Page 19

“We’re being tailed.” Madden went to step off to the side, no doubt to take the alley to their right and circle around to catch the shadow at the end of the street that’d been following them since they’d left the Little Palace.

“Don’t worry about it,” Zane stopped him and kept walking, lifting a single shoulder when his fellow Retinue member frowned at him. “It’s just Pavel.”

“Pav—” Madden’s head swiveled, gaze sweeping the area. He wouldn’t be able to spot the other man, however. They could both sense his presence, but Pavel was skilled enough not to be visually caught if he didn’t want to be. “What the hell is he up to?”

Zane sighed. “His best, apparently.”

It’d been three weeks since their game at Concealed and, for the most part, Pavel had kept his word.

Sort of.

He hadn’t approached Zane, and there hadn’t been any other late-night visits or break-ins at the Little Palace. But he hadn’t disappeared entirely. Every time Zane stepped out of the house, he was there, just on the edge of his peripheral.

At least before the thing at the art room, he’d hidden better, but ever since then, he hadn’t bothered. Almost like he wanted Zane to know he was there. Wanted him to feel his hot gaze on him at all times.

“Is he…stalking you?” Madden let out a low whistle. “Man, you guys have serious problems. Why can’t you just court each other like normal people?”

“I don’t think you have the right to say that.” Not when how Madden and Berga had gotten together was taken into account. “How do you know we’re courting?”

Madden snorted, the sound very un-royal-like. “If you wanted him to stop, you would have made him by now. Aren’t you worried he’ll figure it out soon?”

“Not at all.” The opposite, in fact. But what they had going worked for him for the time being. Zane was able to report back to Lyra that he was keeping an eye on Pavel, and he got to teach the other Retinue member a lesson after the hell he’d put him through in the woods and with that video.

The stint in the art room had also forced him to acknowledge an important truth. He wanted Pavel Hart, not slightly or maybe, but one hundred percent. Zane didn’t like the fact that other people got to view him, while he was forced to stay separated.

Yes, that was his doing, but still. It pissed him off.

How long had Pavel been nude modeling? How many people on campus had seen his cock, soft and hard and every stage in between?

Did he usually sport a boner for those sorts of things?

Was it even Zane that had caused the reaction that day?

No matter how badly he wanted to accept his attraction to the other man, Zane still needed to think logically. He knew nothing about him, for one, and more importantly, he knew nothing about what he was.

That made all the difference. Understanding those sorts of things would help him decide if he should pursue this once the time limit was up or if he kept fighting. Because while attraction was all well and good, it didn’t mean the two of them were going to date or be anything more than fuck buddies.

He winced thinking about it, somehow guessing Pavel wouldn’t be as open to that casual sort of arrangement as Kazimir had been.

“Thank the Butcher for me when you see him,” he said absently.

Berga had provided dozens of files compiling all possible information on shapeshifters and interspecies matches possible between them. Zane had spent the better part of a week pouring over it, and while he had some theories, he still hadn’t pinpointed exactly what he believed Pavel to be.

Which was an issue.

The risk of accidentally nicking something vital while he was taking the man apart was too great.

And he did still want to take Pavel apart. Slowly. Delicately. With his blade and his tongue and—

“Sure,” Madden said as they turned the corner and their destination came into view. “Why’d you want to come here so badly anyway?”

“He owes me.”

“Who?” Madden caught sight of Kazimir as soon as they entered the Velvet Brew Café and pursed his lips. “Him?”

“No.” The two of them were even as far as Zane was concerned. If Pavel thought Zane was really going to let this go after one stupid game and a ruined shirt, he was an idiot. Though, admittedly, the other man was certainly holding out a lot longer than he’d anticipated.

So much for wanting to own him more than anything.

Soulmates?

His mood darkened exponentially, and when he sat down in the empty chair across from Kazimir, it was with more aggression than he’d intended.

