. “Kissing you first thing in the morning is better than a fresh cup of coffee,” Alfrik said.

  Titos’s lips quirked up in a smile. Before he could say anything, a weight sat on his lap. He turned just in time to see a mischievous smile on Mazki’s face.

  “My turn,” Mazki declared.

  He didn’t wait for Titos to catch his breath or even fully prepare for him. Mazki threw himself at Titos, his slender arms wrapping around Titos’s neck, and their lips crashed together in a kiss that was full of need. Titos cupped Mazki’s bare ass and squeezed as he deepened the kiss even further.

  Titos pulled back once spots started to dance in his vision. Their foreheads fell together as they both sucked in air.

  “I don’t know about you, but I was ready to go if it meant that kiss never ended,” Mazki teased. He licked his pink kiss-swollen lips.

  A breathy chuckle escaped Titos as the others groaned. Mazki winked and gave Titos another peck before he got off his lap. Titos’s turned just as a hand loosely wrapped around his throat. Kail smirked at him. Kail gave off the bad-boy vibes, and he a hundred percent could back it, but Titos also liked the surprisingly sweet side of Kail. The one that screamed naivety regardless of everything he’d been through in the past.

  Kail tightened his hand slightly, not enough to cut off air but just enough to place the right amount of pressure on Titos’s neck. His head started to go light as Kail brought his mouth to Titos’s. He ran his tongue along the seam in a teasing manner. Titos didn’t have to be asked—he opened his mouth, wanting to lose himself in his keeper. A chuckle rumbled out of Kail, and it was full of sin and sex.