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9

B ewilderment. Fear. Hope. It had all been there in those mesmerizing eyes. Xander hadn’t believed him, hadn’t wanted to believe him, and had tried to slither away in the shadows.

Too bad he was already Moargan’s.

And he wasn’t lying. He had claimed him. He wasn’t sure why, other than the obvious. Helianth was right, Xander was stunning. Innocent, sweet, creative.

And a little liar.

There was something else though. Something he couldn’t quite place. This primal need to own Xander. Whenever he thought of him, there was a physical reaction. It made his stomach tighten and his veins fill with sparks that caused a delicious thrum.

It also convinced him that Xander was lying about something.

So far, Yure hadn’t found anything on Xander Devers, other than the little information they already knew. That would change. Yure was a pro, and much like Moargan, his friend liked a challenge.

One of Vandor’s guys had shadowed Xander the entire day on campus, where he had mostly stayed inside the art facility, aside from the break. He had spent lunch alone in the park, drawing.

There was something fragile about that detail. Something that he fucking loved.

Moargan didn’t date. As the eldest son of the Imperial family, he was mostly focused on getting prepared for his future duties. Ruling Helion, assuring the safety of the planet. His father managed the board of counselors and generals and had allowed Moargan access to evaluate meetings, without the right to intervene.

When the day came, Yure would be his right-hand, and together with the Luminary, led by Kylix and Helianth, they would rule the political and security organs of their world.

No, Moargan didn’t date. He conquered . Toyed and nipped on trembling flesh and fucked those who were either chosen or offered to the Imperials. Helions considered their rulers immortal, the favorites of good light.

And then there was Xander Devers.

Moargan had wanted him, he had taken him. And right now, he was being held in his home and waiting for Moargan to come home. Just the way he liked it. If this evening would ever finish, that was.

“Can we please not do this?” He groaned. He sat in his father’s study, listening to Helianth and their father throwing accusations back and forth. “I mean, we’ve been here for three hours now. Not that I don’t love spending time with my family, but—” Moargan’s multi-slate lit up with another update from Vandor on the evening’s progress in his mansion.

“Moargan’s right,” Milanov sighed. “Helianth, we don’t have much to go on at this stage. We don’t have a motive. We don’t even have a clear profile of the victims aside from them being all foreigners. ”

“ What ?” Helianth crossed his arms in front of his chest. “You sound just like Kylix. Don’t you think it’s fair to inform the public?”

“And risk putting a stain on our image?” Their father sighed when Helianth balked. His brother’s nostrils flared, and his eyes flashed. “Alright, alright. We’ll get something out.”

“Great. That only took us three hours.”

“That’s because you’re not listening to m?—”

“Oh, come on,” Helianth shouted. “And what about those men I requested? Will it take another three hours for you to decide on that?”

Milanov sighed. “You stubborn boy. I’ve already told you that I will back you up. Your brother already told you I would. Haven’t you been listening? Moargan!”

Moargan looked up from his multi-slate and nodded dutifully. “You’re right, Father. Now, can we please move on? Helianth?”

His brother dipped his chin and grumbled. He didn’t look ready to move on. There was something about this case that messed with his younger brother’s usual composed and sensible self.

“Eleven victims,” Helianth muttered under his breath. “Please tell me that we’ll make that press conference urgent. The next victim could be attacked at this very moment.”

His father held up his hand. “And I have told you, we will make this our priority and all the resources to find the killer who’s responsible.”

“Do you know what he does to the victims?” Helianth exclaimed. “Do you know what their bodies look like when I find them? How they are cut open and fucked with before the victims die from excruciating pain?” He jumped out of his chair and paced around. “What’s he looking for? What does he want? Is it pure macabre satisfaction, or is there something else?”

“I’ll get you fifteen more people, Kylix.” Their father told the silent guy who had sat waiting. Unlike Moargan’s younger brother, their cousin didn’t seem emotionally as involved, despite him being barely two years older than Moargan.

“Thank you, Milanov.”

