by Brea Alepoú
He swallowed his food, turning his gaze to Ginger. “Would you be a dear and call Lonzo and Jameson?”
Ginger nodded, pulling out her phone and calling them. Titos turned back to stare at Armest. He didn’t know what the man was playing at, but Titos wasn’t going to let him have his way.
“So tell me Armest, how have you been able to keep this territory out of any other king or queen’s hands?” Titos asked, leveling a stare at Armest.
“Simple really. Staying under the radar. Though now that you’re here, I doubt that will be the case any longer,” Armest said.
Jameson and Lonzo walked into the kitchen, both going to one knee.
“You called for us, Your Highness?” Jameson said.
Titos didn’t turn toward them. He watched as Armest’s eyebrow twitched. He smoothed out his face before anything showed, but that one tell was enough for Titos to know that Lonzo and Jameson had worked under Armest, and he was far from happy that they now bowed to Titos.
“Yes, I did.” Titos turned to look at them as he addressed them. They’d both healed up. “You both can stand,” he instructed.
Jameson and Lonzo both looked at everyone around the table, their eyes going wide when they landed on Armest. They both turned away from the man to focus their attention on Titos.
Seth: I don’t trust him.
Titos: I’m starting to get the same feeling.
Mazki: Then we kill him.
Titos: No.
He could feel his keepers wondering why, even Kail was on the side of killing Armest.
Seth: He can become a problem.
Kail: I may be new to this world, but I’m not new to this. He was the head of this territory, then you waltzed in. He’s either going to stab you in the back to get it back or find someone else to get it back for him. Either option isn’t good. Killing him now would eliminate that.
Mazki and Adom both agreed with Kail’s observation. Titos understood what they were saying. Titos valued his keepers’ input, and even thought they were right, but he couldn’t kill the man without knowing for sure. Titos could kill, but to kill someone without knowing for sure… He couldn’t do it. It reminded him of the queen he used to be under. She so much as thought you would eat her food without her permission, and she would have you killed on the spot. He didn’t want to be that kind of ruler.
Seth: I’m sorry. We will protect you no matter your choice.
Titos: I know you are all worried, but I won't kill him on a what if.
Adom: As is your right.
“Who trained you both?” Titos asked.
Jameson stood tall “Our father. He was the keeper of the king before.”
Titos watched them. If their father was the keeper before, then he was most likely dead or close to it. When a king or queen died, their keepers go with them. If a keeper stayed alive, they tended to lose their minds. Mazki being the only keeper that Titos had ever heard of surviving a master dying, but he was a phoenix and they were rare. It only made sense they would be the ones to survive it.
“How old were you when he passed?” Titos asked.
Jameson looked down to the floor, no longer meeting Titos’s eyes. “Thirteen,” he answered.
Titos turned to look at Ginger. His strongest hunters had only been trained in the basics, and he dreaded finding out about the rest who were considered weaker. “Ginger, get all the hunters in this territory here.” He turned to face Armest. “I don’t know what you're playing at, but I have little time for games. The hunters here are below what I expected. I don’t know how you've kept the territory secure, but I suggest you come clean.”
Armest had the smug smile still in place. He bowed his head, but Titos got the feeling that it was pretend. “With all respect, Your Highness, I speak only honesty. We’ve been under the radar; our territory is small with only a few edoli. Most have been with humans and have watered down their bloodlines. No one would wish to take such a weak and small territory that can’t offer anything.”
Titos eyed Armest. “Good then. We shouldn’t have to worry about anyone attacking anytime soon.”
Titos stood from his seat, his keepers standing with him. Both Ginger and Gavin stood, and it was only Armest who stayed sitting. If he expected Titos to ask him to come along, he’d be waiting there. Titos turned and walked out of the kitchen.
Titos: Let Ginger come up here.
Ginger was walking next to him in seconds, and he smiled at her when she looked nervous. “Is there anything you need to tell me Ginger?”
Her eyes widened. “He doesn’t like that you’re here, but I don’t know why. We’ve all done what he said with the understanding you would come to claim the territory one day.”
Titos believed her, and he placed his hand on her shoulder, trying to soothe her nerves. “Thank you, Ginger. Can you make sure the house is ready for everyone? Also inform all the staff in the house that they will be needed as well.” Titos stopped right outside the large ballroom. “Bring them here. Jameson will go along with you.”
Ginger smiled at him. “Yes, Your Highness.”
Titos walked into the room. “Lonzo, is there enough furniture in here for all the hunters?”
Lonzo moved next to Titos. Seth growled a warning, and Lonzo took a few steps back. “Yes, I believe so.”
“Good, let's rearrange this room,” Titos said.
He went to push one of the sofas, and Seth was next to him.
Titos: I will help. I may be a king, but I won't be one who sits by and does nothing while everyone else works.
Seth nodded as they moved the furniture around. Titos shared how he wanted the room to be set up. All the other chairs and couches were to face the front, but the large couch was to be directly ahead with two chairs next to it. His keepers moved, starting to put them in position. Titos eyed the ugly throne-like chair.
“Would you like for me to take the chair out?” Seth asked.
