A King to Be Protected

by Brea Alepoú

  "What the fuck? So you think my eyes don't work or something?" Kail asked.

  Alfrik looked taken back by Kail’s outburst.

  "Well?" Kail asked impatiently.

  Alfrik looked to the side, no longer meeting Kail’s gaze. "I don't think that at all."

  Kail shook his head. "Could have fooled me. Everywhere I check, you're looking after me."

  Alfrik shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal, and it might not have been, but Kail felt it was. He made sure to block off his emotions from reaching Titos. He had enough to worry about without the petty shit that was happening out there.

  "Well, stop it," Kail said. He turned to start walking again.

  "You hate me," Alfrik said matter-of-factly.

  Kail turned around to glare at him. "I don't know you."

  "And yet, you clearly do not like me. You have been in a shitty mood since we came out here. I can feel it, which is weird since we never bonded or shared blood, but I can feel your irritation like a prick in the side," Alfrik said.

  "So now I'm a fucking prick?" Kail shouted.

  Alfrik rolled his eyes. "Are you intentionally hearing what you want?"

  "Oh great, so not only am I'm blind but I'm fucking deaf too?" Kail spat out. He was pissed beyond all means. He could feel the darkness within him wanting out, to allow it truly free and not just use its power.

  "You're ridiculous. I didn't say any of that!" Alfrik shouted back. He was getting heated too, and Kail wanted it. Wanted to fight Alfrik.

  Mazki: Kail, what’s the matter?

  Kail glared at Alfrik.

  Kail: Every step I take, he is right behind, checking.

  There was no response, but Kail could feel it—Mazki was trying to find a way to tell him to calm down. Was everyone on the newcomer’s side? What was so great about him?

  Mazki: Are you jealous?

  Kail stood there, thinking for a second. How could he possibly be jealous of Alfrik when he wasn't jealous of any of the others? It didn't make sense.

  Mazki: Why not try talking calmly to him?

  "Fuck calm," Kail said out loud. He moved before Mazki or Alfrik saw it coming. Mazki was in his head telling him no, and Alfrik moved too slowly when Kail tackled him. His fist connected with flesh and he kept swinging. Years of living on the streets after the foster system spit him out taught him how to fight. Alfrik dodged a few of the hits but not once returned his own. Kail grunted in frustration.

  Mazki: Kail, what the hell are you doing?

  Kail didn't respond, too busy, and he swung again. Just as Alfrik dodged, he quickly changed it up and brought his leg up to land a kick to Alfrik's side. He grunted but didn't move. Kail's legs ached.

  Kail: What the fuck are you made of?

  Kail realized what he'd done, connecting them when he’d spoken to Alfrik. Their link was there and the connection built. Alfrik lowered his hands to his sides as all of Kail’s inner thoughts flowed between them. He didn't hate or dislike Alfrik—he just felt out of place. He was the only one of them who was different besides Titos, but Titos was the master, so no one cared. They accepted him.

  "Shit," Kail said, closing himself completely. He turned around, his fists clenched. He’d thought he'd accepted he was different when he made up his mind to be with Titos and the others, then, within a day, another joined, and he was stuck back in his shit insecurities.

  Wind built up and heat covered the area until Mazki was standing next to him, and his hands wrapping around his arm, pulling on him. Kail didn't budge, and he started to allow his power out. With the sun going down, there were more shadows and darker areas to hide away.

  "Kail!" Mazki called out just as Kail slipped through his fingers, turning to darkness itself and slinking into the shadows of the trees. "Kail, get your perky ass back here right now."

  Kail stayed hidden. It was like he was a child again, hiding away in fear of what they thought of him. He wanted to disappear the more he thought about how stupid he was. He was an idiot if he thought he could handle any of it. He didn't grow up like any of them. The world was new to him, so for a second, he’d thought he’d found a place he finally belonged.

  "Kail, so help me, I will burn this fucking forest down! Then you will have nowhere to hide!" Mazki shouted.

  Kail stayed where he was, watching Mazki turn in circles looking for him. Alfrik stood behind him, not moving or talking.

