A King to Be Protected

by Brea Alepoú

  Titos tapped Kail’s hands and watched as Kail’s face fell a little, but instead of getting up, he turned around to face the table, still sitting in Kail's lap.

  "Alright, so what do we have so far?" Titos asked.

  There was tension in the air, not the bad kind, but Titos could tell they all made an effort to ignore what they wanted. Alfrik cleared his throat, gaining everyone's attention.

  "There is one missing edoli, and according to Philip, he is Daniel and Grave Avini’s child. They have been a part of the Avini house for generations. So Philip said he couldn't possibly be an enemy," Alfrik said.

  Titos nodded and turned to Ginger. "Is everything still labeled as House Avini?"

  She nodded. "The house name’s be—" She stopped herself short "I apologize, Your Majesty, I am unable to say."

  Titos sighed. Of course she couldn't.

  "Do you have a marking, Ginger?" Mazki asked.

  She nodded and took off a few of her bracelets. On her wrist was a marking. It was similar to the one Titos had on his back. The swirls and pointed edges were all familiar, surrounded by a double circle. Titos had looked in a mirror plenty of times at his own marking, so he knew it by heart. The only difference was the number of small circles. Titos was sure his had three, but Ginger’s had one.

  "Armest’s marking had one circle, right?" Titos asked out loud.

  "Yeah, it looked exactly like this one," Mazki said as he pointed to Ginger’s wrist.

  Titos sighed. He was more confused than ever.

  "I can give you answers to the best of my ability, and I swear I am not an enemy," Ginger said.

  Titos nodded. He smiled at her, trying to ease her nerves. He didn't think she was against them. She had truly been upset when Armest had come to take the house back. It seemed ages ago that they’d had a battle in the house, and now there was more to worry about.

  "Don't hurt yourself, Ginger. I’m guessing with the mark even writing your answers wouldn't work?" Titos asked.

  Ginger shook her head, looking sullenly at the table. "I'm sorry. It will only create severe pain for me, and then I will either pass out or—" She stopped and sighed. "Die."

  "Don't worry about it, Ginger. Everything has been a puzzle this whole time. If you were able to give me answers, I might start thinking the gods actually like me," Titos joked.

  No one laughed, and no one said anything.

  Titos turned his attention over to Mazki. "Tell us what you know about the marks."

  Mazki’s eyes dimmed for a second.

  Titos: If you can’t—

  Mazki: I can. It's my past.

  "The markings can be used for two objectives that I know of. I want it to be noted that I'm not sure what your marking is for, master. Yours is different or it doesn't work." Mazki shrugged. "One way is binding. Ginger isn't bonded, and neither was Armest, yet they can't divulge certain information. That is because of the person who placed the mark bound them to secrecy. If they tried to say anything, unimaginable pain would radiate throughout their bodies, and if they aren't strong enough, they can die. It's highly effective. Even if Ginger tried to tell us something, she would only be able to get maybe one or two words out before falling."

  Titos really didn't want Ginger to hurt herself just to give him two words. He was happy she’d restrained herself, but his next question was why Armest had tried to tell them information, but Ginger knew not to.

  "Good observation, master. My guess is that Armest knew he couldn't give you anything, but he pretended he didn't know he couldn’t answer questions, gaining a small dot of trust. He was moved from the cellar to the house, and where it was an easier place to escape. Right, Alfrik?" Mazki turned to Alfrik who looked surprised to hear his name coming from Mazki.

  Alfrik recovered quickly, nodding. "There were no windows and the cellar was reinforced. If anyone wanted in, they were going to have to kill me first."

  Titos bit his lip. He had fallen for Armest’s trickery.

  Adom: We all fell for it. You are not to blame.

  Titos looked at Mazki, and he nodded. "The second use is control."

  Mazki's bond practically shook with fear. Visibly, he sat back in his seat and looked calm, but Titos saw beyond the appearance and knew Mazki was afraid. Titos tried to reassure Mazki through the bond, but it felt cold. It scared Titos that his phoenix—who was hotter than the sun—felt cold. He opened his mouth to tell Mazki it was okay, but Mazki looked at him.

