A King to be Feared by Brea Alepoú

 

“No googly eyes at my brother,”Kyo said.

Titos lifted an eyebrow at Kyo as she pushed her brother. “Stop being mischievous. It’s not cute.”

Gin laughed a rich, deep chuckle. The first sound from him, and Titos was already hoping to hear it more often. “Speak for yourself, dear sister. People find me irresistible.”

Kyo rolled her eyes. “Lucky me.”

“You’re here to set up a barrier, correct?” Adom asked.

Kyo shrugged. “Depends on if you can afford it.”

Liby groaned behind Titos, drawing Kyo’s attention her way. The smile that curved Kyo’s pink lips was one of pure joy. She moved toward them, but Seth and Kail both stepped in the way.

“Step back,” Seth said

Titos didn’t get the feeling that Kyo was moving toward him but the person behind him. He glanced over his shoulder at Liby. She skillfully avoided his eyes, instead staring at the far wall as if it had something interesting on it.

Randy cleared his throat, getting everyone’s attention. “Breakfast is ready.”

Titos: You two relax. I’m pretty sure she is more interested in Liby than me.

Seth: They are unaffiliated.

Adom: Neither with the council or a house. That makes them dangerous.

Kail: Can we trust them?

They were unattached to anyone; they held no loyalties but to themselves. To many edoli, that was a dangerous concept. But Titos understood looking out for oneself. He studied his guest. Kyo’s eyes were firmly trained on Liby, and Gin had a devilish smirk on his face. But besides that, Titos didn’t miss the way the siblings didn’t stray too far apart or the fact that when Seth and Kail stepped toward Kyo, Gin had also taken a step.

Mazki: I’m coming to check out the new guy.

Seth: You are to stay outside and finish guarding. I’m sending Alfrik out.

Mazki pouted through the bond, but Titos soothed him with ease, caressing the bond that tied them together.

“Would you both like to join us for breakfast?” Titos offered.

“We can discuss the details, including payment,” Adom added.

Kyo’s focus was finally back on Titos; her expression changed, morphing to one of seriousness.

“That will be fine with us,” Kyo said.

Alfrik: They have yet to address you as king.

Adom: They are trying to see how long they can get away with it.

Titos heard the warning for what it was: he wasn’t to show weakness. And not demanding they show respect by acknowledging his title was just that. He wanted nothing more than to ignore that part, but Titos couldn’t afford any weakness at the moment, but he also didn’t want to be like any other rulers. For now, Titos would leave it. He’d prefer if they gave him the respect on their own. Kyo and Gin weren’t a part of his territory; they weren’t edoli under him.

“Ginger, you’re joining for breakfast,” Titos said.

She gave him a warm smile, but she couldn’t exactly hide her tired eyes.

Titos: Adom, make sure after breakfast Ginger goes and rests. I appreciate her work, but if she keeps going like this—

Adom: Of course.

They made their way over to the meeting room. The table was large enough, and with the kitchen still being repaired, there really were no other options. Seth pulled out the chair for Titos before taking the seat next to him. Alfrik didn’t take a seat. Instead, he headed toward the doors.

Titos: Where are you going?

Alfrik: It’s time to change with Mazki.

Titos wanted the barrier up sooner than later. He much preferred to have all of his keepers with him at all times. Call him selfish, but Titos had been alone for so long, and now that he had the option not to be, he wanted to keep the people around him at all times.

Seth: Titos, it’s okay. Once we finish negotiations, you can have us all.

Titos relented and stroked against the metaphorical bond he had with Alfrik. It hummed under his touch and grew hot before cooling down.

Titos: At least can I get a kiss goodbye?

Alfrik’s face went red before he turned back and made his way over to Titos. He was a giant of a man, and his rough exterior was the complete opposite of his gentle interior. His lips ghosted ever so lightly on Titos’s forehead. Warmth spread throughout Titos’s chest from such a simple touch.

But Titos didn’t let Alfrik get away with that. He tugged on Alfrik’s red beard and brought their lips together. The bond heated between them once more. Titos nipped at Alfrik’s thin lips and was rewarded with a gentle kiss. Their tongues intertwined. Kissing Alfrik was slow and soft, as if even through a kiss he was afraid he’d hurt Titos.

Titos: I am a lot tougher than you think.

Alfrik: I do not doubt that, but you are too precious to me.

Titos felt his own face heat up with Alfrik’s words. Titos rarely kept any of their conversations private. All of his keepers heard what Alfrik said, and through the bond, he could feel their agreement with Alfrik’s statement. No one butted into their moment, but they were all just as much a part of it.

