A King to Be Protected

by Brea Alepoú

  Mazki: Calm down, wolf, it’s just me.

  Mazki mentally tried to calm Seth, but he wanted to growl his frustration. He wanted to kill the man who’d shot his master all over again. Tearing off his head wasn’t enough; he needed to be punished much worse.

  “I need to touch him to find where the wound is,” Mazki said.

  Seth could hear the pleading in Mazki’s tone. He reined in his beast, controlling the part of him that wanted to take Titos and lock them both in a room so he could make sure he was safe and okay. Seth opened his eyes and stared at Mazki. The phoenix was older, but there wasn’t an ounce of challenge. Even though Seth had failed to protect Titos, Mazki still showed him the respect of an alpha.

  Mazki: You didn’t fail anything. Damn, you and our master are two of the same crayon.

  Seth blinked a few times, confused by Mazki’s metaphor. “What?”

  Mazki quirked a smile at him, the same one Seth had grown to care for. He knew Mazki said the craziest shit just see the reactions from people.

  “Check him over,” Seth said.

  He watched for a second longer as Mazki started to gently look over Titos. Seth stood and looked around the room. All the keepers were covered in blood, and the once white marble floor was bathed in crimson and bodies. Only two stood: Armest and an edoli who was bleeding out faster than he could heal, his hand missing. He was shaking from head to toe, no doubt from the blood loss.

  Liby held a blade against Armest’s neck as he looked triumphantly at Titos on the ground. Seth growled, so hot it felt as if his blood was boiling. He moved toward Armest only for Adom to beat him. Adom punched Armest so hard, he fell to the floor. Liby grabbed his collar as Adom stood over him with anger that rivaled Seth’s own.

  Seth: We cannot kill him.

  It pained him to not be able to, but it was an order from their master, and his command would be held regardless if all of them wanted to skin Armest alive, hearing his screams as they sliced his skin piece by piece.

  Adom turned and nodded, moving back by a frazzled looking Ginger, her usually neat, green hair sticking up in odd places and a small tremor betrayed her fear. She smiled timidly at Seth. He didn’t have it in him to smile, but he gave her a slight nod before letting his eyes roam over the place again. His eyes caught on a pile that looked like a body but in pieces. There were legs but no blood spilled from it, and the upper part was a pile of rubble.

  “I’m not sure what you did, but that was cool,” Kail said as he walked over to them.

  There was no blood on him, and his clothes were still on. Seth had no idea how he was the only one who could shift into his other form and still come out dressed. Seth nodded to the body, the blood shining like ice around it. He would need to try out his power again.

  “Is he okay?” Kail asked worriedly.

  Seth put his hand on his shoulder just as Titos groaned as Mazki did something. Seth growled in warning, and he could feel Mazki’s concentration on not hurting their master. Another groan came from Titos as Mazki did something again.

  Seth: What are you doing to him?

  Mazki: I have to dig the bullet out. Its encased with poison, and he won't be able to heal with it inside of him, just like your arm.

  Seth recalled the wound on his arm that hadn’t healed when he’d shifted. The wound had unfrozen and blood dripped down his arm. He could worry about it later, first Titos. He knelt, cupping Titos’s face. His eyes were squeezed shut, and Seth wanted more than anything to see the beautiful green once more.

  Titos rubbed his face against the palm of Seth’s hand, soothing a knot that had formed in his gut.

  Mazki: Hold him still. Kail, come hold his lower half.

  Seth moved to hold Titos’s shoulders as Kail moved to his lower half. Blood bubbled up where the bullet hole was on his side, and Seth saw red for a second until he felt Titos through the bond, lightly brushing against him mentally. As if even in his passed-out state, he still sought to soothe Seth.

  Mazki: Ready.

  Seth felt the strain it was putting on Mazki to harm their master, but still, he took a blade and pressed against Titos’s skin, opening the wound farther. Titos began to shake and groan from the pain. He wasn’t fully awake, and Seth was glad for it. Mazki dropped the blade, and it clanked against the floor. Seth watch, transfixed, as Mazki dipped his fingers into Titos’s flesh, moving them about in search of the poisoned bullet.

