A King to Be Protected

by Brea Alepoú

  “Looks like our master is having a dirty thought going through his head,” Mazki muttered.

  Titos pulled back, feeling the blush that was creeping up his body. He was surprised he could still be embarrassed around them. He cleared his throat and reached for the soap only for Seth’s hand to pass his and grab it before him. Titos turned around, swallowing back his retort as he admired Seth’s body. All the taut muscles encased in golden brown skin. He looked as if he’d grown a little bigger.

  “He did. Shit, we all have,” Mazki said.

  Titos turned to look at Mazki. He was still the same height but his muscles were more defined. Titos looked at all of his keepers, and sure enough, they all looked as if they’d grown physically, filling out their figures. They hadn’t looked weak before, but now… Titos whistled under his breath. His hand itched to touch all of them at once, to have them pressed against him.

  He shivered from the image.

  Mazki was the first one to touch him, his soapy hands gliding over Titos’s body making the touch slippery. Another pair of hands touched him, and then another. Hands everywhere, touching him all over. Titos trembled from the light caresses, wanting them to be firmer. The brush of breath against his ear had him seeking out more touches from all of their hands.

  “Our master is so needy,” Mazki said, and a hand wrapped around Titos’s painfully hard erection.

  Titos looked down to see Mazki kneeling at his feet, his soapy hand washing Titos’s length along with his balls. The light strokes were driving him mad. He bit his lip to stop himself from demanding more.

  Seth cupped his chin, turning Titos’s face toward him. “You can demand anything you want from us. You never have to hold back.”

  He bent and bit Titos’s lower lip before running his tongue over the swollen lip. Titos moaned as Adom stepped behind him and rubbed his beard on Titos’s shoulder, waking goosebumps with every graze of hair against skin.

  “We need to make sure our master is properly cleaned,” Adom whispered against Titos’s ear before moving down his body.

  Titos moaned. He was only able to see Seth’s face as they kissed, but hands spread his cheeks and fingers rubbed against his entrance. Titos gasped from the sensation. Seth continued to kiss him, and Titos wasn’t sure where to focus when another set of hands joined in. Kail’s hands lightly rubbed against Titos’s hard nipples, earning a whimper from Titos.

  All of their touches were light, even Seth’s kiss, his tongue moving slow, and not at all how Titos wanted it. He wanted Seth to devour his mouth as Mazki stroked him, Adom fingered him, and Kail played with his nipples. He wanted it all, and he wanted it harder, not the soft petting they were doing.

  “What would our sweet master like?” Mazki asked.

  Titos could hear the teasing tone in Mazki’s voice. Seth started to pull away, and Titos’s hand shot up, and he pulled Seth’s thick dreads, crashing their mouths back together. He deepened the kiss, earning him a growl from his alpha.

  Titos: I want more. Enough with the soft touches.

  Kail’s pinch to his nipples had his legs shaking, Adom’s teeth biting down on his flesh had him groaning, and Mazki’s hand tightening around his dick had him moaning and fighting back his climax. Seth took over the kiss, devouring Titos and all the little moans that escaped him. He lost himself in the sensations, in the touch and feel of his keepers.

  He wanted it to last forever, but he sat on the edge of climax and every nerve was lit. He didn’t see it coming, but his orgasm barreled through him just as Adom crooked his finger, pressing firmly against his prostate. Even if Titos had wanted to hold the orgasm back, he couldn’t have. Colors danced in his vision as he came, his moans muffled by Seth’s mouth. Titos almost let the opportunity pass, but then he mentally wrapped his hands around the bonds with his keepers and pulled. The shower filled with moans and groans as they came with him.

  Titos legs shook, threatening to give out on him. Seth caught him before he could fall, and he sighed, his limbs feeling like jelly. Tension filled the room right before a knock came from the door of the bathroom. Titos sighed, remembering everything they still needed to handle. He pulled back so the spray of water from the many shower heads could rinse the suds from his body.

  “We will be out shortly,” Titos said.