  "Seth is going to be pissed when he finds out we aren't on border patrol," Mazki said.

  Kail flinched at the thought. He didn't want to disappoint Seth; it felt too close to making Titos angry with him, except Seth was big and brooding and would be more likely to give a punishment to Kail. He couldn't decide if that would be an interesting thing or very bad.

  "I can feel your lust. That's one thing we can't hide from each other. What are you thinking about, bad boy?" Mazki asked.

  Kail: Just forget about it and go back to the sky.

  "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what the fuck is going on in your head.”

  Kail: Titos said if I didn't want to share my thoughts I wouldn't be forced to.

  Mazki groaned out loud and turned on Alfrik. "What the fuck were you doing?"

  Alfrik shrugged. "I was only sniffing everywhere he looked. It didn't seem like he was using his nose."

  Mazki rubbed the bridge of his nose. "You two are going to make me age."

  Kail: I thought you stopped aging.

  "Stop using our link and get your ass over here," Mazki said. He pointed to Alfrik. "You owe him an apology."

  Alfrik tilted his head to the side and crossed his big, beefy arms. "Why? I was only doing what any other edoli would do."

  Mazki sighed. "Because he doesn't know that."

  Alfrik looked right over to where Kail hid. Kail moved to another dark spot, and Alfrik turned back to Mazki.

  Had he seen him?

  Alfrik seemed put off as he scratched at his beard. "Sorry, kid, I do—"

  "I'm not a kid," Kail said, materializing in front of them.

  Alfrik stared at him. "You get to keep your clothes when you do that?"

  The question caught Kail off guard. "Yeah."

  "Were you hoping to see him naked again?" Mazki asked.

  Kail rolled his eyes at Mazki but was floored when Alfrik turned his head and shrugged.

  "Really?" Kail asked, then shook his head. He shouldn't care.

  "You should care." Mazki was next to him in a blink of an eye, whispering in his ear. "You aren't alone, and where you fit in this dynamic is wherever you want to be."

  Kail sighed. "It's easy for you to say. You have happy-go-lucky charms."

  "What the hell is that?" Mazki asked. He pressed a kiss against Kail’s cheek. "I'm not always happy, but you know what makes me happy?"

  Kail sighed. "What?"

  "Being with Titos and all of you. Even Pooh over there is a nice addition to our group."

  "Why do you keep calling me Pooh?" Alfrik asked.

  Mazki stared at him without batting an eye. "Because you are the sweetest thing and the fact that you're a bear." He said it so matter-of-factly it almost seemed like it was reality. Mazki turned his focus back on Kail. "We all decide where we stand with Titos. If you don't want to be with Alfrik, no one is going to force you. But I do have to point out—"

  Mazki: His dick is huge, and fuck me if Titos wasn't stretched to his limits by that big boy.

  Kail remembered it well. His face heated and he groaned as Mazki slipped images into his mind. Mazki was distracting him with all the dirty thoughts when everything stopped, and Alfrik was shifting into a giant bear. His clothes shredded or burned away as he turned into his beast. The roar he let loose felt as if it shook the ground.

  Mazki turned around, and Kail followed his line of sight. There were four people walking toward them. Alfrik moved in front of them, guarding them.

  He roared again, stopping the intruders. He protected them, even Kail after he threw his stupi
d hissy fit.

  Alfrik: I see the connection you all have, and I know it’s sudden to have someone new join, but I truly want to have it all. At first, I only wanted Titos, but n—

  Mazki: I hate to break this up, but let’s handle the newcomers first and we can have the heart-to-heart later.

  "State your business here," Mazki said.

  Mazki: Connect with Seth now.

  Kail: Seth!

  The shout through the link had Seth sitting up, a sleeping Titos rolling forward a little before he caught him.

  Seth: What’s the problem?

  Kail: There are intruders. They’re saying they’re here to speak to Titos specifically.

  There hadn't been an announcement yet, because Titos still hadn't come up with the house name. No one should know except the people of the territory, and the likelihood of them going to another territory to talk was low. Seth focused on his connection with Kail.

  Seth: Let me in.