  A scream tore from Titos, and it nearly had Seth knocking Mazki aside. He held himself back, repeating that it was to help his master, and if they didn’t get the bullet out, it could potentially be fatal to Titos. Another screamed ripped from him as Mazki went farther into the wound.

  Seth: Hurry the fuck up.

  Mazki: I’m trying! The damn thing is deeper than I thought.

  Seth lowered his head next to Titos’s. “You’re doing great, master. He’s just trying to get the bullet out. It will all be over soon,” Seth said soothingly.

  Titos screamed again, his eyes still closed and body shaking. Seth could feel the pain he was in, and it hurt him more than anything. He tried to take the pain away, to take it all upon himself, but it nearly blinded him. He breathed in through his nose and out through his mouth as he tried again to take more.

  Titos’s screams quieted as Seth did his best to dull the pain for his master. As Mazki continued, it was almost too much, and his vision swam, darkening on the sides as he tried to stay upright and holding onto Titos.

  “Got it,” Mazki exclaimed as he achingly slowly withdrew the bullet.

  Seth winced and grunted, then Mazki’s fingers were finally free.

  The pain he’d felt moments ago was now a dull ache, but his brain still felt foggy. He knew the ones around him where his keepers because he could feel their connections, deep and warm within him. He relaxed a little until flashes of what had happened raced through his mind. He groaned when he tried to sit up, but hands gently held him back and hushed whispers begged for him to relax.

  He didn’t understand what had happened to the pain he'd been feeling, and from what he remembered, he should be in a crap ton of pain. He remembered the bullet piercing his side before everything went black only to be woken up by searing pain in his side, like someone digging into him with a hot knife.

  Mazki: A hot knife?

  Titos turned to look up at Mazki. Blood was splattered over his face, but his gentle blue eyes shined down at Titos, and he couldn’t help the smile that spread across his own face.

  “Hey,” Titos croaked out, his throat raw. He looked around him, and all of his keepers stood around him, including Alfrik—who was also bloody—and Liby. Seth breathed heavily above him, and Titos studied the tight lines on his face.

  Titos: You're in pain?

  Seth: I am fine, master.

  Mazki: He’s taking on your pain

  Titos realized the reason why he felt as if he could get up and run around.

  Mazki: He feels it’s his punishment for letting you get hurt. He won’t share the pain with any of us to ease it up on himself.

  Titos worried his lip, unsure how to help Seth, and he glanced at Mazki. He reached for the bond that was never too far in his mind. He kept all of his keepers close. He didn’t know if would work, but he tried anyway. He closed his eyes, and he was standing in the middle of nowhere near a tree he’d never seen before. A screech came from the air as the phoenix came swooping down.

  Titos stretched his hands toward the bird that was Mazki’s beast. He ruffled the feathers, the flames licking the palm of his hand. He could feel the heat of the flames, but they didn’t not burn him. They only soothed the ache within him.

  “I need help,” he whispered to the phoenix. He pressed his face against the feathers and breathed in the warmth. “I need to heal so that we are no longer in pain.”

  The others said nothing and tried to hide it, but Titos could tell they all had injuries.

  Kail was the only one not hurt physically, but Titos
could feel he was seconds from passing out and only holding on by sheer willpower. The phoenix wrapped around him, and Titos could feel the power it gave. He may not be able to use the fire balls like Mazki, but he pushed the flames through the bonds, touching all of those connected to him. He sent some Liby’s way as well.

  “Wow,” Kail said.

  Titos opened his eyes to see everyone staring down at him in astonishment. He moved around, checking his body’s movement before he tried to sit up. Seth recovered fast, the line on his face gone as he helped Titos. Mazki smiled at him, a knowing smirk on his face before he moved over to Seth’s side.

  “All right. Let's get this bullet out of you,” Mazki said before he dug his fingers into Seth’s arm and pulled out a bullet within seconds.

  Seth didn’t have a chance to make a sound or react with how fast Mazki had moved. Smoke came from the wound as it closed, and Titos watched in amazement.

  Mazki laughed. “You should’ve seen how everyone else looked when all their wounds started to burn close.”