Titos stared at the chair, not liking it. He would never sit in it, but he knew someone who would. “No, you can set it over there with the other furniture,” Titos instructed.
Soon, the room was filling with bodies, edoli and humans alike. They entered the ballroom, taking their seats and whispering about meeting the king. Titos watched them. A lot of them stared at the throne that was amongst them, but none of them took the seat. Ginger and Jameson entered the room, and Titos motioned for them to come to him.
“Yes, Your Highness?” Ginger asked.
“Please sit there, Ginger.” Titos pointed to a chair next to the couch. The surprise on her face would have been comical if it wasn’t a big statement.
Her eyes went to the other seat, and she bowed her head. “Thank you, sir,” she whispered.
“Jameson, please take the other seat, and Lonzo, go stand behind your brother,” Titos said. He waited to see some type of anger or jealousy, but Lonzo smiled at him and bowed his head.
“Thank you,” he said, moving over to stand behind Jameson.
Titos turned to all of them. “No matter what is said, no one gets up or does anything.”
Seth sat, and Titos settled between his legs. Adom took the arm rest, Mazki took the floor between Titos’s legs on a pillow, and Kail sat on the back of the couch, his feet on the cushion next to Titos.
People finally stopped milling around the room, standing and staring at Titos and his keepers.
Titos smiled at them all. “Please have a seat.”
The room went quiet. All eyes were on his master, and Titos commanded the room. It was like he’d spent his whole life being groomed to be a king. Seth knew it wasn’t true, knew Titos had a less than glamorous upbringing, but no one would know it the way he commanded the whole room, not once raising his voice.
Seth eyed the empty throne, the only chair that was left vacant. He knew most wouldn’t sit in it. The brothers had done it just to push buttons, but even then, Seth had seen how uncomfortable they had been doing it. There was only one person missing.
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Mazki connected to Seth only.
Mazki: He isn’t here.
Seth: Titos doesn’t want us to do anything about him yet.
Seth was holding to the yet part. Armest needed to be dealt with before he got the upper hand. As if conjured by sheer thought, Armest walked into the room. Seth observed as everyone turned to watch Armest come into the room. He went to the empty throne in the front line and raised an eyebrow in their direction. Titos waived for him to have a seat, and Armest smirked before taking the throne-like seat. He sat in it as if it was his. Seth ground the back of his teeth, the urge to put him in his place strong.
Titos: All of you need to calm down.
Seth looked down at Titos and saw a smile still on his face as he leaned a little farther back into Seth’s body. He was so proud to be Titos’s keeper, and not only that, but his lover as well. He calmed his nerves and focused on the task of making sure not to distract Titos. It was his duty as alpha to keep everything in line and so he would.
“I’m glad everyone could come out here. I’m sure some of you’ve been informed that I’ve arrived here. I’m Titos and I'm your king,” Titos said.
The room erupted in noise as everyone spoke at once, talking to each other.
“Enough!” Seth shouted, exerting his power as an alpha.
The room went quiet, all eyes were on him and then to Armest as if they needed to reassure themselves with him. Someone who was below Seth—below their king—but they still looked to Armest as someone who was in charge. The fact that Titos hadn’t included him among the ones near him should’ve said enough about it.
“We don’t need a king; we’re fine without one. Now other kings and queens will look at us and attack,” a man said, standing up.
Everyone started to shout again, and the way Armest looked at Seth pissed him off.
“I can understand your concern, which is why I'm giving all of you an out,” Titos said.
Everyone turned to stare at him.
“Giving us an out? So you will leave?” the same man asked.
Titos shook his head. “No, I won’t leave, but you are free to go. I won’t force anyone to stay within my territory.”
The man laughed at Titos. “You’re kidding, right? You’re a nobody who shows up one d—”
Blood sprayed from the neck of the man who’d just lost his head. His body collapsed to the floor, and everyone sitting near him screamed, moving back from the corpse.
Seth wrapped his arms around Titos.
Seth: Everyone, ready for an attack.
There with a blade as long as her arm in the hand of the maid who’d been cleaning the ballroom earlier, her white apron now dark red with blood. She put away her blade and bowed her head toward Titos.
“What’s your name?” Titos asked.
“Liby, sir,” she answered.
Titos nodded, and he touched Seth’s arm. Seth loosened his grip. “Will everyone have a seat? Let’s try this again.”
They all looked around, most of them moving farther away from Liby, taking a seat on the floor. Titos had their attention once again.
Seth eyed Liby. With her blade back away and her just sitting there, he'd never guess she was armed. Seth would need to ask Titos about changing her status and placing her in the hunters instead. If she could cut through bone and cartilage like a knife through butter, then she would be more helpful defending than dusting.
“I understand this is your home, and for a long time, you've gone without a king or a queen. However, I’m here now, and I don’t plan to leave. There are people who want me dead, and now that I’ve decide to claim this territory, there will be more. I’m giving you the chance to leave,” Titos said.
Everyone looked around but said nothing.
“If you have questions, feel free to direct them to Armest. He will be in charge of helping anyone who wishes to leave. As for anyone who wants to stay, I expect you back here tomorrow,” Titos said, standing and ending the meeting that felt as if it had just begun.
