A King to be Feared by Brea Alepoú

Beingreborn had been his life story for quite a long time. There came a time in every phoenix’s life that they burned to ashes, only to rise again. It was a curse for immortality. Many people craved it, but it wasn’t all it was chalked up to be. For a split second, the world had gone dark, and he’d been all alone. Just like how it had been before he met Seth and Titos. Before he was a part of something bigger.

“Who attacked us?” Mazki asked. He poked at Adom’s plump ass a few times, just enjoying himself. The best part about shifting was that everyone was naked. Well, everyone except Kail. And what a shame that was.

“It was Olvix house,” Adom said.

Mazki sighed. “And they are?”

“A medium-level house, but they are partnered with some of the big houses. Titos’s old house is one of them,” Adom said.

Gin ran over to them, and Mazki winked at their newest member. “You looked awesome shifted.”

“You were checking me out?”

Mazki grinned at him. “Of course. Bird’s-eye view gives you plenty of advantages.”

Kail caught up, and he looked to their resident bad boy and was met with a stern glare.

“You know, I feel like I should be quivering, but instead, I’m just getting hard,” Mazki said.

The sound of a sharp smack echoed around him before the sting even registered.

“Fuck ouch,” Mazki finally said. He pushed on Adom’s back and glanced over his shoulder at the man.

“You had us all worried,” Adom said.

Mazki sighed and turned back. He caught sight of Titos’s face, and he’d for sure been crying. But he’d told them before he was immortal. They made it back to the house in no time, and Liby and Kyo excused themselves to get dressed.

“Everyone, get clothes on.” Titos had his cell phone that seemed to have survived the battle out in hand. “Ginger says she is reaching out to the Olvix house now.”

Adom finally let Mazki down—not that he was complaining in the least, but it still sounded as if his punishment was going to be placed on hold for the time being. It was a disappointment, but Mazki knew it wasn’t the time. Their enemies were getting bolder. And now there were even more.

Mazki: We have to keep him safe.

Seth: That goes without saying.

Mazki’s stomach clenched uncomfortably; it just wasn’t fair. Titos was happy just being with them. He’d already accepted the responsibility to be king of the territory. All he wanted was to be left alone, and yet their adversaries saw them as a threat.

They made their way to their bedroom.

“My clothes are still in my other room,” Gin said.

Titos gave such a warm smile that Mazki felt it in his own heart. “Please grab them all, and you can have space in the closet.”

Kail shouldered Gin. “It’s big enough you can have the space next to mine.”

Mazki smiled at Kail, being so welcoming with Gin. He couldn’t imagine everything being new to him and how he’d react. All in all, Kail was doing great with the constant changes in his life.

Mazki stretched his hands above his head and turned toward the bathroom. It was huge and easily fit all of them. But if Titos continued to grow his harem, then they were going to need to upgrade soon. The corners of Mazki’s lips turned up in a smile. The thought of others joining sounded fun. Titos deserved to be loved by many.

He turned the shower on and checked the temperature, making sure it was that perfect temperature of boil your skin off. Before he could get in, a hand wrapped around his wrist.

“Tit—”

Titos pushed Mazki into the shower and closed the glass door, pressing Mazki’s back firmly against the shower tile wall.

“Never again,” Titos said.

His green eyes glowed faintly, not nearly as bright as when he accepted a new keeper, but still, Mazki could feel the severity in his words and the power that swirled in his gaze.

Any jokes would be frowned upon. Mazki tilted his head slightly to the side and relaxed his shoulders, showing that he was submitting to Titos in every way. But he continued to stare into the one man who made him feel so much in his eyes. Titos was his master, but beyond that, Titos was the one man Mazki loved. There was no doubt in his mind about his feelings for him. All his years on the planet never prepared him for such a feeling. All the people he met, the few he’d served, none of them came close to Titos and the emotions he invoked in Mazki.

“I’d do it again,” Mazki said slowly.

Titos’s lips dipped down in a frown, and his eyes went glassy. Mazki reached for his master and cupped his face. He was only slightly shorter than Titos. He brought Titos’s face to his and rested their foreheads together.

“If you are in danger, I willingly sacrifice myself for you. Again and again,” Mazki said.

The anguish came crashing through the bond. “Why? What if next time you don’t come back?”

A single tear slipped free, and Mazki caught it with his thumb.

“If I don’t come back, then I died saving the man I love. That is an honor I’d happily call my own,” Mazki said.

Titos’s eyes went wide. It happened every time they told their master they loved him. He always looked shocked, as if it was completely unbelievable. It was absurd—Titos was by far the easiest person to ever love.

“I don’t want to lose you,” Titos whispered.

But even over the sound of the shower, Mazki heard his master loud and clear. The admission twisted around his heart and made the organ pick up speed. He kissed Titos with every ounce of love that thrummed through his body.

By the time he pulled back, Mazki and Titos were both panting. He noticed no one had joined them; they were giving them this moment together.

