* * *
— PRESENT DAY —
Astrum Industries Science & Exploration Team
Location: Castle Múnrahki, Mighty Realm of the Kríe
“Are you certain,” Zercy rumbled, his lips a hair’s breadth away from Alec’s, “that I cannot talk you into coming along?”
Alec groaned as raw pleasure pulsed steadily through his body. Zercy had him pressed against a wall in their chambers, impaled on his huge cock beside a window. With his one hand, he’d pinned Alec’s wrists above his head. With his other he slowly stroked Alec’s dick.
Alec’s thighs squeezed around his waist, his heels digging into Zercy’s ass.
“I want to—I’d love to—” he rasped. “You know I would, but—” A moan shoved past his lips as Zercy rocked his hips upward. “—But my men—I can’t leave ‘em—I’m their captain—”
The king’s shaft bucked inside him. Huskily, Zercy growled. “We will not be gone long—Five days, six at the most—” He pumped just Alec’s crown. Alec’s whole body stiffened. Zercy chuffed and got back to jacking his full length.
White bliss licked down Alec’s shaft, firming his balls, tickling his hole. He needed to come so fucking bad. They’d been going at it like this for an hour already, with Zercy repeatedly bringing him to the brink.
He was trying to get Alec to fold. To give in and agree. But a week away from his men? They were his obligation. He couldn’t, even though he wanted to really bad.
“Maybe one day,” Alec panted. Although, he wasn’t holding his breath. This castle he’d lived in for a year now may feel like home, but he knew deep down that he wouldn’t be there forever.
Another rumble curled in Zercy’s throat. Letting go of Alec’s dick, he gripped Alec’s jaw and turned his head. “Denza, Alick.” Look. “Out the window. Do you see? Past the mountain ridge and steppes? Those tall, faint cliffs that touch the sky?”
Alec nodded, trying to focus. Zercy’s foot-long was making it hard.
“That is where they are holding the council meeting I must attend. The journey would be an adventure. A chance to experience more of Nira.” Alec took in the sight. Zercy thrummed and resumed stroking him. “Surely you are due for a vacation.”
Alec moaned, back arching. “Almost forgot those things existed.”
Zercy growled and thrust his hips. “Time to remember.”
Alec gasped. Pleasure surged. Through his ass. Into his junk. “Zercy—No more playin’—I gotta come.”
“Agree and I will make you.”
“I can’t.”
“Tah, you can. But that is fine. I can fuck my little pet like this all day.” Zercy latched his mouth to Alec’s neck and hungrily sucked on his flesh. Hand still teasing Alec’s cock, he started to thrust.
Alec groaned, brows pinching, eyes sliding back into his head.
So it was going to be like that? War of the wills and shit? Whatever. Looked like Alec was going to have to make Zercy make him come.
Cursing through gasps as pressure mushroomed in his groin, Alec vised his thighs tighter around Zercy’s waist. Zercy chuffed against his neck, and stopped all movement—such a punk. Not that it would do any good.
Digging his heels in deeper, Alec pushed against Zercy’s glutes and urgently started riding the fucker’s cock. Up and down, up and down. Ecstasy welled, Zercy’s thick swollen cockhead rubbing his G.
“Yeah—Unnngh—Fuck yeah—” Alec ground out, starting to quake. His orgasm was so close he could taste it.
Zercy laughed and let go of Alec’s dick to still his ass. So Alec switched shit up and ground his dick against Zercy’s abs. Pleasure lashed along his length. Into his package.
“Yeah!” he panted. “Ungh—Shit!”
Zercy growled and stepped back, trying to put space between their hips. All that did though, was spur Alec back to riding his cock. Up and down, up and down, his ass gripping that huge rod.
“Uh!” Alec cried out. His trapped hands fisted tight.
Harder tremors shook his frame from head to toe.
Then Zercy shuddered, too. Snarling, he shoved Alec back down his cock, trying once more to keep his ass from moving. But of course, that just sent Alec back into grinding. Urgently. Frantically. Against ribbed, rock-hard abs.
Oh, God—His orgasm—Barreling closer by the—
“FUUUCK!!” Alec detonated on a loud, strangled cry, his spine arching, his asshole clamping brutally.
And what do you know, that tight, frenzied hug triggered the king a heartbeat later. Releasing Alec’s wrists, Zercy roared and clutched Alec’s ass, then vigorously started thrusting into his heat. Alec’s climax spiked higher. Digging his fingers into Zercy’s shoulders, he held on till Zercy slammed home and violently came.