Titos motioned for Ginger and the others to follow along before he walked out of the ballroom where all of the people still sat.
“Liby,” Titos called.
She got up and walked over to them, blood splattered all over her face and hands, but she didn’t seem bothered by it in the least. Titos smiled at her and turned to keep walking. They followed, and Liby easily fell in line with them, helping guard Titos. Seth eyed her but said nothing. Her eyes were scanning their surroundings as if they were outside and not in the house.
“Liby, how long have you been training?” Titos asked.
“My whole life,” she answered.
Titos: She moved easily with that blade. Do you think it will be best to place her in charge of the hunters? I was going to leave it to Jameson, but...
Mazki: She sliced his head clean off. I like her.
Seth held back the eye roll. He too was okay with Liby, mainly because she’d killed the ass who’d thought it was his place to question Titos and talk rudely to him.
Seth: We would need to see how good she is.
Kail: She has my vote.
Adom: This isn’t a democracy.
Titos: I may be the king, and what I say goes, but I will need all of your inputs.
Mazki: She is strong, but will placing her in the seat you just gave Jameson be in the best interest? There might be issues.
Seth: I have to agree.
They made it to the one of the many living rooms in the house. Titos turned to look at Liby. “Why are you a house cleaner?” Titos asked.
“My family has always served under this house, but I refused to serve under Armest. My only way to stay within this territory was to be a lower rank, and it was the only way into the house so that I could make sure to be near the king or queen when they made their way here,” Liby said.
Titos: Would any of you be upset if I made her a guard?
Seth was confused for a second, but Titos touched their bond alone.
Titos: I believe that you are more than capable of protecting me, but I also want you in my bed every night, and we need someone outside the door. I was going to have the brothers do it, but Liby seems more capable.
Seth understood. He was going to order the keepers to take shifts in and out of the bed. Two always with Titos and the others guarding the house along with the hunters.
Seth: That should be fine.
Titos said nothing right away. Seth could feel him poking around in the bond, and Seth opened himself up completely, letting Titos see that he was truly okay with it. It meant that they could all stay in his bed with him.
Titos smiled, his green eyes sparkling with his happiness. “Liby, would you mind a mock battle?”
Liby nodded. “If it’s what you wish for. Who shall be my opponent?”
Her eyes locked with each of them. When her eyes made it to Seth, she instantly looked down. She recognized him as the alpha.
“Me,” Titos said.
Liby looked surprised by Titos’s choice.
“You are skilled in the long sword. Seth, can I have a few daggers?” Titos held his hand out.
Seth grabbed two of his blades and handed them over to Titos.
He smiled at Seth before turning back to Liby. “Shall we?”
Liby nodded, pulling out her sword. She faced Titos, both hands on the hilt, and her stance relaxed but sturdy. They all moved back a few feet.
“Try to refrain from damaging any furniture,” Titos instructed.
Adom: We can always buy more furniture.
Titos: I know, but I want to see how much control she has.
Liby waited. She didn’t make the first move; she watched Titos. His foot turned, and she changed her stance subtly, but it was there. She was beyond just skilled; she had the air of a seasoned warrior. Titos moved toward her, and Liby was ready. She struck fast, bringing the blade down.
Titos barely dodged, the blade slicing some of his hair. He moved out of the way just a
s she brought the blade downward again. She stopped short of the table Titos had been near. She quickly turned and was ready to strike again, but Titos stood there with a huge smile on his face and the blades down.
“You didn’t hesitate to strike against me,” Titos said.
Liby put her sword away. “You told me to fight, so that is what I did. Battle—no matter mock or not—I take seriously.”
Titos nodded. “Good, then you will be the main house guard. I will need to find others who are on your skill level to work with you. Maybe three others. I do have keepers that will keep me safe,” Titos thought out loud.
“A guard?” Liby asked.
Titos nodded. “Yes. I have keepers to protect me, but it helps to have extra security.” His face went serious.
Titos: Make sure there is no one around.
Seth: Mazki and Kail—hallway. Adom, windows.
Everyone moved to make sure it was all clear. The head nods from everyone confirmed there was no one around. Seth stayed near Titos at all times.
“I am a soul eater, and because of that, many people will want me dead, and it doesn’t help that the queen of the previous house I belonged to wants me dead. So extra security will be needed.”
Liby went to one knee. “I will happily serve you, my king, in any manner you see fit.”
“Do you have any questions?” Titos asked.
Liby shook her head.
Titos gave his hand to Seth, and he sliced the palm of his master’s hand. Blood beaded at the opening of the wound. Before, Seth’s mouth would’ve dropped at the sight, but as of late, he no longer needed blood or even wanted it. Simply being near Titos was enough to replenish his strength. Through the bond, something flowed between them, and he was all of sudden better, no longer needing blood.
Titos offered his hand to Liby. “I, Liby Harthorn, promise my life to King Titos.” She drank the blood from his hand.
Seth didn’t think he would feel anything since it was a pact and not a bond, but he felt her presence there. It was subtle, but he could feel the line she was located on through Titos.
Titos yawned, his eyes half lidded.