  Titos turned to stare at him, a smile on his face. Titos moved to stand, his eyes roaming around the room to the pool of blood. It was a mess, but they were all dead. He turned when he heard a groan, finding Armest on the floor. Titos sighed. He was happy they’d left the arrogant man alive, but a part of him wanted to kill him just for putting them through the trouble.

  “Ginger, is there a cell-like room in this house?” Titos asked.

  Ginger bustled over and smoothed back some of her frayed green hair. Her nerves looked shot, and her eyes didn’t stay focused on one thing. Titos felt bad that she’d gone through all of it. She was mostly human and didn’t seem accustomed to the battles edoli sometimes had.

  “No, there isn’t one inside the house, but there is a cellar out back,” she said.

  Titos nodded and the world tilted a little. He reached out to Seth, and he caught him before he fell over.

  Seth: Are you okay?

  Titos nodded, unable to respond mentally. He felt tired and hungry. But not for food. No, he wanted something much more appetizing. He growled and closed his eyes, trying to control whatever it was that was happening to him.

  “Ginger, why don’t you find one of the spare rooms and get some rest. Alfrik and Liby, take Armest to the cellar and lock it.” Seth eyed them both. “Liby, you come back and guard the door. Alfrik, stay and guard the cellar door.”

  Seth was putting trust in an edoli who wasn’t connected to his master but wanted to become a keeper. It would be his own test. Alfrik looked ready to argue, but just as quickly, he bowed his head before picking Armest up like a sack of potatoes and walking out the front door with Liby.

  Titos was happy Seth was taking charge. He felt strange, and concentrating on what needed to be done was something he was finding hard to do. He’d felt the pain before the overwhelming need, but he’d hardly been awake, and it hadn’t been as bad he thought. But now he was ready to beg for relief from the ache that held him hostage.

  Everything was a blur of movement. One moment he was on his own two legs, and the next, he was cradled in Seth’s strong arms. He blinked and the rooms changed, and he looked around, realizing it was their bedroom.

  “We need to clean up and ge—” Titos started only for his keepers to stare at him worriedly. “What?”

  “You look pale. We know blood won’t work, but you need to take something,” Mazki said.

  Seth placed Titos on the bed, the soft sheets rubbing against his bare back. He had no memory of losing his shirt, but he was sure it was around the time he had been in excruciating pain. He glanced at Seth, and the lines between his eyebrows had smoothed out, no visible sign of being in pain left on his face. Titos sat up, staring at all his keepers. Did he really look so sick?

  He blinked and went from staring at his keepers to pinning Mazki to the bed. Under him, Mazki writhed and moaned, his cheeks flushed. More moans and groans filled the air. Titos looked around the room. All of his keepers were breathing heavily, sprawled out on the bed. Seth moved first, their eyes locking for a second before he threw his head back and moaned. An electric shock went through Titos. It was exhilarating, and he wanted to do it again.

  He closed his eyes, colors moving toward him from his keepers, filling him and easing the ache. He pulled on the white mist moving toward him.

  “Oh, yes,” Adom moaned out.

  Titos did the same to the red one, getting a cry from Mazki, then the black mist had Kail shouting his name. A laugh bubbled up from deep within. He had no idea what was funny, but as he opened his eyes, he stared down at Mazki. His blue eyes were glazed over in pure pleasure. He licked his lips. Even in his clearly blissed out moment, he still teased Titos.

  The urge to take more although he felt full and complete was there, and he realized the danger it could be if he allowed himself to continue. Titos leaned down and pressed his lips against Mazki’s, his lips soft and eager to kiss him back. He slowly pulled back, and he stopped pulling the mist, watching as Mazki breathed heavily. Titos couldn’t fight the smile that tugged at his lips.

  “All of you need blood,” Titos said.

  Everyone except Kail. Titos was sure that he was more like Titos than the others. He didn’t feel as if he was depleted, but more energized than the others by what Titos had just done. Titos turned to Seth and crawled his way to his alpha. He reached behind Seth, pulling one of the knives he kept on his person and pressing the sharp blade against his skin, blood welling up.