  "The mark is placed on you, and it’s as if you don't have control of your body any longer. You can see everything that's happening but do nothing about. If the person who placed the mark on you told you to repeatedly stab yourself in the arm, you would. Even as you scream in pain, only a command could stop you," Mazki said.

  The room was silent. Titos didn't know what to ask or even how to ask it. He saw Seth’s arm move, and Mazki tensed for a second before starting to relax.

  Titos: Is he okay?

  Titos hated himself a little that he was too afraid to touch Mazki's bond and ask him.

  Seth: He will be.

  "So there is a possible third way to use markings? Also, who can put markings on someone?" Adom asked.

  Titos was thankful he kept the meeting going because he was tempted to take his keepers upstairs, lock the door, and stay cuddled in bed with them.

  "I cannot say who placed this marking on me, but it takes a lot of power and blood," Ginger answered.

  "Not just a lot of blood," Mazki added, his fists clenched.

  Ginger looked down at the table. "A lot of people died for this marking to be made," she whispered, covering her wrist with a shaking hand.

  Titos looked to Mazki for confirmation, and he nodded. Titos took a deep breath. That only meant the marking on his back was made from others’ deaths. People died for him and he had no idea why. Who placed the marking on him? Why him? Did it have anything to do with being a soul eater? What the hell did it all mean?

  Questions circled in his head, and he didn't know which one to ask, but what was the point when there wouldn't be an answer? And even if Ginger did have an answer for one of his questions, she was unable to give it because the fucking marking.

  Titos’s hand moved to his back where his mark sat. The marking he’d grown up having, and the one he used to believe was the best thing about him. It warned him when danger was near. Or it used to. It’d been useless since they’d made it to Washington. He dug his finger into his back where the mark was. There would be a bruise later, but it still wouldn't be enough to erase the amount of pain he felt for those who lost their lives for him to have the damn thing.

  A warm hand pressed against his, and Kail's forehead touched his back. Titos could feel them all pushing. He hadn't noticed he’d blocked them all out. Subconsciously, he’d shielded himself, cutting all their connections to him. He eased it up, but still, it all came flooding into him. their concerns and the heartache at being shut out.

  Kail: Fuck, that was the worst feeling.

  Mazki: Are you okay? …I'm sorry.

  Titos looked up at Mazki, confused as to why he was apologizing. He wasn't the one who placed the mark on him or the one who killed the people.

  Seth: He feels that he should have told you sooner.

  Titos sat up straight. It dawned on him that Mazki had known the whole time but not once talked about the marking. Titos thought he should be a little upset, but he couldn't find it in him to be.

  Titos: We will talk about it later. For now, let's finish this meeting up.

  "Okay, so why did it take so long for information to get to us about Armest?" Titos asked, changing the conversation.

  There was a knock at the door, and Philip and another man with blond hair walked in. Titos turned to regard them.

  "Jameson and Lonzo have woken up," Philip said.

  With the other edoli who had been in the room with the brothers missing, the one standing next to Philip had to be Chris. His eyes were like saucers as he loo
ked around the room as if he’d never seen so many people.

  Seth: I think he is more surprised by the room itself.

  "How awake are they?" Titos asked.

  Philip’s fair skin pinked a little with a blush. "Um… Enough to tell me to come down and inform you."

  "But they can't move yet?" Adom said.

  Chris nodded, agreeing with Adom. Titos sighed and stood. He was done with the meeting. Once the brothers could move around, they could continue. Once he stood, everyone started to follow.

  "Philip and Chris, you are more than welcome to stay here for the night," Titos said.

  They bowed their heads. His only problem now was to figure out a way to make sure the issue with Armest didn't happen again. He could blood tie them. Titos groaned and rubbed his eyes. He wasn’t going to bond or even give them a bond like Liby’s. He was more than willing to have the brothers on his side, but he felt no need to create a connection to them. When would it end? He would have to connect with every edoli in his territory at that rate. Titos would rather walk away.

  “Ginger,” Titos called out.