“Okay,” Madden drawled, still standing, “Sure, Prince of Medicine, I’ll order for you.”

Kaz waited until Madden had walked over to the counter before asking, “Bad day?”

“Where’s Nate?” Zane shrugged when Kazimir’s eyes hardened. “It was only a question.”

“See,” he tapped the tabletop between them, “to anyone else, that would probably seem believable, but I’m not anyone else.”

“You make it sound like we used to whisper secrets to each other in the dark.”

“Didn’t we?” Kazimir blew out a breath. “I don’t know what’s up with you—No, that’s a lie. It’s this new thing I’m trying called being polite. Nate would like me to stop causing so much trouble with my bluntness. I know what’s up with you. It’s been too long since the last time you were fucked.”

Zane reached up to tug on his earlobe, slipping a finger behind it to feel at the slight bump where the tracking device had been implanted that night at the pool. When he’d gone up to his room and realized what’d been done, he’d almost pulled the thing out but had changed his mind in the end.

No one would bother putting a tracking device on someone they weren’t desperate to keep tabs on, right?

Someone they didn’t desperately want?

Was it sick of him to like it? To feel comforted by the object that’d been inserted into his body against his will?

Sure.

But knowing that didn’t stop the sweeping of relief that soothed his growing anxiety whenever he touched it, just to make sure it was still there.

As if he feared Pavel would sneak into his room one night and take it back.

“Believe it or not, I’ve always considered us friends,” Kazimir added, but before Zane could come up with any sort of reply, someone cleared their throat.

Nate Narek appeared, circling the table and dropping down into the empty chair at Kaz’s side. “Interesting choice of friends.”

Zane smiled sweetly. “Hello, Narek. I trust you’ve been well?”

“No one’s snuck into my boyfriend's house lately, so yeah, you could say that.” He stabbed Kaz’s fork into the half-eaten chocolate chip muffin on the small plate in front of him and popped it into his mouth.

“I had a key,” he reminded, mostly because he didn’t want to be associated with Pavel and his creeping ways. “But don’t worry. I lost it a long time ago.”

“Isn’t this cute.” Madden returned and set a glass mug in front of Zane before sitting next to him. “Us, together, hanging out like this. Making his man jealous for funzies.”

“I don’t know a single person who actually likes the cherry dark chocolate mocha. It’s so bitter.” Nate eyed Zane as he sipped the red and brown drink, then seemed to process the last part of Madden’s statement. “Wait, we’re doing what now?”

“Seeing someone?” Kaz smirked. “Good for you.”

“I’m undecided.” Zane was only partially here to mess with Pavel, in any case.

“He doesn’t know if he wants to keep him or not,” Madden stole a piece of Kazimir’s muffin, winking when Nate gave him a stormy look.

“Shouldn’t that be,” Nate pulled the plate closer to his side of the table, “he doesn’t know if he wants him or not?”

“Oh, he wants him,” Madden chuckled.

“Zane doesn’t bother with things that lack purpose,” Kaz agreed, reaching up to drape an arm over Nate’s shoulders casually. “So? What can we help you with? Admittedly, it was weird getting your call.”

“Just act like we’re having a good time,” Zane said.

“Why?” Nate’s brow winged up. “Hold on, he’s watching us? Right now?”

“From the second floor of the department store across the street,” Kazimir confirmed, also cluing them to the fact he’d been aware of Pavel’s presence all this while. “He’s really not doing much to keep hidden, is he?”

“He definitely wants Zanie to know,” Madden hummed. “But that’s only part of the reason we asked you here. Baikal requested we help out with the investigation into the murder of the Brimstone sibling.”

The Brimstones were visiting Royals from another galaxy working closely with the Brumal. The eldest sibling, Jem, had recently inherited their grandfather’s trade routes, ones necessary for the Brumal to maintain their level of power within the Dual galaxy. It was safe to assume keeping him happy meant keeping the deal alive.

