A King to Be Protected

by Brea Alepoú

  Adom: He thinks having someone in the council back him makes him better than you. If you would please allow me to speak, master.

  Titos: It’s Titos, and you don’t have to be so formal with me. Go ahead. All of you have a voice here. I realize I can’t do this on my own, so help in any area is appreciated.

  The tension in Adom’s body had him rolling his shoulders to relax himself. If he turned to look at the bastard that had dared to speak to his master that way, he was sure he would kill him before he got to utter another word.

  Adom slowly stood from the table. He adjusted the chair, pushing it back up against the table as he turned to face the man who thought it wise to challenge Titos. Adom knew when he’d decided to follow Titos that he’d been signing on to a life full of challenges, one where they would face the world. He glanced over to his master, meeting the warm green eyes he cherished waking up to and knew he’d made the best decision of his life.

  “We know of your family in the Council. Is that how you’ve been keeping this place?” Adom asked.

  Armest’s eyes cut to Ginger, and there was a hitch in his breath. He didn’t need to answer when he gave so much away with his response, but Adom wanted an answer. He wanted Armest to understand that he didn’t have an upper hand in the situation, that he was helpless and at Titos’s complete mercy.

  “You know that, and yet you have me cuffed like some criminal. I expect no less from some barbarian who believes he deserves to rule because of what he is,” Armest spit out. “I’ve worked hard and ma—”

  Alfrik’s foot came down on the back of Armest’s leg, turning his sentence into a bloody scream as he wailed from the pain. Adom nodded to Alfrik, happy he’d done it. Adom was sure if it was him, he wouldn’t have been able to stop at just stomping on his leg. He would need more. Adom closed his eyes, calming himself. He wasn’t in that line of work anymore and hadn’t been in years.

  Titos: Are you okay?

  The light brush against his bond and the concern that bled through touched Adom deeply, smoothing out the rough edges that nearly had him going back to the time where torturing and hurting people was all he was good for. He felt Titos touch his mind, seeking what had Adom wound so tightly. He silently begged for his master not to go any farther. He wouldn’t hide anything from Titos, but there wasn’t time to show him his colorful past.

  Titos backed away from the door Adom kept tightly shut in his mind, and instead, sent nothing but love and acceptance to him. Adom sighed. His master had needed a hug earlier, and now Adom needed his acceptance. He believed in him.

  Adom opened his eyes and faced Armest once more, his anger in check and his shoulders relaxed. He couldn’t go as far as to offer Armest a smile, but he didn’t glare at him any longer. He bent down, looking Armest in the eyes.

  “Let’s try this again. How many council members know about this territory?” Adom asked.

  Armest was breathing heavily, no doubt from the pain in his leg, but he glared at Adom, acting as if he wasn’t going to answer. Adom let a smile appear on his face, but it wasn’t a smile that anyone would ever want to see. He moved closer to Armest until he could smell the stench of blood and sweat wafting off him. He whispered the address he found in all the piles of documents. The address that repeatedly received money every month, one that was so deep under charity names and hidden even further into the pile that Adom had almost not been able to find it.

  He pulled back, staring Armest in his eyes once more. They were wide with surprise, and his face went ashen as he sat there. Adom saw the defeat and the realization in Armest’s eyes as he came to the realization that he had no upper hand. That Adom had found something he’d tried so desperately to hide. Adom had no idea what was at the address, but he knew it had great importance.

  A shaky breath left Armest as he slumped forward, the last straw that held him above everyone else broken. He lowered his head in defeat.

  "This territory belongs to three council members. It's among a handful of other territories that are now being claimed by the council. Kings and queens are becoming outdated. There are less born, and the ones that are alive only stay alive if they are useful to the council," Armest stated.

  "What is happening to the rulers who oppose the council?" Adom asked. He had an idea, but he needed to know what they were up against.

  Armest shrugged. "You name it: hunted, killed, tortured, chained up so that their keepers have no choice but to obey the council."

  Adom hadn't thought of that. If the council got their hands on Titos… The thought sent a shudder down his spine.