Long moments after, Alec rebooted to the feel of Zercy’s body, his huge chest heaving for breath against Alec’s own. Panting, eyes still closed, he grinned. “Wow, Leo… Thanks... That was great.”
“Do not thank me, you little deviant,” Zercy grunted against his neck. “You know I did not give you that. You took it.”
Alec chuckled and nuzzled his ear. “I’ll go on the next trip.”
“I do not believe you. Next time I am abducting you, just so you know.”
Alec laughed. “For what it’s worth… I’m gonna miss you when you’re gone.”
Zercy eased back and eyed him with a warm sated smile. “You will be here when I return? Eagerly waiting for your king?”
Alec grinned and rubbed their noses. “Yeah… I’ll be here.”
Zercy thrummed a low, thumping purr. “I will miss you, too.”
“Boss. Yo, Alec. Ground control to Major Tom.”
Alec blinked from his reverie, thinking about earlier with the king. A morning not unlike most, as of late. In the past couple of months, since he’d embraced this thing with Zercy, their connection had only gotten stronger.
Unfortunately, such progress couldn’t be said for other things. Notably, the Nira tree in Zercy’s courtyard. Not that she hadn’t recovered, because she had, as had all of her offshoots in the realm. But for some reason, she still wasn’t able to conceive, nor sustain herself without Alec’s team. Which, truth be told, was taking its toll on the nation. No young born since that tragic night. The people’s morale was slipping every day.
Alec looked at Chet and shook his head. “I’m sorry. Guess I drifted. What were you saying?”
Chet regarded him as the team made their way toward the lake. “I asked you where Zercy was going.”
“Oh, um, right. To some council meeting in Lendum. A kingdom south of here, past the plains.”
“Long trip?” Zaden plucked a lime-tipped frond from the ground.
“A couple days each way.”
Chet frowned. “So when’s he comin’ back?”
“About a week.”
“Fuuuck,” the marine muttered, rubbing the top of his crew-cut head.
Alec eyed him. “Why? What’s wrong?”
Chet exhaled and glanced over his shoulder. Specifically, to where Mannix lingered by the gate. “You ever heard the expression, ‘When the cat’s away, the mice will play’?”
Alec followed his line of sight, not quite sure where he was going with that. “Yeah. What about it?”
Chet turned back around, pulling to a stop as they reached the water. “Because whenever Zercy goes away on his little fucking trips, asshole Mannix always forgets his fucking manners.”
Alec stared at him, not liking the sound of that. “His manners.”
Chet leveled him with a look. “You know, like keeping his hands to himself. And his pervy-ass thoughts. Not to mention his dick in his pants.”
“Holy shit.” Bailey gaped. “He’s back to coming on to you?”
“Shit. He never stopped.”
Alec clenched his jaw. “Stay away from him. I’ll talk to Zercy when he gets back. He’ll deal with him.”
Chet shook his head. “Fuck that. I’m not a snitch. I can handle him. Have been handling him since the day we fucking got here. It just gets annoying when he kicks it up a notch.” He scowled and clutched his crotch. Irritably rearranged his goods. “And with my dick always hard from that fucking kirah shit…”
The others nodded absently in understanding. Hell, even Alec got what the guy was trying to say—and Alec was getting some regularly, unlike his team. Which was exactly what was making things extra difficult for Chet. A year without sex—sperm banks aside—was hard enough. But no sex for a year with a big sexual being constantly pushing Chet’s ramped-up sexual buttons? Alec frowned and rubbed his neck. That’d make anyone crazy.
Noah glanced back at the gate. “Damn. He’s watching you even now.”
“When’s he not?” Chet muttered.
Bailey scratched his curly-haired head. “So what’re you gonna do? Just deal with the shit?”
Chet turned around and eyed the Kríe, clutching his hips as he brooded. “Honestly? At this point I’m halfway tempted to humor the fucker. Just give him what he wants so he’ll cool his fucking jets. Screw it. I’d get something out of it, too.”
“You would?” Jamis asked, dark brows hiking behind his bangs.
Chet cut him a sardonic look. “Yeah. You know, an orgasm outside of Sirus’ cum dump for once?”
“Ah,” Jamis nodded.
The others nodded, too.
Because for nearly a year now, since they first started ‘donating,’ they’d all had to give it up to Sirus twice a day. And even though it’d recently been reduced to once daily—thanks to the synthetic compound the trio developed that made samples stretch twice as far—after coming so often for so fucking long, none of them ever even whacked off anymore.