His father nodded toward Helianth, who was still pacing around, agitated. “And keep an eye on him. My son is fragile and in desperate need of some relief. Moargan?”

“I’m on it.”

“Announce Helianth’s next Aureate.”

Everybody looked up at that. “Father?”

“Your brother so desperately wants to go public. Make us show our power. Let’s give him his own, personal show.”

Moargan’s gaze shifted from Helianth back to his father. “And where should this Aureate take place?” Unease crawled up his spine. “You know that’s not what he meant.”

Milanov’s gaze softened. “I know.” He flicked his gaze Helianth’s way. “But you’ve got a point. The killer is publicly mocking the Imperial leaders, showing us that he can assault and kill on the streets that we so carefully keep safe. We won’t just warn the people of this spreader of destruction, we will also show them what they need. Our supremacy.”

“Father.” Helianth paled.

“Book the arena.”

“ Father . Please.” It was no secret that Helianth didn’t enjoy his Aureates in public. This was not just a public display for the audience but also to show his younger brother who ruled within their family.

Milanov shook his head. “Not this time, son. Though you can choose the outcome yourself. That’s the liberty I’m giving you. You can either fight him, fuck him, enslave him, or make him a new soldier for the Luminary. But you’ll have to make him your conquest and hunt him down the traditional way. Show your supremacy.”

“Father… ”

“Free entrance,” his father ordered with a clipped nod in Moargan’s direction. “That will draw many people in.”

Helianth stopped protesting and pressed his lips tightly together, his gaze dark with held-in rage.

“Okay, I’ll organize it,” Moargan obeyed. Sometimes it was hard to be the eldest son. He wanted to say something to reassure Helianth, but now wasn’t the time.

Moargan’s multi-slate read a message.

Aviel is getting through to him. Your boy is finally eating.

“Fucking finally,” he grumbled, though his frustration was barely meant for the Luminary junior general.

Tonight’s meeting had been a shit show, the result of two headstrong men. And where he had hoped to be at home hours earlier to enjoy watching the look in Xander’s eyes as he was once more forced to enter Moargan’s mansion, he’d most likely come home to a sleeping beauty in his bed.

Although…that thought wasn’t so bad. He wondered if he could feed Xander his cock while he was sleeping. Had he even sucked cock before? A thought that had fire licking inside his veins with alarming speed.

“And what are you so busy with?”

Moargan’s head yanked up. He had been so caught up in his own thoughts that he had missed his father’s inquisitive stare. Getting up from his seat, he put his jacket on. “Nothing. Although, if I’m no longer needed here, I hope you’ll excuse me. I am going home.”

“Home? At this time? Don’t tell me you’re tired. It’s barely nine.”

“Someone waiting for you at home, brother?” Helianth smirked, sour mood forgotten, replaced by a craving for revenge. The little shit.

“Someone?” Milanov frowned.

And there they went… Moargan flicked his hand. “It’s nothing. ”

“Well, if you can truly call your new boy toy nothing , be my guest,” Helianth added.

Asshole.

Moargan rolled his eyes, ignoring how their father swirled his glass, chuckling at that.

“I seem to be spot on with my timing for a public chase,” Milanov said. “The crowd needs a reminder. And you do too, son. It’s good to see you smiling again.”

Helianth’s grin dropped at the words. “I don’t want to do this and you know it.”

Milanov raised his glass in Helianth’s direction. “Well, that’s too bad, because it is what you were made to be, Helianth. My Dariux. You should be proud of that.”

Helianth’s gaze darkened. “Never. I could never be proud of my hunger for violence.”

“Alright, that’s enough.” Moargan grabbed his younger brother tight by his shoulder and leaned in to drop a quick kiss on his father’s cheek. “We are leaving.”

“But—”

“ Now .”

The door closed with their father’s barking laughter. Once outside, Moargan accompanied Helianth to his ride.

“I can’t believe he’s making me do this,” his brother stammered as he opened the door. “An Aureate. He knows how much I hate that. Is that what I truly deserve for all the work I’m putting in?”