  Titos: I'm here with you.

  Seth: We won't let that happen.

  His alpha practically growled through the bond. He could feel the vibrations in his own chest. He stood with them, and none of them would allow Titos to be taken away. No matter what.

  Titos: If I am ever taken, all of y—

  Seth: It won't ever happen.

  Mazki: Never.

  Kail: Don't say live our lives happily because there is no fucking way it's possible.

  Adom fully agreed with his fellow keepers. There was no turning back, and there was no pretending. They all loved Titos, and there was no denying it or the connection they had.

  "Is that what happened to the king who ruled here before?" Adom asked, turning his attention back to Armest.

  A heavy sigh came from Armest as he moved around to sit more comfortably on the floor. "Yes, and the fact that he was a…" Armest’s eyes cut to Titos, eyeing him suspiciously.

  "A what?" Titos asked.

  Armest still eyed him. "You don't look like him. Are you sure about your father?"

  Titos gave a short laugh. "Why don't you answer my question, and I'll tell you."

  Armest shrugged. "If it is the case, then all of you are as good as dead anyway." His eyes scanned the table. "There are only four of you, and if this brute behind me is to join you, it still wouldn't be enough. If the council doesn't kill you first, then he will." His eyes were directed at Titos.

  There weren’t many facts about soul eaters known, their history having been erased from edoli past. Any information found, claimed soul eaters were dangerous, and they were the cause of many genocides. They killed in huge areas, and if one was to be found in a court, that court was doomed to fall. No records on how and no information on how to stop it.

  When a soul eater was born, they are supposed to be killed as infants. Adom turned to look at his master, and the shock and fear that showed in his eyes was one that Adom never wanted to see. Seth grabbed their master, sitting him in his lap and holding him.

  Adom turned back to glare at Armest, but he couldn't be rash. They needed more information, and it seemed Armest knew more than most. If the council knew he had this much information, he was probably meant to die today.

  "Were you expecting someone today from the council?" Adom said, pointing to the corpse on the floor.

  Armest shook his head. "It has been a couple of years since I’ve taken over from the previous head of house."

  Adom squinted at Adom. "How long?"

  Armest sighed. "He was here to kill me." There was a bitter laugh. "Too bad he didn't get here a few days in advance." Armest shook his head. "I've been in charge for the past ten years. Before that, it was my father. He served under King G—"

  Armest groaned, slouching over as a scream was torn from his throat.

  "What’s happening?" Adom asked

  "Fuck if I know! I didn't even touch him," Alfrik confirmed.

  Mazki moved past Adom and bent down to the writhing man as more screams came from him. Mazki ripped the clothes from Armest’s body.

  "What are you doing?" Adom asked.

  Mazki had Armest naked in seconds, and any pieces that wouldn't come off, he burned. He flipped him every which way until he groaned.

  "Found it," Mazki said.

  Adom moved closer to take a look at what Mazki was pointing out. A marking was on Armest’s hip. A marking t
hat they knew all too well. Adom turned to look at Titos.

  Mazki: He has the same marking as Titos.

  Titos: What?

  Chairs screeched against the floor as everyone came to look at the marking. It was smaller than Titos's, but it was still there. Armest's was red, and he still groaned and writhed on the floor. His eyes were closed tightly and his teeth bared as if he was going through unimaginable pain.

  "Is it doing something to him?" Titos asked.

  Mazki nodded.

  "But mine doesn't do that, unless I’m in serious trouble," Titos said.

  "It didn't warn you about Armest attacking," Mazki said.

  A confused look came over Titos’s face as he stared off into nothing. "Why is that?"

  All eyes went to the writhing, naked man on the floor.

  "Only Armest will be able to tell us that," Mazki said.

  Adom nodded. "How long will the pain last?"

  Mazki shrugged. "But it looks like he gets to live another day."

  "Might as well let him stay in the house," Titos said.

  "Lonzo," Seth called out.

  Lonzo walked into the room, bowed to Titos, and tilted his head to Seth in respect. "Yes, sir?"