  Kail felt skeptical, but Seth could feel him relaxing. Seth closed his eyes and went through the bond. It was strange. It didn't feel like himself, instead he was outside, no longer in the library with Titos and Liby. He noticed Mazki next to him—well, next to Kail. Slightly in front of them was a sheet of rock with glowing red flowing under it. The rock moved, and Seth stared at a huge lava bear head.

  "And how do you know my master?" Mazki asked.

  Seth focused through Kail's eyes at the approaching strangers. A woman he'd never seen and two others, but the last man he knew all too well. He was the one who had tried to kill Titos the night Seth saved him.

  "You are not welcome here. Leave," Seth said, though it came from Kail's lips.

  Mazki stared strangely at him for a second but quickly focused back on the intruders.

  The man who had tried to kill Titos took a step forward, and a deafening roar pierced the air. The woman stopped the man, her hand out.

  "We mean no harm. I only want to speak with my nephew," she said.

  Seth didn't know what to do. He slowly pulled back from Kail, returning to the library.

  "What's the matter?" Titos asked with a yawn. He stretched his arms above his head. He looked so at peace, even with everything that kept getting thrown at him.

  Seth groaned, knowing he was going to deliver more bad news. "We have guests."

  Titos rubbed his eyes. "We have nothing but guests; it’s never ending. At this point, we might as well change the front door to one of those revolving doors. Save on electricity.”

  "Why would we want that?" Adom asked as he entered the library carying papers.

  "We have guests," Seth said.

  Adom groaned. They all felt the same. It felt as if every break they had was only minutes long.

  "So what's so special about these guests? Can we send them away until another day?" Adom asked.

  Titos looked as if he agreed with Adom, and Seth wanted to say it would be fine, but he knew he needed to tell Titos who it was exactly. He stared into Titos’s eyes.

  "It's your aunt and your cousin," Seth said.

  He watched and felt the moment the news finally processed in Titos’s head. His relaxed posture went rigid, and his fists clenched. His emotions were all over the place, but mainly confusion stood in the front.

  "What do they want?" Titos asked.

  "To speak with you," Seth said.

  "You have family?" Adom asked.

  Titos nodded. "If you call the people who were in charge of killing me family, then yes."

  Adom crumpled the paper in his hands, and Seth reached for Titos. "We’re here now. They won’t be able to lay a hand on you."

  Titos nodded but said nothing.

  "We can have them sent away," Adom offered.

  Adom: Or killed.

  He only shared that part with Seth, and Seth agreed.

  Titos sighed. "As much as I want to say tell them to leave, I might as well hear her out. She did raise me; I owe her that much.

  Seth wanted to argue that Titos owed her nothing, but he kept his mouth shut.

  Seth: Lead them back here. Alfrik shift back, and you and Mazki both get dressed. There are some spare clothes by the door. Alfrik, I want you behind them. Kill anyone you think is planning anything. Mazki, I want you near this guy.

  He sent an image of Titos’s cousin.

  Seth: Kail, you on the other side.

  "Where would you like to meet them?" Seth asked.

  Titos looked around the library. "We can go to the room with all the seats. I like the library and would rather they not taint the air."

  Seth: Sitting room.

  Titos stood, staring at the door that led outside the library. He looked reluctant to leave. Liby moved next to him, her hand on his shoulder. She wasn't one for talking, but she was supportive. Seth stood by Titos, not rushing him to go see the family that should have been killed for the pain they gave Titos.

  "Let's get this over with," Titos grunted out. "This is sprinkles on the shit cake life has gifted me with."

  Seth placed his hand on the back of Titos’s neck. He looked up, and Seth couldn't resist. He kissed Titos. Not a gentle kiss; he poured all his love and acceptance into the kiss. Yes, things were steadily being thrown his way, but he had them and that was not to be forgotten. He pulled back, admiring Titos’s kiss-swollen lips and the flushed look to his face. Titos breathed heavily, and a small smile appeared on his face.

  "Thanks," he whispered.

  Seth nodded. He was there for a reason.