In fact, with the act always so damn clinical all the time, it’d made them crave physical contact more than ever. Intimacy with another virile hot-blooded being. Only Alec, however, was in a position to actually get it. Not that the Kríe wouldn’t be happy to oblige his teammates, or hell, the Súrah nymphs for that matter. But in terms of being with someone they actually wanted to be with? Yeah, his guys were shit outta luck.
“I dunno,” Chet muttered, tetchily glaring at the Kríe. “You think he’d bottom? ’Cause right now I’d be game for some angry sex… Trade a few punches… Take the guy down.” He ground his molars and shook his head. “Then I’d pound his big Kríe ass so fucking hard.”
Alec swapped surprised looks with Zaden.
Noah stared at Chet, jaw slack.
Jamis and Bailey, on the other hand, couldn’t hold back their laughs.
“Holy shit. And to think I was worried about you.” Jamis snorted. “Now I see I should be worried about Mannix.”
Bailey rubbed his mouth and grinned. “Fuck, man. Maybe you should. Just pretend you’re banging Roni and maybe you’ll bust twice.”
Chet stilled and eyed him sharply, but then frowned and looked back at Mannix. “Roni did know how to fuck,” he grumbled. “I’ll definitely give him that.”
“He must’ve,” Noah chuckled, giving the marine a curious once-over. “Evidently, he fucked the hetero right frickin’ out of you.”
Chet grunted, but didn’t deny it.
Bailey watched him, then eyed the water. Like he was suddenly contemplating his own orientation. Or that Oonmaiyo he swore he still kept catching glimpses of.
Hell, one day Alec found him down below, camped out in front of that big aquarium window. Just sitting on the floor, idly drawing in his notebook. Sketches of different entities beyond the glass.
Alec hadn’t asked, and Bailey hadn’t volunteered the information, but he suspected the scientist was hoping to spot the ‘merman.’
Zaden looked to the east, his dark eyes thoughtful. “It’s been a year now. A year since we fired up our distress beacon. You think search and rescue’s gotten here yet?”
The team instantly sobered, no doubt all thinking the same thing: what if the others had arrived but got captured by Gesh’s pack? They could be marching the men toward the castle right fucking now. To hand over to Zercy in exchange for Noah.
Alec frowned, growing restless. What if Zercy let Gesh have him? He didn’t think Zercy would separate Alec’s team. But what if he was wrong? What if he would?
“Well, if they have,” Jamis sighed, “I hope they’re good dodgers. First, from those flyers, so they don’t crash like we did. And then of course…” He stalled out, but that was okay. It was a given: The Kríe who’d bagged, tagged, and sold them to the king. Although in truth, ‘snagged’ and ‘shagged’ seemed much more fitting.
“I’m sure they’re fine,” Noah murmured, staring eastward like Zaden. He didn’t sound very convinced, though. Was probably trying to battle his guilt. After all, if the rescue team did get captured, it’d be because of him, and he knew it.
“Yeah,” Bailey agreed. “No way Gesh’s pack is still waiting for them. I bet they lost interest ages ago.”
Noah forced a smile and nodded. Picked up a stone and half-heartedly skipped it.
Alec wasn’t so sure though, that those Kríe had given up. He didn’t want to freak out his men—or get Noah’s hopes up—but a few days ago Gesh had requested a meeting with Zercy. What about, Alec didn’t know. The king wouldn’t say.
Zercy had come out of the visit looking pretty angry, however. Why was anyone’s guess. Had Gesh given up on the humans and tried to barter with something else? A crappy offer, maybe, that Zercy found insulting? Or maybe Gesh did have the rescue team after all, but Zercy had backed out and they’d verbally fought. Either way, it was proof to Alec that Gesh hadn’t given up, regardless if he had the humans or not.
Still, the timing was suspicious. Exactly a year…
On the other hand, what if the rescue team somehow managed to dodge capture and came for Alec’s team on their own, finding some way, some leverage, to convince the king to let them go? Alec didn’t want to leave. He’d grown to love Zercy on some level, and believed Zercy felt the same. Neither had ever actually come out and said it, but despite the king still calling him ‘pet,’ he’d privately elevated Alec to consort not too long ago. Alec was sure that meant something. A show of devotion. And a clear sign that Zercy considered Alec more than a plaything.
He still had yet to try and bond with Alec, though. Not that he didn’t bite him regularly. Because he did. Whenever possible. As if inside he was fighting the urge to bond and biting maybe helped take the edge off.