  He could feel it was Liby on the other side of the door, and she felt aggravated. Unlike his keepers, he didn’t wrap himself in their bond. Hers was different than theirs in that it was only a blood bond.

  They finished washing up. When they left the bathroom, there was no one in the room, but fresh sheets lined the bed and stacks of clothes lay out on it. Titos went to the stack that had King written on it and got dressed.

  He wasn’t one for formal clothes, so even though the suit he put on fit and looked nice on him, he’d rather a good pair of jeans instead. Everyone was dressed, and Titos moved to see what business they needed to attend to. He still needed to question Armest and find out what they were going to be up against.

  His keepers surrounded him as they left the bedroom. Kail opened the door and there stood Liby. She was cleaned up, no longer painted with blood, and had fresh clothes on. She also had a suit, her sword on her hip and her blonde hair pulled back.

  “Your Majesty,” she said, bowing her head.

  Titos smiled at her. She’d risked her life to fight next to him, and not once had she treated him like a burden during the fight. She was completely blinded by Kail’s blackness, yet she still fought off two assailants on her own.

  “Please call me Titos,” he said.

  Her lips thinned, and Titos had to laugh at her reaction. He wasn’t raised as a king, and he’d learned his lesson earlier that although he had the title now, he couldn’t make decisions like someone who’d been raised for the position.

  “Don’t look so uncomfortable. You can still refer to me as king in front of others besides my keepers,” Titos reassured her.

  She nodded. “As you wish.”

  Titos nodded, knowing that was the best he was going to get from her. They turned to go down the large staircase. It was a good thing it wasn’t narrow. With all of his keepers plus a guard, Titos’s group was too large to squeeze down a narrow staircase. This one could easily fit a few more, and they would still be able to walk down comfortably. Titos glanced around at his keepers.

  “Where is Alfrik?” Titos asked.

  “Oh, Pooh is in the back, watching over the spider,” Mazki answered.

  Titos stopped to stare at Mazki. “What?”

  Kail laughed. “It’s his new thing, giving everyone weird names.”

  Titos continued down the stairs. “So what’s my name then?”

  They made it to the bottom of the stairs, and Titos looked to Mazki expectantly, waiting to hear the name Mazki had for him.

  “Master,” Mazki said, moving closer and placing his hands on Titos’s hips and rubbing his body against Titos’s. “Our horny master,” Mazki whispered against Titos’s ear.

  His breath brushing up against Titos’s ear had him fighting back a moan, the sensation threatening to drag it out of him.

  “Oh good, there you are,” a man’s voice said.

  The mood changed instantly with the interruption. Titos sighed as he stared at the man who was clearly from the council. The pendent on his suit indicated his status as a representative.

  He smiled but didn’t come any closer to Titos—not that he could get past any of Titos’s keepers.

  “And you are?” Titos asked, playing stupid. He had a few ideas who and why one of the council’s dogs was at his door.

  “Of course. I'm here on behalf of councilman Dreger Fio,” the man said.

  Titos wasn’t familiar with any council members names, but the way Adom’s bond buzzed, he was guessing it was an important one. Titos sighed, making sure to show his displeasure at their newest guest.

  Titos eyed the front door area. There were signs of a battle if one looked closely enough;
all the blood was gone but there were scratches, holes, and cracks everywhere. But no blood or bodies to show for it.

  Titos: How long were we sleep?

  Seth: A day.

  One day of rest and it was back to it, and Titos didn’t even get to enjoy the victory. He turned toward the kitchen. He was starving. Just because they had a guest didn’t mean they couldn’t eat, but it did explain the suits that were left out for them. Titos made a mental note to get in contact with Gavin later about their clothes.

  The kitchen was still a mess from Seth and Alfrik's fight, so Titos bypassed it and went to the formal dining room. He didn’t pause to give the councilman’s man a chance to say anything or acknowledge the mess in the kitchen.

  Standing outside the dining room doors were the brothers, they both went to one knee, bowing their heads to Titos. Titos nodded to them both and continued into the dining room, glad to see they were okay.