  Seth’s eyes were also glazed over, but his reflexes weren’t dulled. He reached out and wrapped his calloused hands around Titos’s wrist, bringing it to his lips. His tongue slipped out and pressed against Titos’s skin. He moaned as Seth’s hot tongue licked more of the blood from his cut. Movement from behind him alerted him that the rest of his keepers were making their way over to him.

  Titos stretched his arm and turned to look at his advancing keepers. Hunger was in their eyes. Except Kail watched with a different kind of hunger in his eyes. But there was something else. Titos reached out for their bond, feeling for what could be the problem.

  Titos: What's the matter?

  Kail: I don’t crave blood like they do. Is there something wrong with me?

  Titos didn’t think so.

  Titos: I don’t either. Maybe you’re a soul eater like me. It would explain why you don’t have fangs.

  Speaking of fangs, Seth rubbed his fangs against Titos’s wrist, the wound already closed. Titos turned to stare at his alpha and nodded at him.

  Seth’s fangs pierced his skin slowly. The bite of pain was there, but it quickly turned into pleasure, stealing Titos’s breath away. Adom and Mazki touched him.

  Mazki was at his back, rubbing his fangs against Titos’s shoulder, asking for permission. Titos wouldn’t dream of denying any of them. Titos nodded, giving Mazki and Adom the okay. Their fangs appeared, then they were buried into Titos’s flesh.

  Titos’s lashes fluttered as he was taken to new heights of pleasure. Giving blood hadn’t been exhilarating before, but now, he felt himself teetering on the edge of climax.

  Like a gust of wind, he could feel Kail in the back of his head. He touched a part of the bond that was between them, and a wave of ecstasy flooded Titos. He cried out, his vision blackening. He was losing consciousness but not before he felt Seth gather him in his arms and tucking him under his body. Mazki moved directly behind him, and Adom’s arm reached over to touch Titos. Kail was the only one missing, but Titos felt him nearby.

  Surrounded by his keepers and endorphins racing through him, he let sleep claim him.

  Titos moved as much as he could since he was surrounded by warm bodies. Not that he really wanted to leave the warmth, but the cum in his pants had dried and was becoming itchy and gross. Not to mention the dried blood covering his body. He needed a shower and soon. Lips pressing against his head had him opening his eyes, and he stared at Seth who smiled at him.

  “Shower, master
?” Seth asked.

  Titos rolled his eyes. “Don’t start the master thing. It’s just us in here.”

  He dislodged himself from Mazki’s death grip and turned to see Kail was sleeping on top of Mazki, his long hair covering most of Mazki. It was adorable, except for the dried blood flaking off and getting onto the sheets.

  “Everyone needs a shower and we need new sheets,” Titos said.

  As if an alarm clock blared, Kail shot up and looked around the room, his hair swinging every which way. “What’s wrong? Are we under attack again?”

  “No, but your hand needs to move,” Mazki grunted out.

  Kail scrambled back with an apologetic look on his face.

  Titos couldn’t hold back his laugh. “We need to shower. Dry blood flakes are getting everywhere, and I’m sure the downstairs doesn’t look any better.”

  Seth got out of the bed and offered his hand to Titos.

  He slipped his hand into his alpha’s. “If you guys hurry up, maybe we can have fun in the shower,” Titos teased.

  The loud movement behind him had him laughing louder. In the large shower, clothes were peeled off and grunts of discomfort could be heard throughout the bathroom, echoing off the walls. Dried cum and blood didn’t mix with trying to get clothes off, pulling at skin and fine hair.

  Titos finally freed himself of his clothes, grateful his shirt had been taken off him before it had had a chance to stick to his skin. Adom was already in the shower and had the water warmed. Titos gravitated toward Adom with a smile on his face. Adom’s arms stretched out as Titos went into a hug he hadn’t known he needed. Pressing his face against Adom’s chest, the silver chest hair tickled his face as he breathed in the cool scent that was Adom. Strong arms wrapped around him, holding him, and they stood there a while, the hot water heating Titos to his core.

  He slowly pulled back, looking into Adom’s silver eyes, and he tilted his head up for a kiss. Adom kissed him gently, and Titos’s hands went up to rub against Adom’s cheeks. The rough hair on his hand had him remembering how good Adom’s facial hair had felt rubbing up against another place on his body.