  She looked up from the paperwork in her hands, all of her attention on Titos. “Yes, Your Majesty?”

  “Can you place an order for cell phones?” Titos said.

  She nodded, pulling out her own before she left the room. “Would you like them all to be on the same plan?”

  Titos thought about it.

  Titos: Should I?

  Adom: You can afford it.

  Mazki: Plus, it will be easier to get replacements. I doubt cell phones will survive a change or a battle.

  “That’s fine, Ginger, and please get the ones that are a little harder to destroy,” Titos said.

  “Oh, get the brick phones. They are stone age, but I heard those things can survive the apocalypse,” Kail said. He moved over by Mazki, placing his hand on his shoulder. “Right?”

  “What do you mean ‘right’?” Mazki pouted, his arms crossing, and he glared at Kail.

  Kail: He is old as dirt, right?

  The slap to Kail’s stomach and the grunt that followed had Titos stifling a laugh, and the others in the room who weren’t part of their bond stared in confusion at Mazki and Kail. Alfrik especially stared at them, but under the confused stare, Titos could see the longing. They had a bear to claim. All the more reason to end the meeting.

  Alfrik stood on the outside looking in. He felt so far from what he wanted that it was nearly choking him. He was only inches from the master he wanted, and yet he couldn't touch him. His hands itched, and his whole being wanted to be with King Titos. To have the connection that the others had. He wasn't sure if he wanted to share blood and bond with the others, but he would think about it. They all joked around with each other, and he could tell there were conversations he wasn't privy to. It seemed they all easily spoke to each other. He might be new, but he longed for it.

  He had never been one to want a bond; it always looked like chains. His own mother’s bond to the king of his old territory had meant always obeying and never batting an eye or giving her own opinion. Alfrik grew up hating the concept, yet one call from Titos had him throwing those memories out of his head. Even so, it wasn't what sold Alfrik on the idea of bonding with Titos. It was how he and his keepers interacted. They spoke freely around him and weren't stiff boards.

  Alfrik’s eyes flicked over to the alpha. Seth was huge, and Alfrik had only challenged him because that's what he was taught. Every lava bear from his house who were meant to be keepers had all become alphas. It was a fact. Yet Alfrik had never fought someone so strong. Seth turned his eyes on him, and Alfrik instantly looked down, not wanting him to think it was another challenge.

  They headed for the door, the meeting or whatever it was over. The king looked worn out. He practically leaned on Seth as they walked out of the room. Alfrik stood there, unsure what to do with himself. The king looked too exhausted to bond, and he didn't want to pester him with it.

  He needed time since a lot of information was shared. Alfrik didn't know about marks, but from what Mazki had said—and the ginger confirmed it—it didn't sound like anything nice. And the fact that Titos had the marking on him as well…

  Alfrik was lost in thought when he looked up, noticing everyone was staring at him.

  "Are you coming or what, Pooh?" Mazki teased.

  Alfrik felt excitement rush through him at the thought he was going to join them. He moved toward them, taking giant steps to get closer to them sooner. He looked to each of them. Titos smiled, regardless of the tight lines on his face. Alfrik smiled back, wishing he could massage the tension from Titos’s face. He probably needed to start referring to Titos as master, even in his thoughts, since he would be a keeper soon.

  They turned and walked out of the dining room and headed toward a large staircase. Alfrik stayed to the back, following them up the stairs and down the hall to a door that led to a huge bedroom. The bed was twice the size of a king bed. He gawked at it and wondered what kind of sheets fit on a bed that large.

  Mazki went to the bed, jumping onto it. He turned his body to face Alfrik, a smirk clearly displayed on his face. He gestured with his hand up and down his body, as if offering it up. Alfrik licked his lips but didn't move.

  "Stop teasing him, you brat," said Adom, voice gruff.

  Mazki actually pouted with his lip out, and his eyes going all puppy dog. Adom was moving to the bed, and he gripped Mazki’s ankle, pulling him over to the other side of the bed with him. Mazki went easily, smiling at Adom as he was moved out of the way.