  The dining room had a large table that could easily sit fifteen people. There was only one head chair, and Titos almost by passed it before Seth pulled the chair out. Titos wanted to roll his eyes, but still he sat. Seth went to his right as Mazki went to his left. Kail went to sit next to Seth, and Adom next to Mazki. Liby stood a few inches to the left, behind Titos. Titos watched the man look around for the proper seat to take.

  He fumbled around for a bit before he gave up, opting to stand instead. It made no difference to Titos; it only meant he would be leaving that much faster.

  “What does Dreger Fio want with me? And why has he sent you?” Titos asked.

  The side doors opened before the man could speak, and the chef and a few others came in, rolling carts of food. Titos’s stomach did a little flip of happiness at the smell of all the delicious food.

  “I don’t see Armest anywhere,” the man said.

  A plate was placed in front Titos, steam wafting from it. The smell of garlic and chicken had his mouth watering. He nearly missed what the man had said.

  Titos shrugged. “Is he needed?” Titos picked up his silverware and started to cut into the juicy chicken. “Last I checked, he wasn’t a king.” Titos ate the chicken and closed his eyes to savor the delicious flavor.

  “He has been standing in for this territory for some time now. I only asked for him as I expected him to be a confidant within your own court, yet I don’t see him.”

  Titos smiled at him, setting his fork down. “You thought wrong. He isn’t a part of my court as you can clearly see by his absence. If that is all you wanted, you can leave.”

  The man seemed confused by Titos words, but Titos wasn’t going to be one to kiss the council’s feet.

  Titos: Adom, Dreger Fio. What do you know about him?

  Adom: He is one of the most corrupt council members. He takes bribes and money from any territory he can get his claws into, and any territory that declines his offer but isn’t strong enough to back it up, disappears and becomes available for a new king or queen.

  “You are not a king I’ve heard of, so maybe you don’t know, bu—”

  “But nothing. I understand. It is you who doesn’t understand. I answered your question. I have allowed you to be in my presence longer than I care to see you, and now you insult me.” Titos shook his head. “I have no need or desire to be a puppet for Dreger or any council member.”

  Titos: Liby.

  She was next to the councilman’s representative with her sword drawn.

  The man glared at Titos. “You shouldn’t be so stu—”

  His head sliced clean off before he could finish his sentence.

  “What’s the chances Councilman Dreger blood bonded with his lackey?”

  Adom huffed. “I say it’s about a ninety-nine percent chance he just saw what happened.”

  Titos sighed. “Jameson!”

  Jameson walked into the dining room, his eyes traveling to the puddle of blood and the decapitated body on the floor, before turning to look at Titos.

  “Yes, Your Majesty?” His head was slightly bowed.

  “Can you please go out back and tell Alfrik to bring in Armest?” Titos turned back to his food and continued to eat. Jameson walked off, and Titos looked at his keepers. “Do you think I made a drastic decision?”

  “I wanted him dead the moment I saw him. I say it wasn’t fast enough,” Mazki said.

  “How have you lived so long?” Adom asked.

  Mazki shrugged. “Mostly luck and the power to barbecue people.”

  “This will place a larger target on our backs. Not that a target wasn’t there before, but now they will know where to aim,” Seth said.

  Titos ate more of his food. “List of enemies right now: my previous house and now Dreger Fio of the council.”

  “What about those guys who were after you before?” Kail asked.

  “They were paid assassins in a way. A ruler can request assistance from the council and sign up for a hitman. They place an order for someone to be killed, and if approved, the council will send a team to kill that person. It can be overturned at any time,” Mazki answered.

  “Meaning the whole council isn’t our enemy just yet,” Titos said.

  The doors opened and Ginger walked in with an armful of files. She paused for a second next to the head that had rolled over by the door. Her eyes traveled until she found his body.

  “I’ll get Marcel on that,” she said as she moved over to the table. She placed the files next to Adom and bowed her head to Titos. “Morning, Your Majesty.”