Unfortunately, one of his sisters who’d been visiting with him had been inexplicably murdered. So, there was that minor snafu.

Zane wouldn’t usually bother with Brumal affairs, but ever since Madden had started dating Berga, the lines between their two groups had started to blur somewhat. Before, they’d help each other out if there was a problem, but there was typically a tradeoff of sorts. As far as Zane knew, Kelevra had agreed to offer their services with nothing in return.

Although, he did suppose a pissed-off Royal with a dead sister on their planet didn’t look great for the Imperial family.

“Saint is already off world chasing down a lead,” Kazimir said. “As for the rest, Yuze has taken the case.”

“We heard there’s a potential second suspect.” Madden sounded like he actually gave a shit.

Zane let his gaze wander to the window. It’d started to rain, a light pattering slowly painting their surroundings a darker shade. Every now and again, the clouds shifted, allowing sunlight to pool down and create a glittering effect.

Did Pavel enjoy the rain? On Vitality, it rained a lot, unlike their home planet Hexa. Though he truly didn’t recall much from his time there, Zane knew the weather had been drier, hot, with very little change in season.

“Yuze seems to think so, but he’s…occupied,” Kaz hesitated, which was very unlike him.

Zane turned back and cocked his head. “With?”

“Please don’t tell me he’s filming another porn video,” Madden drawled, mostly joking. They all knew Yuze would take this seriously.

“I’m surprised you two haven’t heard,” Kazimir said. “It involves one of the Royal Consort’s friends.”

Zane and Madden glanced at each other, both frowning.

“Rin’s friend?” Zane didn’t know any of them very well, but he’d seen their faces. “Weren’t they all in attendance at his birthday party last month?”

“It happened after that,” Kazimir sighed. “He was kidnapped by Jem. The guy’s favorite sister was just murdered, and he hasn’t been handling it well. He doesn’t think we’re doing everything we can to catch the culprit.”

“So…he’s using a nobody as an incentive?”

“He isn’t a nobody,” Kazimir corrected, and when Zane gave him a look, corrected, “Okay, sure to us he is, I mean, since he’s a close friend of the Royal Consort’s, he can’t be considered unimportant. Yuze will handle it. Once he locates them.”

“I’m surprised Kelevra hasn’t said anything to me,” Madden stated.

“Pretty sure Baikal asked that it be kept on the down low for now. Better chance of locating Jem. If it did leak, people would plaster his face all over social media, and that would be just as bad as him kidnapping and holding a hostage.”

Because making an enemy of the Royal would mean breaking the trade route agreement. Baikal would rather help Jem keep face than do everything they could to rescue whoever this friend was. Not that Zane was judging.

He’d make the same call if their roles were reversed.

They kept discussing ways Madden could offer his aid, but Zane mostly tuned it out. Technically, his services weren’t required. He’d only offered to come to piss Pavel off, and the longer this dragged on the more likely that was, so he just sat there idly, sending friendly smiles Nate’s way whenever he noticed the other man looking at him.

“I don’t get you,” Narek said after ten or so minutes had passed and the other two had gotten up for refills.

“What’s to get?” Zane played with his empty cup, twirling it on the table.

Nate stared at him wordlessly for a moment and then planted his palms on the surface of the table and stood. “Is this what you did to me and Kazimir? Put on a show and turned us into your puppets?”

To an onlooker, it would appear as though he were being scolded, but Zane took in Nate’s expression carefully, noting there was nothing but curiosity and mild distaste in his gaze.

“What are you doing, Narek?” It seemed an awful lot like he was playing along.

“I don’t like you.”

“I’m aware.”

“Kazimir doesn’t like you either.”

“That’s also been expressed,” Zane drawled, “yes.”

“But I’ve been on the receiving end of a Devil’s obsession before. I’m willing to bet this show of yours is all part of a bigger act.”

Okay. Things had just gotten incredibly fascinating. Zane rested his elbows on the edge of the table, leaning in. “Do tell.”