Alec suspected that if he messed with Zercy’s horns hard enough, it could get the guy to cave. But that felt low-handed, like he was cheating. He didn’t want Zercy to bond with him unless he wanted to.
Besides, Alec wasn’t sure he wanted to bond with Zercy, either. That was a pretty huge, not to mention irrevocable, plunge to take. Ironically, something he had been wanting to do as of late was to bite Zercy too, right on the neck. He wondered if it’d leave a mark like the king’s always did. For some reason he loved wearing them, Zercy’s signature on his skin. Too bad they never lasted for more than a week.
Although the other night, after sinking his fangs in Alec’s neck, Zercy revealed something that Alec found pretty interesting. The fact that, while regular bites didn’t leave lasting marks, bites that triggered bondings left marks that lasted forever. The sign that a Niran was claimed, but more so than that, a symbol of unending devotion.
Which, of course, had Alec contemplating his feelings for Zercy—and the prospect of ever procreating together. He wondered if they could. If it was biologically even possible. The concept was definitely fascinating. And what they’d done a few nights earlier in the Kríe castle’s courtyard? It only had him riveted that much more.
It’d all started when he came right out and asked Zercy how Niran babies were made. He’d only heard bits and pieces until then. Zercy had smiled, seeming pleased that Alec would want to know such things, but he’d also looked a little bit sad. No doubt, because it reminded him of his people’s predicament, and how it seemed no future offspring would ever be had.
Because again, it’d been a year. A year with no promising signs. After all, the mother tree had been totally restored—aside from her ongoing need for medication—but still no offspring anywhere had been conceived. If Nira, happy and healthy, wasn’t doing the trick, then what the fuck else logically would?
Ultimately, Zercy had decided to show Alec rather than tell him, taking him first for an impromptu snack in the kitchen. A snack, incidentally, that included senna`sohnsay.
Needless to say, Alec had been a little hesitant. His introduction to said fruit hadn’t been the greatest. Sure, it’d ended with one cosmically mind-blowing orgasm, but via an exchange with someone he didn’t know well or have feelings for. And Alec just wasn’t the kind of guy who took sex casually.
Zercy talked him into eating it pretty easily, though. Seemed Alec would do almost anything for the guy. Besides, what’d been unpleasant about his last experience with senna`sohnsay was that he’d resisted having sex for so long afterward. There’d definitely be no resisting this time around.
Once Zercy had fed him every piece of the fruit by hand, they’d left the kitchen and headed to the courtyard. Zercy instructed the guards not to allow any interruptions, then led Alec over to the tree. Under the light of dancing torch flames, they removed each other’s clothes, staring into each other’s eyes the whole time.
With their garments at their feet, Zercy had smiled and drawn Alec against him, then dipped his head and claimed Alec’s mouth. His tongue had been sweet, Alec remembered it well, as his fat little fangs grazed Alec’s lip.
Unhurried moments later, Zercy severed their kiss and reached up to a branch above their heads. “This,” he’d plucked a leaf from one of the closest twigs, “is where life once started. Where Kríe young used to grow.” He handed it to Alec.
Alec had taken the thing and studied it. It’d reminded him of a sugar snap pea pod, but a little bit larger and rounder. It wasn’t green either, but a deep shade of purple—Kríe purple, incidentally—and veined like marble. Didn’t feel like marble, though. Wasn’t hard at all. In fact, it had the texture of a delicate flower petal. Either that, or super-supple skin.
Eyes intense, Zercy had laid Alec in the grass beneath the tree and kissed him until he was fully aroused. Alec could feel the senna`sohnsay, in his blood, in his loins. Stirring his tender prostate, making it swell.
Zercy’s hands and mouth had been everywhere, covering him with Kríe affection, preparing Alec’s body to accept him. God, how Alec loved not needing tachi anymore. Hadn’t used it in months, thanks to Noah.
Zercy entered him not long after—Alec had felt so impossibly full—driving into him again and again. Slowly at first, then steadily faster, restlessly ravaging Alec’s neck with his mouth. He’d wanted to bite him, it was obvious, Alec could tell, but like always, managed to hold himself back. Which, be what it may, still kind of stung.
A good while later, Zercy growled, “Need to spill,” pausing to enclose Alec’s cock inside that leaf. Panting, Alec had peered down at the pod around his dick. Had watched as Zercy held it firm and resumed fucking. But when the king finally climaxed, his cum igniting Alec too, all Alec had seen were fucking stars.