Titos kissed him once more before letting Alfrik go. Kail was right behind him. The black shirt he wore fitted to his lean, toned body drew the eye to all his beautiful tattoos. His hair was in a half updo.

“You just got back,” Titos whined.

He forgot to use the mind link, letting the words slip out all too quickly.

Kail rolled his eyes, but he was in Titos’s face in seconds, cupping Tito’s jaw and bringing their lips together.

Kail: I’d love to sleep, but we have to keep you safe.

Titos: It’s not just me, but I want all of you safe too.

Seth: It’s Adom’s turn to go, but I thought it best that Kail go. We will need Adom here for negotiations.

Titos agreed, and after prodding Kail a little more, he found he didn’t mind either.

Kail: All of this is new to me. I prefer not being confused during an important meeting. Just give me the shortened version later tonight.

Kail’s tongue twirled around Titos’s, making any other thoughts short-circuit as he took claim to Kail’s mouth. Kail pulled back, and Titos had to remind himself they had guests, or he’d demand everyone upstairs.

Mazki: I wouldn’t be opposed to that.

Titos: You both be safe out there.

Kail and Alfrik left the room, and Titos turned back to everyone at the table. Food was spread out, and a stack of waffles called to him. Seth fixed Titos’s plate first before anyone moved to touch the food.

Titos licked his lips in anticipation before he could dig in; he caught Kyo and Gin both looking at him. Kyo squinted her eyes at him as if she was trying to study him, but Gin smiled at him and gave him a flirtatious wink that went straight to Titos’s cock.

Ugh, no one ever said being a king meant being hard at all times.

Mazki: That’s the best part.

Mazki sauntered into the room—thankfully, he’d made sure to wear clothes, ripped jeans and a half shirt.

Seth: I told you appropriate clothes.

Mazki smirked at them as he made his way over to Titos. He pulled the chair back and promptly sat down on Titos’s lap. Titos couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out of him at Seth’s growl.

Seth: Why must you cause a scene? We have guests.

Mazki winked at him before looping his arms around Titos’s neck.

“Do I get a hello kiss?”

Mazki stuck out his lower lip in a pout. How could Titos ignore that? Mazki was too tempting to ever ignore.

“Yes, you do, as long as you make it short,” Titos said.

Mazki tried to give Titos puppy dog eyes, and it nearly worked if it weren’t for Seth clearing his throat.

Seth: We have guests. Frustration and a twinge of stress poured through the bond.

Adom: I think they are enjoying the show.

Mazki: You both want a hello kiss too?

Mazki leaned forward, his slender fingers tangled in Tito’s hair, making him gasp. Mazki’s skillful tongue mapped out the inside of Titos’s mouth, making him forget where they were. Fire danced along with the bond as they kissed, and Titos wrapped his arms around Mazki, pulling him closer till their bodies were flush together.

“Wow, breakfast and a show,” Kyo said, drawing Titos back to the moment.

Mazki: I’m not sure I like her.

Seth: Get off and go to your seat.

Mazki pouted before giving Titos another kiss and getting off his lap.

Titos avoided their guest’s eyes, instead focusing on his plate.

Titos: Why did you let it go so far?

Adom chuckled through the bond.

Seth: We all know how upset you’d be if we did.

Titos sighed, eating some of his waffles dripping in syrup. The rich, buttery flavor exploded over his tongue. He groaned.

“Guess your kiss wasn’t as good as a waffle,” Gin said.

Titos froze, another piece of a waffle halfway to his mouth. He looked up and watched as Mazki leaned back in his chair with a smirk on his face.

Seth: Don’t fall for the bait.

Mazki, of course, ignored Seth’s warning. “I’m an okay kisser. My talents with my mouth lie elsewhere.”

Gin gave Mazki a skeptical look. “Oh, like what?”

Titos wasn’t sure how he felt about the conversation just yet. He was fine with his keepers being intimate with each other outside of being intimate with him, but Gin wasn’t one of them. Although Titos felt the pull to Gin, there was no guarantee that he would join them.

Adom: Enough. You’re making Titos feel uncomfortable.

Mazki instantly sat up. Gone was his flirtatious smirk, his marble-colored eyes solely focused on Titos.

Mazki: I would never—

Titos sent calming and reassuring vibes through the bond. He wasn’t upset, he was just… well, he didn’t know. Only that he wasn’t angry about the flirting between Gin and Mazki.

“What kind of barrier were you looking to get?” Kyo asked.

They were fully back to business. It should have eased Titos, but he nearly felt more comfortable when they were all flirting and there was some banter. He rolled his shoulders back; he needed to be the king, the ruler that had it together, at least somewhat.