“It scares you, doesn’t it?” Nate’s voice dropped, as though he were trying to prevent the others across the store from hearing. Like he didn’t want to embarrass Zane or something. “Knowing that Pavel isn’t going to let you go, no matter how many times you resist? It scares you that you want him back, because—”

“You’re a very good person, Nate,” Zane stopped him. “Good for Kaz. Since helping to save your skin that one time wasn’t enough to endear me to you, how about I give it another go and let you in on a secret.” He smiled sweetly. “Wanting to fuck Pavel Hart doesn’t scare me. Casual sex is nothing new to me, as you well know. It’s not even the idea of commitment that has me hesitating. It’s not understanding his motives, or really, him at all that’s driving me crazy.”

Zane was used to being the outsider peering in. The one who could read those around him. When it came to Pavel? It was like staring at a foggy abyss, knowing there was something in there, but unable to identify what it was.

“This obsession seemingly came out of nowhere,” Zane continued. “I don’t think I can be blamed for wondering if it would vanish at the same speed.”

“You’re testing him,” Nate guessed, pursing his lips. “That’s what you were doing with me, wasn’t it.”

It hadn’t been a question, but he responded anyway, shrugging lightly. “Kazimir pissed me off, but I have always considered him as a sort of friend.”

“I broke up with him because of that stunt you pulled,” Nate stated.

“The distance also helped you realize you really wanted him, even when he wasn’t chasing you down and forcing himself on you. You wanted him even when you weren’t cornered and reciprocating that desire wouldn’t be more of a survival instinct than true yearning.”

“Are you hoping you really want him, or he really wants you?”

“I’m not sure,” Zane admitted. “Perhaps you can tell me, Narek. As an outsider looking in, how does it appear?”

Nate stared at him and then straightened from the table. “I don’t know anything about Pavel Hart—I don’t really know anything about you—but I know what it’s like to be hunted by a Devil. Can I give you some advice?”

“By all means.”

“Preferably without you lobbing threats my way after the fact.”

Zane grinned. “I like you, Narek. You’re a lot more interesting than I first assumed. Add that to the fact Kazimir is less than twenty feet away, and I can assure you, I pose you no danger. Speak your mind. Not many people have serious talks with me. This is…refreshing.” So much so, he was actually considering trying to befriend the other man for real.

“You’re not doing enough,” Nate stated. “This?” He indicated the café. “Everyone already knows Kaz and I are together. This won’t do the trick.”

“And what’s the trick?”

“Making him jealous. Jealous enough that you’re both able to figure out what you want from the other. You’re trying to push the two of you past your limits so you’re forced to decide—which is weird, by the way. Normal people can just figure out their own feelings without needing to manipulate themselves into it, but whatever. If that’s your goal, you need to do something more impactful than meet up with your ex fuck buddy.”

He made a valid point.

The others were returning now, and Zane mulled it over. Basically, Nate was suggesting he go big or go home.

“What was the name of your friend again?” Zane asked the second Madden set down a fresh cup of coffee in front of him.

He quirked a brow. “Which one?”

“The one who hangs out with Muse.”

“Great?”

That…was a stupid name, but all right.

Nate’s eyes narrowed. “Hold on…”

“Can I get his number?” Zane sat there quietly when three sets of eyes—four, if he counted Pavel’s, who he could still feel from a distance out the window—turned on him.

“Why?” Madden didn’t bother hiding his suspicion.

“I’m going to ask him out on a date.”

Kazimir choked on a sip of his drink, while Nate sighed.

“I would just like it to be noted, that’s not what I meant,” Narek said. “I don’t want to be held responsible for an innocent person's maiming.”

“Noted.” Zane winked at him and then turned to Madden. “Well? Number. Thanks.”

According to Pavel, he had years of unrequited lust to be held to the test.

Zane needed to try harder?

Okay.

He could do that.