“It’s to remind you not to lose yourself in this case.” Moargan clasped a firm hand on Helianth’s shoulder. “You won’t promise?”

He got a chuckle and a pat on his nose for that. Moargan grumbled. Family . He didn’t mind though. The message was clear.

Watching the hover car leave with Helianth inside, he let out a long, tense breath. Whoever was out there disrespecting their family, would regret it soon.

The ride home was long and tedious, and Moargan spent it between tapping his knee and eying his multi-slate impatiently. Over half an hour ago Xander was having dinner.

When a Luminary guard opened his front door, Moargan ignored him, heading inside and straight toward the sounds of laughter that came from the kitchen. Enzo, some junior guard, sat on a stool at the kitchen island, sipping from a beer and chatting with Aviel, who was cleaning the dishes. Both looked up when Moargan came bursting through.

“Where’s Xander?”

“He escaped.” Aviel picked up another pan and started drying it.

“We got him chained and locked in a cage.” The Luminary guard wiggled his brows, laughter spilling through his lips.

“Cut it out, both of you.” Yure headed for the fridge. “Your boy’s in the bathroom.” He grabbed two bottles of beer, popped off the lid, and handed them to Moargan. “By the way, we found you a little present back in Archer’s apartment. Caught stealing.”

Moargan’s multi-slate lit up with an image that made his lips curl up wickedly. “Nice. I’ll call you later to show off our gift. First things first.” Flipping off Aviel’s chuckles, he headed for his bathroom.

The corridor felt way too long as Moargan made his way through, and his chest clenched as anticipation built.

When he found the bathroom door closed, Moargan tightened his lips in annoyance. Xander better not have locked that door. He tried the nob, releasing a breath when the door opened.

Inside stood Xander, a towel curled around his slender waist, his raven hair wet and shiny and curling at the tips. He glanced at him through the mirror, yellow eyes widening .

He turned around, startled. “Moargan.”

Moargan pinched the bridge of his nose. “I see. One night together and this is what I get? I liked it when you called me sir,” Moargan smirked.

Xander paled. “Sir, it is.”

“I’m just kidding, little aeon.”

Xander’s hand descended to the knot around his waist to keep the towel in place, while the other blindly reached for the shirt that was placed on the heating.

Well, Moargan’s shirt.

Moargan pointed his chin toward the piece of garment. “Stealing from the Imperial family can cost you your hand.” It was a low blow, he knew, though the deepening blush on Xander’s face was priceless.

His hand froze mid-air. He shook his head and opened his mouth to speak, then slammed it shut again. His gaze peered up to Moargan’s mouth, and his pupils dilated.

“You tore mine apart,” he finally mumbled, the comment void of any snark.

”That’s right. And why did I do that?”

“I don’t want to fight you.” Tugging on his shirt, which wasn’t easy with one hand, Xander pressed the sides together in front of his chest. His sculpted, pale chest. “If you let me go, you won’t even notice my presence at the academy.”

“You have no idea what you’re saying,” Moargan smirked. “I’d haul you right back here before you could take your next breath.” Desire burned in his gut and his cock hardened, begging to be relieved and taken care of. How he’d loved their little chase last night. “How old are you anyway?”

Xander blinked in surprise. “Why?”

“Because I’m curious.”

“T-twenty?” Xander stammered.

Only two years younger than Moargan. He looked younger. Maybe it was because of the flawless skin. Perhaps it was the innocent look in his eyes. Whatever it was, it made Moargan want to puff up his chest and claim his stake over him again and again, just because he could.

“Come.” Holding out the beers, he pointed his chin toward the bedroom. He could feel Xander’s hesitance, but the other guy begrudgingly followed him inside.

Kicking the bathroom door shut with his foot, they headed further inside the bedroom. Moargan discarded his shirt soon. He handed Xander a beer and plopped down onto his bed. “Now, come here and drop the towel.”