Goddamn, it’d been intense. The sensation of Zercy’s seed. Not just it pumping into his depths, all thick and hot, but the tingle it evoked as it penetrated his prostate. As it passed through its membrane that senna`sohnsay had made permeable, allowing their two loads to literally merge. It’d driven Alec wild until he detonated as well, and unloaded their combined cum into that pod.
When they’d both caught their breath, Zercy dug into the soil until he reached a complex network of tiny capillaries. Or at least that’s what they looked like to Alec, more so than roots. Rounder. Smoother. Just like, well… just like blood vessels. Which curiously, made Alec smile.
Zercy nestled their delicate pod into the nest of exposed roots. “At this point,” he murmured, covering it up with loose soil, “a couple would wait to see if Nira accepted their offering. If she agreed to fashion their young inside her womb.”
“How would they know if she did?” Alec asked, watching him work.
“Within a week, tiny flowers sprout where they buried their seed. Each couple’s blossoms are unique, distinguishable from all others, and remain until the young is full term.” Zercy smiled but it looked sad. “The ground, it would swell, the flowers hugging its mound like a blanket.”
Alec thought about that. So bizarre, yet oddly beautiful. “Do parents stays there the whole time? Take turns standing watch to keep it safe?”
“If they wish to they can, but most just visit regularly. Each site is well guarded, day and night.” Zercy gazed down at the soil. His timbre turned soft. “Maybe one day we will bond and have young of our own. An heir to the throne.” He looked at Alec. “How does that sound?”
Alec hadn’t seen that coming. Had been taken off-guard. Always thought that Zercy didn’t want to bond. Heart thumping, he’d blurted restlessly, “I don’t know,” which was true, even though a part of him loved the way it sounded.
After all, bonding and childrearing equated to residing with Zercy permanently, something he couldn’t impose on his team. And to shuck his duties, his responsibilities to them, just because he’d fallen for the king? It didn’t feel right. It felt wrong.
But God, just the thought of living the rest of his days with Zercy? It made his heart hammer. Made his insides straight-up smile. Meaning, yup, he’d officially crossed the line of no return. When he finally left the king, it’d fucking kill him.
Exhaling, Alec peered over his shoulder at the castle. Ironic, how his teammates vigilantly plotted for ways to escape, while deep down he’d been looking for ways to stay.
Chet grunted and shook his head. “Well, if they did forget about us, like Bailey thinks and I highly suspect, then all the more reason for us to blow this joint ASAP. If we don’t bust ourselves out, nobody will. It’s not like the rescue team would ever be able to find us here.”
The trio frowned.
Zaden lifted his chin to Chet. “We’re almost ready though, yeah? Got supplies stashed in the tunnels. Got the tunnels all mapped out.”
Chet nodded. “Yup, now we’re just waiting for the right opportunity.”
“What constitutes the right opportunity?” Bailey asked.
Chet shrugged. “Those numbskulls may not play chaperone anymore, but they still keep an eye on us, and definitely still guard our door every night. So the way I see it, we’re gonna have to bail through our windows. Just need a night where Alec can bail through his, too.”
The team looked at Alec. Alec crossed his arms. Scratched his neck.
“Which would be now,” Jamis established. “Since Zercy’s away, right? He was the obstacle.”
Chet nodded. “Yeah. I mean, I was gonna check out a few more passages I discovered last night. Gather a few more supplies, but you know what, fuck it. Who knows when we’ll get an opportunity like this again.”
Zaden and the others nodded, looking anxious but also excited.
Alec frowned, stomach clenching. “I dunno. What about Nira? She still kinda needs us, doesn’t she?”
“Yes and no,” Noah answered. “Sirus has been stockpiling our jizz for a while. Couple that with the synthetic we created and they have enough to last for months.”
“Months,” Alec muttered. “But what about after that?”
Chet scowled. “So, what’re you saying, Boss? That we should just stay here forever? Let some tree dictate our futures? Our lives?”
Alec exhaled and shook his head. “No. Of course not. But maybe if we just waited until an actual cure was found.” He looked at the trio, searching each one’s face. “You’re close, right? That formula you’ve been working on, it’s almost done?”
The three guys swapped looks.
Jamis sighed. “In theory. But we’ve been on the brink for ages. So close for so long, and yet we just can’t seem to get there.”
Bailey grunted. “Frustrating as hell. No way we can promise a definitive time frame.”