  Seth and Adom stood to Titos’s side with Liby standing by the door. They waited for their latest guests to enter the room. Kail entered first, his face grim, but there was something there that had Seth checking in on the link.

  Seth: What's the matter?

  Kail: Nothing.

  The lie was obvious, and Seth wanted to dig further but thought better of it when the intruders entered and cold panic with a touch of fear rushed through the bonds. Seth reached out to touch Titos, trying to calm him. There was no way any of them would let him be hurt.

  Titos slowly relaxed, but he still held tension in his body as the intruders stopped in front of him.

  "You've done well for yourself, Titos," the woman said.

  Seth growled. Her eyes—the same green as Titos’s—flicked over to him, only for her to look away dismissively.

  Titos sat up. "Why are you here, auntie?"

  She smiled at him as if they were on good terms. "I can't just visit?"

  Titos gave a humorless laugh. "No, it isn't something you do."

  She turned, taking a seat and the others with her moving to her side.

  Mazki and Kail moved to be next to Titos.

  Seth: Sit with him.

  They did, and Alfrik moved to the back of the couch, choosing to stand.

  She glared at the display. "A king. You should have just stayed hidden."

  Mazki: Bitch.

  Kail: That's insulting to female dogs. She’s worse than that.

  Alfrik: Why is she still alive?

  Adom: My exact question. Why are they all alive? There couldn’t have been a freak accident on your way in?

  Mazki: I thought about setting the whole forest on fire.

  Seth: Should have.

  They all seemed surprised by Seth’s agreement. Except Adom, he knew why Seth would rather see every single one of their guests dead.

  Mazki: They must be the worst people ever if our alpha wants them dead.

  “Staying hidden was the plan, but then, how long would I have been able to live?” Titos asked.

  Seth’s eyes cut to the man who'd been chasing Titos that night. He rolled his eyes at Titos’s statement and Seth wanted to rip them out.

  His aunt shook her head as if he’d asked a ridiculous question. “So you go and do something stupid, bringing attention to yourself.”

  Seth was pissed, but to his surprise, Titos seemed to relax.

  Titos: They want something.

  Titos glared
at his aunt. She was the last person he thought he would ever see again, but as she sat there, spouting bullshit about him needing to stay in hiding, he realized something. That fact that the queen had sent her alpha to speak to him—not just his cousin Klaido but her alpha—it meant so much more.

  “What are you here for?” Titos asked.

  She huffed out a sigh, as if his question was stupid. Titos ignored it. She was his aunt, and as much as he wanted to hate her, he still didn't know if she hated him or if Queen Mila of the Valtruse house had ordered her to kill him.

  "Titos, yo—"

  "He is king here; you will speak to him with respect," Adom said. His voice was calm, but anger radiated through the bond.

  Aunt Fari glared at Adom before looking back to Titos, as if waiting for him to correct Adom or to tell her it was okay. It wasn't. Titos had been on the run for a long time and not once had his aunt tried to look for him or offered help. They sat there in silence for a moment longer until Aunt Fari clenched her teeth, her mouth clicking in annoyance.

  "What is the house name?" she asked.

  Titos: Great, the one damn thing I haven't come up with.

  Adom: There's no rush.

  "Majesty, King, or Highness will all work just fine," Mazki said.

  Aunt Fari glared at him as well, then her eyes looked around at each of Titos’s keepers. She shook her head at them.

  "What a waste," she muttered.

  "If this is too much for you, you can always get the fuck out," Titos said.

  The gasp from her was worth it. He'd never raised his voice at her, let alone cursed. But that was the past, and Titos was no longer that kid.

  "Don't think so highly of yourself. You're still a weak loser," Klaido said. He took one step forward, and every single one of Titos's keepers was suddenly poised and ready to kill him.

  It was Liby's sword that flew past Klaido's face, missing by half an inch and landing in the far wall. The shocked look on Klaido's face was priceless. Titos almost wished he had a phone so he could take a picture of it.

  "You bitch," Kladio growled, turning to Liby. With her sword firmly placed in the wall, Titos didn't see how she would defend herself. She still stood there and stared back at Kladio as if challenging him.