“I will not promise you that I won’t sacrifice myself for you. But I can promise you I will do everything I can to always come back to you,” Mazki said.

Titos was silent for a second as he stared into Mazki’s eyes. “Okay.”

Mazki let out a sigh in relief. He wasn’t sure how else to convince Titos, but he would make sure to come back to his master no matter what stood in his way. Mazki kissed each of Titos’s eyelids and moved them so that they were under the spray of water. Mazki’s hands had a mind of their own as they roamed all over Titos’s naked body. He was rewarded with soft moans that seemed to only spur him on even further.

“I just knew that you couldn’t last more than five minutes alone,” Kail said.

Mazki grinned at him. “Can you blame me? Look at him.” Mazki stroked Titos’s cock ever so slowly, pulling another moan from him.

Kail’s pupil dilated, and he hungrily watched Mazki’s hand. All the while Mazki took in Kail’s naked body—tan skin full of tattoos, his man bun undone, and all his long luxurious hair falling to his mid-back.

Kail slowly made his way into the shower, and it was as if all the air in the bathroom had evaporated. The moment Kail made it to them, Mazki was fighting with his lungs to try and remember how to breathe. Titos’s fingers danced along his spine, making Mazki shiver.

“I’m not the only one who was scared at that moment,” Titos whispered into Mazki’s ear.

Mazki audibly swallowed. They were all there for Titos, there was no denying that, but there was an attraction that they each were developing for each other. Kail was hot, but beyond that, he was caring and gentle-hearted. He made Mazki’s heart speed up all on his own.

Kail stopped just short of touching Mazki, the small gap between them charged with want and need. Titos removed Mazki’s hand from his cock, and he groaned from the loss. But all too quickly, it was cut off as Kail grabbed Mazki by his hair and pulled him in for a kiss that was nothing more than teeth clashing and tongues dueling. It was demanding in every way and made Mazki’s mind go blank. He forgot everything, unable to fathom a simple thought.

Kail pulled back, his grip tight in Mazki’s hair and his blue eyes deadly serious. “Next time, a heads-up.”

Mazki licked his lips. Kail had never been so forward with him, but he could see there before him the kid who grew up on the streets and survived. Mazki audibly swallowed.

“Okay, I’ll try,” Mazki said.

Kail’s face instantly lightened, and his grip loosened. “I’m glad you’re okay.” He brought their lips together again, and it was gentler but no less demanding.

So many emotions swirled around inside of Mazki as he came to the realization that he meant more than he’d imagined. Someone cleared their throat, and Kail broke the kiss, grinning at Mazki. He moved over by Titos as Alfrik walked in. The giant man towered over Mazki like a skyscraper. He reached down and cupped Mazki’s face as if he were made of glass.

Mazki’s heart skipped a beat. Alfrik’s thumb smoothed over Mazki’s lips. “Thank you for what you did.”

It went without saying that any of them would give their lives for Titos, but it had been the first time they had come so close to losing their master.

“You’re welcome,” Mazki said.

Alfrik leaned down and brushed his lips over Mazki’s, his facial hair tickling Mazki’s mouth before he kissed him. He gently coaxed Mazki’s tongue out. The kiss was over way too soon for his liking.

Adom and Seth both stood by the door. Seth crossed his arms over his impressive chest.

“Next time you make Titos cry, you will have to sleep in a guest room for three nights by yourself,” Seth said.

Mazki was instantly pulled from his stupor that Alfrik had placed him in. “Wait, what? That’s not fair.”

Seth grinned and shrugged, making his way into the shower. Water droplets ran down his golden-brown skin, making it look good enough to lick. Mazki was pulled to Seth’s firm chest. There was no gentleness, just a harsh kiss and a nip for good measure.

“Don’t make him cry, bird,” Seth growled.

He surprised Mazki as he hugged him tight and smoothed back his wet hair. Mazki relaxed instantly and gave in to the embrace. They had been Titos’s first two keepers. Had willingly worked together to keep the one man they’d both been drawn to alive.

“You’re still going to be punished,” Adom said, drawing Mazki’s attention.

“Yeah, I know,” Mazki said. He walked the small distance to Adom and threw his arms around the older-looking man. “I’m sorry.”

Silver eyes bored into him as if looking deep into his soul before Adom was smiling at him and cupping the back of Mazki’s head and bending him back only to take his mouth in a demanding kiss.

Mazki’s chest burned with the need for air, but he was reluctant to end the kiss as the water cascaded down on them. He could stay there for all eternity. Adom pulled back from the kiss and turned Mazki around to face the others.

He had said it outside, but Mazki met each of their gazes again. He now understood the severity of what everyone felt. The bond was open, and everyone’s emotions flowed through.

“I’m sorry I worried all of you,” Mazki said.

Titos moved forward and once again kissed Mazki. “Let’s get cleaned up. I’m sure Ginger is ready for us already.”