“What?” Xander gasped, eyes wide.

“The towel. Drop it.” Moargan took a drink, then placed the beer on his bedside table.

“No! I-I want to get dressed.” Xander looked uncomfortable. And it made Moargan want to provoke his little liar just a bit more.

“Oh, really? I’d say that’s not true.” Grabbing Xander’s ass cheeks with both hands he hauled him in and brushed his forehead against Xander’s toweled crotch. Mouthing the damp towel, he felt Xander shiver. His mouth traced the curve of Xander’s bulge that quickly hardened under his touch. “If you don’t drop the towel right away, my boys will come in. And they will make you before you can think of your next words.”

That was a shit lie to sell, but Xander bought it, face-paling. He turned over his shoulder to eye the door that Moargan had carefully closed behind them, then slowly dropped the towel. It fluttered down, temporarily held by his hardened cock. A nervous chuckle wooshed past Xander’s lips, and he blushed even more fiercely.

Those eyes…Bright, reluctant as it reflected his desire. And that cock… long and hard, rosy on the tip.

Moargan opened his mouth and slowly curled his tongue around the crown of Xander’s hard shaft. A salty flavor exploded on his tongue, pre-cum oozing from the slit when he closed his lips around it and sucked gently.

Xander moaned, jerking his hips. Moargan purred when he felt the hesitant touch of a hand on his head. He let Xander brush his fingers through his blond strands and swirled his tongue around the leaking tip before he slid down and sucked in most of Xander’s dick. Pressing his nose against his pelvis, he inhaled the aroma of his property’s skin. Musk and the remainders of soap combined with anticipation.

Forming a ring with his fingers, he jacked Xander slowly while he dragged his tongue down to his balls and suckled them inside his mouth. Xander hissed, grinding his hips as the hand in his hair became sloppier, pulling his strands and putting pressure with every moan. When he released him, Moargan pulled back, took Xander’s beer, and put it on the bedside table next to his.

“Go and lay down on the bed, little aeon .”

“No.” Xander shook his head. “No. This is wrong. You—” With a firm push, he crashed onto the bed. “Wait?—”

Moargan smashed his mouth on Xander’s, shutting him up. Sliding his tongue immediately inside the other guy’s mouth, he made it clear that he dictated the rules, dominating the kiss until Xander moaned inside his mouth. But the moment he released pressure, Xander pushed him in the chest, growling, in an attempt to free himself from Moargan’s grip.

“Fuck, I love it when you fight me.” Licking his jewelled incisors, Moargan fisted Xander’s cock, reveling in the unhinged whines that came out of his mouth. “You’re so close, I can feel it. You want to come, lover? Want to come in my hand, like last night? Or do you want to come inside my mouth?” Another jerk of the desperate cock in his hand.

Moargan grazed his teeth over Xander’s tender flesh on his throat. He was trembling. “Tell me how you want it. Hand or mouth? ”

“I don’t want it,” Xander choked. “I don’t want you.”

“You’re such a liar.” He tapped Xander on his bare hip and laughed when he squealed. “ My little liar.”

Once he was naked, he crawled over Xander, who had stopped fighting and was waiting instead, chest heaving, mouth slack, despite his complaints.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

“What are you doing?” He breathed.

“Let me show you, little aeon .”

Part of him expected Xander to throw him off, but one gaze at his hazy, lust-induced eyes, and Moargan realized Xander was too desperate, despite his snarls. He planted his ass on the pillow above Xander and turned, facing his cock as he presented his own to Xander’s lips. “Open your mouth now.”

“No,” Xander growled, but it sounded more like a pout. Then he parted his lips at the pressure and let Moargan guide his cock inside the warmth of his mouth.

Moargan groaned. The feeling was exquisite and he stretched out his limbs as pleasure nestled inside his gut. Then he dove forward and took Xander’s cock in his own mouth, toying with the thrumming erection while his hand fondled his balls.