“We will be needing two separate barriers. One for the main house and one to define our territory,” Adom said.

Kyo hadn’t touched her food, unlike Gin, who was already reaching for the stack of french toast. He seemed nearly at home around them. It was strange, but Titos could already feel himself accepting the beautiful man more and more.

“You do have a decree with the council’s stamp on it for the territory barrier, right?” Kyo asked.

Titos was pulled back from his thoughts. Stay focused. Kyo’s question was valid, but there was a problem with it. The council didn’t know of them really. The territory itself was more than likely on record, but as for Titos ruling the territory, well, that was still very much a secret. One he wanted to keep for the time being.

Their time was ticking. The man the council had sent to them would surely be noticed missing, and with Armest out there, Titos was certain he’d find a way to inform the council of Titos’s existence. They were playing a game of who could move the fastest, and Titos couldn’t afford to move slowly. Time was something he didn’t have on his side.

“Is the piece of paper the only way you will do it?” Titos asked.

Kyo leaned on the table, crossing her arms. “Are you asking if I will set up a barrier illegally around your territory?”

Adom: Maybe we should pull back.

Titos: We won’t know the answer unless we ask.

Seth: If push comes to shove, we will take care of them.

There was a menacing way Seth said “take care.” Titos was hoping to avoid such a thing. It had felt like all they were doing as of late was taking care of people. He didn’t get the feeling that he had to kill Kyo and Gin, but just as Seth had said, if push came to shove, he’d do it. Titos internally sighed as he opened the link with Liby.

Titos: Is this a waste of time?

Unlike his keepers, Liby could not respond mentally back to Titos. Their bond was one of blood only; they didn’t share a deep connection. Liby, however, would receive his messages, and Titos would forever know where she was, but that was as far as their bond went.

Titos: If we should continue, come sit at the table. If it’s best to call it quits, continue to stand.

Not a moment passed and Liby was pulling out a chair next to Gin and joining them at the table.

Titos decided on honesty. “We don’t have any paper.”

Kyo didn’t look a bit surprised as she leaned back in her chair.

“So, it is illegal.”

Adom’s body tensed, and the bond hummed with a warning.

But Kyo started to fix her plate.

“That will be an upcharge. I’m risking my brothers’ and my safety for this.”

Titos was surprised by that. “You can say no.”

Kyo took a bite of strawberry. “I know.” Kyo looked Liby’s way before continuing to add food to her plate. “But I’m going to say yes.”

Seth: Can we trust them?

Adom: My thoughts exactly.

Titos didn’t say anything. He wasn’t sure either, but for now, he was willing to take the chance.

“If you two do not belong to any home, then how will you be taking payment?” Ginger asked, drawing everyone’s attention.

Kyo paused from eating. “We take cash only.”

Titos: Pay them out of my account.

“That shouldn’t be an issue,” Titos said.

He caught sight of Gin smiling at him with straight white teeth.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Gin said.

Titos was pretty sure Gin made “Your Highness” sound like a moan on purpose.

Mazki: I would not be upset if he joined us.

Seth: That is up to Titos. Stop influencing him.

Alfrik: One of you is good enough.

Adom: I second that.

Kail: Do we need more keepers?

Titos blocked the others and touched Kail’s bond only.

Titos: Is something wrong?

Kail: No.

Titos could feel otherwise, and he let Kail know.

Kail: Are we just not enough or something?

Titos’s heart hurt at Kail’s words. It was far from that; he couldn’t help that he felt the pull to certain edoli, and he didn’t know when it would stop, if ever, but he was happy with the ones he had. He let Kail into his mind, letting him feel the amount of love he had for all of them, but not only that, he let Kail feel the burning pull he had toward Gin. And how Titos was doing everything to ignore it.

Kail pulled back mentally.

Kail: I think I need some time.

Titos: Kail, I didn’t mean—

Kail: I know and honestly, I’m not sure how I feel about everything right now. It’s still new to me. This whole world—

Titos: Kail?

Kail withdrew from the mind link an where his bond lie within Titos felt cold and distant. Shit, he was fucking up.

Seth: Everything okay?

Titos: Didn’t want to worry the others.

He touched Alfrik’s bond.

Alfrik: Don’t worry. I’ll talk to him.

Titos had thought they’d already made things clear when they accepted Alfrik into the group, but it seemed their bad boy still had some issues.

Seth’s warm hand on his leg brought him back, and Titos forced a smile on his face. He wanted all of his keepers to be happy, to give them some of the happiness they had given him.

“After breakfast, we can check out the parameters,” Adom offered.

Titos nodded, joining back into the conversation. Still, his mind stayed focused on the bond with Kail, waiting for when he would open back up.