  Kail went to the bed next, stripping off his shirt, showing off the fine muscles in his body and the breathtaking tattoos that decorated his back and side. Alfrik could see why they all enjoyed each other's company. Each of them spectacular in their own way. He watched as Kail crawled onto the bed and sat back to the side, his eyes fixed next to Alfrik.

  Alfrik felt Seth next to him before he walked past him. He didn't move far before placing his hand on Alfrik’s shoulder. The amount of pressure in his grip would have made a lesser man bow down, but Alfrik understood it for what it was. A warning. Alfrik nodded. He didn't need to hear his thoughts to know he was saying, 'Don't fuck this up. If you do, I will eat you.'

  Seth moved to the bed, grabbing Kail and pressing him firmly against his chest, holding him with his arm across his chest. Kail looked small in Seth's muscled arms, but Alfrik could see the care in which Kail was held. He didn't think he would care one way or the other about the other keepers and the way they cared for each other, but he found himself wanting it. Wanting to join them in the bed and be free to touch each of them.

  Soft fingers grazed against his, distracting him from the display on the bed.

  "They are beautiful, aren't they?" Titos asked, a loving smile displayed on his face.

  Alfrik was struck by how gorgeous Titos was. He couldn't think of anything more beautiful than the man standing next to him. His gut clenched with the thought of becoming his keeper, and his heart sped up at the thought of joining.

  "I need to tell you something before—" Alfrik rushed out.

  A growl and the sound of movement alerted him to Seth. He could feel the body heat coming off him as Seth stood next to him threateningly.

  Alfrik looked to the floor, unable to stare anyone in the eyes.

  "Is it something terrible? Because I'm not sure I can take much more," Titos said.

  Alfrik flinched. It was something he should have told them from the moment he decided to ask to be a keeper, but he'd held it back. And now that he saw the relationship they all had, it felt wrong. He took a deep breath, the room quiet. No one moved, and he could feel every pair of eyes on him, waiting.

  "I was promised to another," Alfrik finally said.

  "So you've come here wishing to have another target drawn on our master’s back? Did someone send you to do this?" Adom said.

  Seth growled lower, the intent to kill radiating off him in waves. Alfrik fel
t the urge to run. He fought through it. If he ran, they would think he did it on purpose.

  "Better yet, maybe he was instructed by this other king or queen to offer himself to our master," Mazki spat out, his voice laced with hatred.

  "A spy," Kail whispered.

  All the accusations cut Alfrik more than they should have. He shouldn't care what the other keepers thought of him, yet he couldn't deny the hurt their words caused. The only one who hadn't said anything was Titos. Alfrik tentatively looked up only to find Titos staring at him with an unreadable face. He showed no reaction whatsoever. He calmly stared at Alfrik, as if waiting. They made eye contact.

  "Is any of that true?" Titos asked, his voice relaxed.

  Alfrik almost wanted him to react like the others. This way felt as if he was already dismissing Alfrik, no longer wanted him, and it was painful. He reached toward Titos, but the slap to his hands made an echoing sound throughout the room. A growl in warning let him know Seth wouldn't let him touch Titos. His hands stung but nothing compared to the feeling of not being able to touch the one person he was willing to give his freedom up to.

  Alfrik let his hands fall to his sides as he stood there. He didn't try to reach out again. Instead, he took a deep breath. "I was promised to another against my wishes. I had no say, and they shipped me off to join some house. I wasn't given any information, just told that all lava bears are to become the alphas. I escaped before I made it there."

  Alfrik tugged at his beard. He wanted this. He wanted to be a part of them, and that meant being honest, confessing all his fears. He looked into Titos's green eyes once more and knew he would have to bare his soul.

  "I never wanted to be a keeper. My whole life I've seen the way they are treated, but I was raised to be one. To be a tool that served without thought. Killed without emotion. Doing the bidding that the queen never wanted to dirty her hands with, and if you didn't, then you were cut off. You lose yourself without the connection, die without the blood. I didn't want that." Alfrik took in another deep breath. "I have no problems fighting when I have to, but I… I never wanted to give up my freedom."