  Seth pointed to Armest. "Take him to one of the empty rooms, and chain him to the bed. I want three of your trusted hunters and trackers in the room with you and your brother and two others outside the room. I also want security around the house doubled. One or two of us will start going outside with patrols."

  Lonzo nodded and grabbed Armest under his arms. During the whole ordeal, Armest had passed out from the pain. Jameson came in and grabbed Armest’s legs, and they carried him out in seconds.

  "Mazki, how did you know to look for a mark?" Adom asked.

  Mazki’s eyes went distant for a second, and his hand absently went to his wrist, rubbing the pale, smooth skin there before he shook his head. "You were asking for more information, and once he got to a certain subject, he was in pain.” Mazki shrugged, but he didn’t meet Adom’s eyes.

  “Ginger, if you could gather everyone that wasn’t here yesterday for the massacre. I need to have another meeting with the people of my territory,” Titos said, his hand on Mazki’s shoulder.

  She nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  Mazki avoided all eye contact, even from Titos. He stayed on the floor for a moment longer before he got up and moved back to the table. Titos was there in his mind, and he didn’t pry, but Mazki could feel the questions. He knew he wasn’t the only one of them to have a past that was better off forgotten. Edolis’ lives never were the ones of rainbows and glitter. They tended to be bloody and painful. Endless pain. Pain that cut so deep, even when no one was causing the pain, there were still phantom aches.

  "Mazki." Titos’s hand on his brought him back from the dark place he never wanted to go back to.

  He stared into the kind green eyes that threatened to stop his heart. He'd gotten lucky finding Titos. He'd promised himself long ago he would never find another master. He would ignore any call, never going to any of them. They were all the same.

  Except Titos didn't feel the same. Mazki knew people could change once they got power, but he didn't see Titos changing, and if he did… Mazki’s whole body shuddered at the thought of being at the mercy of another master. He wouldn't regret his choice, but he didn't think he would be able to come back alive again. He wouldn't be able to.

  "Mazki," Titos called his name again.

  Mazki closed his eyes, trying to keep himself from going back into the dark corner of his mind. He opened his eyes, looking around the table to see it was only him and Titos in the room. with Seth over by the door. Mazki stared at Seth's back, a small part of him wanting Seth to come over and start talking about anything so that he wouldn't have to.

  Arms wrapped around him and fingers slid through his hair. "Don't cry," Titos whispered. "I’m here."

  Mazki hadn't realized he'd been crying, but he could feel the hot, wet tears sliding down his cheeks. His hands slid up Titos’s back, and he fisted his hands in his suit, allowing the tears to fall down his face. All the while, Titos held him. He didn't know what he was crying for, since that time had passed long ago. He was no longer in any of their cruel hands. He belonged to someone who cherished his keepers. Yet he couldn't stop the tears that flowed down his cheeks. He couldn’t stop the silent crying that made his body tremble.

  Through it all, his master continued to whisper his love for him and that he was there. Not once had Titos gone into his head and tried to see the cause of his distress. He was there and that was all.

  Mazki had no idea how much time had passed only that the smell of his master was pleasing, the warmth of the embrace calmed him, and the fingers running through his hair was teasing. Mazki pulled back a little and saw the red-rimmed eyes and fresh tears welling in Titos’s eyes.

  "Master." Mazki wiped a tear away.

  Titos smiled tentatively at him but brought him back into a hug. "You don't have to hold everything in."

  "It's the past. I would prefer for it to stay that way," Mazki muttered.

  Titos nodded, hugging Mazki tighter. "Okay."

  Mazki pulled back once more, brushing their lips together, a sweet kiss that Mazki had every intention of pulling back from. But when Titos gasped in surprise, Mazki couldn't let the opportunity slip. He deepened the kiss. His hands went from gripping Titos’s suit to trying to get the fabric off him.

  Hungry whimpers and moans filled the air as Mazki licked up the column of Titos’s throat.

  The clothes wouldn't budge because Mazki was reluctant to part with Titos’s skin. He wanted to continue licking and biting the delicious flesh of his master.

  "Mazki." Titos moaned.