  Titos smiled at her, glad she was looking better than she had after the battle the day before. Her green hair was braided to the side with a few pieces framing her round face.

  “Have a seat, Ginger, and eat with us,” he offered.

  She smiled as Adom stood and pulled out a chair for her. She sat and a plate was placed in front of her in seconds. Titos waited until she ate some of her food.

  “Ginger, what dealings did Armest have with Dreger Frio?” Titos asked.

  “None that I know of. He’s never stepped foot in this territory, especially because Armest is the great-nephew of council seat holder Greger Leo.”

  Adom: That would explain the backing of this territory, but there would still need to be more.

  Titos sighed. Puzzle pieces were showing themselves, but still so many were missing so the picture had yet to come together. The doors opened and a grunting mess came in, falling to his knees with his hands tied behind his back. Titos realized the bloody mess was Armest, his suit torn to nothing more than shreds and his nose clearly broken. Blood crusted his face.

  Alfrik stood behind him with his arms crossed, glaring at the sad excuse of a man on his knees. Mazki’s nickname for Alfrik wasn’t exactly what Titos thought of. He did look like a bear, but more of the claw out your guts kind of bear than the honey eating one.

  Mazki: I bet he’d eat you like honey.

  Titos cleared his throat, feeling the heat in his cheeks at the image Mazki shared.

  Mazki: While our big bad alpha over there fucks him from behind.

  Titos moved in his chair, trying to get comfortable with his sudden hard-on.

  Mazki: And I can be under you, drinking the sweet nectar from your di—

  A growl from Seth interrupted the mental sharing and brought Titos back to the matter at hand. He was going to need to get a handle on his phoenix. His dirty mind could turn Titos on at the oddest of times.

  “Good morning, Alfrik. Are you hungry?” Titos asked.

  Alfrik grunted but shook his head no. Titos turned his sights back on Armest. The man didn’t look so haughty on his knees. Titos stared at the man, watching him as he turned his head, looking at everyone at the table until he reached the body on the floor that was mere inches from him.

  Armest’s head snapped up, a glare on his face as he stared Titos down. “What have you done?”

  “Do I have to explain decapitation to you?” Titos asked.

  Armest gave a bitter laugh. “You killed a representative of th
e council.” Armest shook his head. “You’re insane.”

  Alfrik punched Armest in the stomach. Spit dribbled from his mouth, and he coughed, trying to catch his breath.

  “Watch how you speak to your king,” Alfrik growled.

  Armest fell to the floor, groaning, and Titos watched Alfrik glare down at Armest with a hard glint in his eyes. It was almost distant. All of his keepers wanted to kill Armest—he could feel their anger—but Alfrik didn’t show that outwards. It almost seemed as if punishing Armest was something he did without thought, no emotion attached to it.

  “Armest, I have a few questions,” Titos said.

  He waited for Armest to get himself back up on his knees. He spit and coughed a few more times as he looked up at Titos with a smug smile that didn’t belong.

  “Explains why I’m alive, and probably your smartest choice so far,” Armest said.

  Kail: Please tell me I’m not the only one who wants to punch this guy’s face in?

  Mazki: I was thinking along the lines of putting a fireball in his mouth, shutting it, and watching his face melt.

  Kail: Fuck.

  Titos sighed, contemplating taking Mazki up on his offer. “Armest, I think it's in your best interest if you didn’t piss my keepers off any further. For your own safety, just answer the damn questions.” Titos stared at Armest, waiting for confirmation.

  “A king who can’t control his own keepers? Not only are you young, but weak as well,” Armest spit out.

  Titos groaned as chairs screeched against the floor, and Seth growled.

  Seth: Sit down now.

  Titos watched as Mazki and Kail both sat back down. Adom sat with his hands folded, but Titos could feel the rage inside of him, threatening to overwhelm him.

  Titos: What do I do in this situation? We need information, but he’s making it hard to keep him alive.

  Seth: I have to agree; he is making it hard. It can go either way—we kill him and be prepared for anything, or get information out of him and kill him. Either way, he is dead.