Xander moaned, the sound like music to Moargan’s ears. The melody filled with the reverberation of both their heartbeats and his own signs of contentment. He was good, his little aeon , a bit sloppy in his inexperience, but he eagerly sucked and licked at Moargan’s weeping dick. So much for his protests. Like this, Moargan wouldn’t last long, but tonight wasn’t purely about pleasure. It was about setting the rules.

Xander’s hips stuttered and Moargan’s throat worked around the erupting orgasm, only to follow right after. Waves of pleasure let him ride high, and he grunted as he unloaded inside of Xander’s mouth. Both were swallowing as much as they could, sucking and cleaning, before Moargan lifted himself off Xander.

“Good light. I…” Xander murmured. He didn’t finish his phrase.

For a moment, they just lay there, enjoying the cease-fire. It lasted too shortly for Moargan’s taste.

“Will you please let me go?” Xander finally whispered. “I promise you won’t even notice I’m here.”

“Haven’t you heard a word I said?” Moargan wasn’t sure if it was the implication of his little aeon not appreciating his efforts, or him not being as confused as Moargan was about their chemistry, but it hit the wrong nerve. “This is your new home now.” And it was time to show his supremacy in another way.

Typing a message on his multi-slate, Moargan stretched out and hummed in satisfaction. “You really seem to find it difficult to understand the code of ethics of our beautiful planet.”

“I didn’t mean to?—”

“You keep on saying that, and then you keep on forgetting. Here, let me show you instead.”

There was a knock on the door, followed by Yure and Aviel who had both dressed in black cargo pants and a black button-down, the simple attire of the Luminary. The golden broach shimmered in unison.

Vandor followed them inside, the tip of a knife pressed against the neck of a guy with platinum curls.

Next to him, Xander gasped. “That’s the guy from school. He was the one who got attacked outside the art building.”

“Yes,” Moargan hummed. “Theo is a student at the academy, but he was picked up because he broke the law. Didn’t you, Theo?”

“Fuck you,” Theo spat. Blood splatters had formed a circle on his otherwise grey uniform. His throat bobbed against the knife. He looked perfectly helpless, despite his fury.

“Breaking into apartments I recently purchased. Searching under mattresses.” Moargan clicked his tongue. “Aviel, why don’t you show Xander here what you found under his mattress?”

Thump. Thump.

Moargan could sense his little liar was panicking and it made his chest flutter with wicked anticipation.

“What do you mean?” Xander’s voice sounded small.

Aviel grinned and patted Theo’s hair. “We found a bid on deep space. Our friend here managed to steal various objects from Archer’s apartment before we caught him.” His smile turned threatening. “So, we had to bring him in for questioning.”

“Questioning,” Theo growled, the sound transforming into a whimper when Vandor pressed the knife deeper against his flesh, breaking the skin. “People love the Imperial family,” he let out. “They want a piece of you.”

“He’s right.” Aviel winked and opened his palm, revealing a data chip. Next to Moargan, Xander sucked in a shocked breath. “I paid a sweet coin for this tiny object.”

“That’s not yours,” Xander bristled.

Aviel closed his fingers around the chip. “It is now. I paid for it.”

“That’s not…” Moargan felt Xander’s hand clutch around his. “That’s illegal. Please, that’s mine.”

“Hmm, Xander is right. What Theo did is against the rules. He will be punished,” Moargan decided.

“No, you don’t understand,” Xander wailed. “That chip is mine. It’s mine .”

“And I can sell it to you for two thousand coins,” Aviel smiled.

“You can’t do that,” Xander panted. He tried to get out of bed, realizing that he was butt naked. “I don’t need to buy what’s mine. It was stolen from me! ”

Aviel threw the chip in the air, catching it easily. “Then what are you going to do about it?”

“I—I?—”

“I suggest that you decide later if you should buy it, little aeon .” Moargan turned to face Xander, brushing a raven strand from his pale face and ignoring those pleading eyes. “For now, let’s figure out what we're going to find on that chip. You’re so worked up,” he smirked. “I can’t help but feel a little curious.”