  Mazki licked the shell of Titos's ear. “Can I test something, master?" Mazki rubbed his hard dick against Titos's leg, showing his master just how turned on he was, not only by him but his kindness. He bit Titos's earlobe, earning him another moan.

  "Yes." Titos whimpered.

  Mazki: I would never hurt him.

  He linked his mind with Seth. There was weariness there, so Mazki made sure to share his love and devotion for Titos with Seth. He would never intentionally hurt Titos ever.

  Seth: The moment it goes wrong…

  Mazki understood and pulled back from their shared bond, focusing his attention on Titos. Titos made desperate sounds, his hands pulling at Mazki's shirt until he pulled it free of Mazki’s pants. Hands that were scolding hot and felt as if they were marking him, touched him all over his bare skin.

  Mazki gasped. He could feel the need from Titos through the bond, the need to touch, the desperation to know that Mazki wasn't leaving, wasn't going to run. Mazki clasped Titos’s face in his hands, pulling back only enough to look into Titos’s deep green eyes.

  "I will never leave you," Mazki vowed.

  "I felt your fear," Titos whispered, turning his eyes away from Mazki.

  Mazki groaned. He'd allowed his master to doubt their bond. "I have a shit past. I've lived a long fucking time, and that time… there wasn't anything pleasant about it. But now this—" He moved his hand between them and toward Seth and all around, indicating the other keepers. "This is part of a great future."

  Titos smiled at him, and Mazki kissed him, deepening it before he pulled back.

  "That was really cheesy, right?" Mazki asked.

  Titos laughed a little, the remnants of sadness leaving his eyes. "A little, yes," Titos confessed.

  Mazki groaned. "Yeah, I thought so."

  He kissed Titos again, then picked him up with ease. A small gasp left Titos as Mazki left wet, open-mouthed kisses on his neck. He wanted to go farther but clothes blocked him. He smirked as he laid Titos on the table. He lined them up, dry humping against Titos and relishing in the feel of Titos against him. He didn't care if Titos was on top or bottom, as long as he could have his master. Preferably skin to skin. With a thought, Mazki conjured his phoenix fire, and he bathe
d them both within the flames.

  Titos’s eyes widened but not once did he wince from the flames. Just as Mazki had thought, the flames didn't burn him but they did burn everything else. The clothes turned to ash as Mazki smirked once more and attacked the nipple that stood out. He latched on to the perky nipple, lightly biting down on the small nub.

  Moans filled the air as Mazki continued his teases. He moved to the other one, giving it just as much love and attention. His hand wandered down Titos’s torso, and he let his fingers skim over the tender flesh. He avoided Titos’s rock hard length, rubbing his thighs and even his balls.

  "Mazki," Titos moaned.

  Mazki licked the nipple before backing away. "What could my greedy master want?"

  He blew a light breath against the tip of Titos's length. Titos groaned and arched his pelvis up, begging for more.

  "I can't give you what you want without you telling me. I'm not a mind reader after all," Mazki teased.

  They were still surrounded by fire. Mazki started to draw it back in, so he didn't burn the table and possibly the whole house down. A shift in the fire stopped him, and he looked up Titos’s body until he met green eyes that sent a shiver down his spine.

  "Mazki, stop teasing me," Titos said with a commanding tone Mazki had never heard him use.

  Mazki moaned, and his fire changed, the heat elevating. It had never felt hot to him, but even he could feel the heat of the fire. His tongue swiped against his lips.

  "As you wish, master," he said huskily.

  The fire got hotter as Mazki opened his mouth. He gripped Titos’s length in his hand and ran his tongue from the root to the tip. A growl that sounded more beast than human erupted from Titos. Before Mazki could do anything else, his fire was gone, and he went from being on top of Titos to his back firmly pressed against the table, Titos’s legs firmly straddling his face, his dick against his lips.

  A hard grip in his hair had Mazki gasping and opening his mouth, and Titos pushed his dick inside. Mazki groaned from the pain and the delicious pleasure he got from seeing his master bite his lower lip as he slid his dick into Mazki's mouth.