Alec frowned, heart clenching. He couldn’t just bolt. Couldn’t leave Zercy so heartlessly. It’d wreck him. What’s worse, Zercy would think that Alec abandoned him. Betrayed him. Which Alec supposed in a way would be correct.
Cursing, he rubbed his forehead. “Let’s just wait a little longer. Give the rescue team a chance to find us. I can talk Zercy into letting us go if they come. He just wants to keep us safe. If they can prove they’ve got our backs, then he’ll let us leave. He will. And in the meantime, Sirus can do more stockpiling and—”
“But what if search and rescue never comes?” Chet demanded, cutting him off. “Or they do and there’s still no cure? You think Zercy’s just gonna let us walk if the fate of his race still hangs in the balance? No fucking way.” He gestured to the castle. “He’s gone. This is our chance. One we might never get again. We’re ready, Boss. I know you like the guy, but come on. He’s a fantasy. We don’t belong here. We need to keep some fucking perspective.”
Zaden met Alec’s eyes, his expression sympathetic. “He’s right, Alec. We have to go.”
Alec held his friend’s gaze. He knew what he said was true. That it’d be stupid to ignore this opportunity. That they couldn’t possibly stay there forever. But he wanted to. God, he wanted to. So fucking bad. To leave without saying goodbye just felt so—
“For real?” Chet bit out, clearly aggravated by Alec’s reluctance. “We’ve waited and prepared for this for a whole fucking year and now you’re suddenly dragging your feet?” Body tense, he rubbed his crew cut, then shook his head and looked around. “I can’t hear this shit right now. I’m takin’ a walk.” Turning, he stalked his grumpy ass toward the trees.
Alec clenched his jaw. “Chet—”
“Just let him go,” Zaden muttered. “He’s been wound tight all day. Just needs some space.”
Alec frowned, watching him go—until something moved in his periphery. He turned to look. Mannix, sauntering after their marine.
Alec’s frown deepened. “What’s he doing?”
Zaden eyed the Kríe, too. “Probably just keeping tabs on him… from closer range.”
“That’s gonna piss Chet off,” Jamis chuckled. “Seek cover now.”
Sure enough, as Chet reached the opening in the trees at the base of the mountain, he noticed Mannix approaching and pulled to a stop. Alec couldn’t tell what he was saying, but his tone carried well enough. A slew of angry griping fired at the Kríe.
Alec exhaled and looked away. Chet was not a happy camper.
God, this situation seriously sucked.
His eyes settled on the castle, his brain churning intently. Maybe if he convinced Zercy to change the status of his team… No longer pets but guests. Truly guests of the castle. Able to come and go as they pleased. Then they wouldn’t feel like prisoners anymore. Just live-in residents. Staying in a really nice place. For free. Would they want to leave so quickly then? After all, where else would they go? There was no place safer than the castle for miles around.
Heart thumping, he turned to voice the idea to his men, but was cut off before he’d even opened his mouth.
“Holy shit.” Bailey gaped. “What the fuck is Chet doing?”
Jamis grimaced. “Death wish boy.”
Noah groaned. “I can’t watch.”
Alec frowned and turned toward their bodyguard, then bit out a curse. Chet, all up in Mannix’s big purple grill. Poking his chest, shoving his shoulders, as if trying to pick a fight with the guy.
Zaden exhaled. “That man is gonna get his ass kicked.”
Sure enough, not long after, Mannix bared his fangs and leered, then grabbed Chet’s bicep and yanked him close. Right smack into his chest. Chet face-planted his collarbone, only to yell something else and try to pull away.
Wasn’t happening, though. Instead, Mannix wrangled him into a headlock, Chet’s back to his front, Mannix’s arm around his throat.
“Maybe we should head over before this escalates,” Alec muttered.
“That’ll only make things worse. Chet’s pride is very sensitive.” Zaden sighed and shook his head. “Let’s give him a second.”
Alec cursed and crossed his arms.
Gave Chet a second. And then another.
Low and behold, Chet grappled his way free. Or maybe Mannix just got bored and let him go. Either way, it didn’t really improve the situation. Because instead of doing his usual—chuffing as Chet angrily stomped away—Mannix grabbed Chet’s elbow and yanked him close again, then leaned in and told him something at close range. Chet visibly froze, then urgently tried to get free, but Mannix just grinned and dragged him into the woods. Specifically, out of view where no one could see.
Alec stiffened. What the hell did that Kríe think he was doing? Jaw clenched, adrenaline spiking, he looked back at Zaden. “Fuck his goddamn pride. Let’s go.”