Page 11 of Devil May Hunt (The Devils of Vitality #8)

“Bro, he keeps staring at you,” Ives, a fellow cadet at the Academy, hissed out of the corner of his mouth as they held themselves in a static push-up. “What’d you do to piss off an Imperial?”

“If you think that’s a look of anger he’s been giving him all morning,” Rin stated from Ives’ other side, “you’re a bigger moron than I gave you credit for.”

“Hey!”

“Got something to share with the rest of us, Cadet?” Banks, the Active in charge of their group's training, called out sharply.

“Apologies, sir!” Ives huffed out his cheeks and pretended to concentrate on the lines of the polished floorboards beneath them.

Brennon kept his mouth pressed into a thin line, refusing to dignify any of the gossip with a response. He was well aware of Gunho’s attention, it’d been locked on him for the past two hours, ever since he’d entered the gym for morning drills and discovered him standing next to Banks.

They’d introduced him as a guest trainer, but he’d done nothing other than watch, occasionally saying something to Banks that Brennon couldn’t overhear from his distance.

Banks blew the whistle around his neck and the cadets all groaned in relief and got to their feet. He didn’t give them much of a chance to relax though, ordering them to do twenty laps around the gym.

“Need me to help you fake an illness?” Rin asked, jogging up to him and keeping pace. He went silent when they passed where Banks and Gunho were standing, then added, “Or I could pretend to trip and kick you really hard. A broken ankle or nose should do the trick.”

“Are you trying to help me,” he drawled, “or using this as an excuse to get back at me?”

“For?”

“Ruining our friendship?”

Rin grunted. “You didn’t ruin shit, Bren. Take it from someone who’s been in a similar situation as this, Imperials aren’t people you want to be messing with. If he’s here—” he cut off midsentence and swore, something distracting him.

Brennon followed his gaze to the entrance, clicking his tongue when he spotted Kelevra. “Who needs the broken ankle now?”

“Yeah, and let Kel murder you for hurting me?” Rin clapped him on the back and broke off from the rest of them, not bothering with asking for permission from Banks.

Kelevra Diar was the real one in charge here. If he ordered the Active to join them doing laps, Banks would have to do it without argument. The thing was, Kelevra wouldn’t hesitate to do it either. He wouldn’t even need a reason.

Growing up, Brennon had watched the prince from the sidelines, noticing how ambivalent Kelevra could be about his cruelty.

He’d been smart enough not to get involved, even if the reason at the beginning had been mostly to spite his parents.

It was hard seeing the way Kelevra treated Rin though, not only because it was different than how he treated anyone else, but because it forced Brennon to admit he was wrong about him.

Kelevra Diar was an arrogant prick.

But he loved Rin. Was good to him.

Better than Brennon would have been capable of being.

Their relationship compelled him to acknowledge his crush had stemmed from an unwillingness to give up his friendship.

He’d wanted Rin’s affection because he hadn’t wanted change.

If his friend had reciprocated, Brennon would have lost him, because he couldn’t give him the same care and attention that Kelevra could. He just wasn’t programmed that way.

Until that night with Gunho, Brennon hadn’t considered bottoming for anyone. He was used to being in control and having his own way. But that night…He’d been so drunk, and the alpha had been sexy and pushy and persistent and…He didn’t regret it.

Well, he did , but not because of the sex. Honestly, he may have even been open to sleeping with Gunho again if the alpha hadn’t gotten crazy possessive out of nowhere, talking about pheromones and scents and whatnot.

It was dressed up clinically, but when the fancy words were stripped away, it all sounded way too romantic for Brennon’s tastes.

He’d never been attracted to anyone else’s scent but Brennon’s? What the hell. Did the alpha think that made them soulmates or some shit?

No. No matter how good the sex had been, or how badly Brennon wanted to sit on that cock, there was no—

He stumbled and almost crashed into a cadet in front of him, coming to a halt in the middle of the path. Someone bumped into him from behind, but he hardly noticed, too caught up in the direction his thoughts had taken without his permission.

He wanted to what now?!

“Brennon.” A hand reached out for him and he slapped it away without thinking, only realizing what he’d done when a hush fell over the entire gym.

A rush of anxiety swept over him as he lifted his gaze, wincing when he found Gunho standing less than two feet away.

He’d just hit an Imperial.

In public.

Brennon could feel the weight of the room on his shoulders, and he did what the situation demanded and dropped to one knee in a swift motion, bowing his head. “Apologies, Imperial. I didn’t mean it. Please forgive me.”

Pissing off his parents by disregarding their plans for him was one thing, tarnishing the Cree name because he’d been a foolish, distracted brat was another.

Even if this wasn’t Gunho’s planet, and even if Rin was able to convince Kelevra to come to Brennon’s defense, there were too many witnesses for him to get off completely unscathed.

Reputation was everything. The alpha would need to save face.

Two fingers pressed beneath his chin, lifting his head until his eyes met with golden ones.

The breath almost caught in his lungs, but he managed to conceal his reaction to that intense stare at the last second, keeping his composure so as not to embarrass himself or the Cree line more than he already had.

“It’s been a few days, cadet,” Gunho said cryptically. “Do you know what you’ve done wrong?”

He frowned but replied, “I shouldn’t have slapped you. I apologize, Imperial.”

“You’ll need to be punished for your insolence.”

“I’ll accept whatever punishment you see fit.” It was easy to slip into the role of dutiful subject. The calm, easy-going Royal Brennon Cree was an identity he was familiar with enough that it came as second nature, even in the presence of Gunho.

Brennon only ever did enough to be petty toward his parents, not screw up his own reputation. He’d chosen the Academy over Vail, knowing he could integrate into the family business whenever he pleased. Despite his claims, he’d always planned on eventually taking over Cree Cosmetics.

He’d avoided Kelevra Diar growing up, refusing to become his friend and garner favor because it pissed his parents off, but also because he’d known from early on he was no match for someone with that kind of power.

The type of person who could order an entire room into silence with just a glance.

Like the person still holding him prisoner with two fingers and golden eyes.

Aside from disregarding mommy and daddy, he’d always kept up appearances as the dignified Royal.

Had ensured his grades remained steady, even if they weren’t brilliant.

Was friendly and kind to everyone he encountered, though in a passing, carefree way.

He networked but didn’t form strong attachments, kept a polite distance from the higher-ups.

He’d only just realized his actions had prevented him from making any real friends, and that was why he’d clung so strongly to Rin, but that also didn’t mean he was willing to settle for anyone who came along.

He wouldn’t settle for the imposing alpha.

Even if he was willing to kneel before him and denigrate himself in front of his entire class. Hell, they were the only reason he was doing this at all. If it’d just been the two of them alone, Brennon wouldn’t bother with the theatrics.

“On your feet, cadet,” Gunho ordered in a clipped tone, releasing him and stepping back to give him room to follow the command. “Come with me.”

He almost hesitated, but with everyone still watching, Brennon couldn’t risk it. He kept a safe distance between them as the alpha led him across the room, apprehension growing with each rapid beat of his heart.

“Continue training, Active,” Gunho said to Banks as they passed, not slowing or pausing to explain.

Brennon pointedly didn’t look at the Active, continuing after the alpha until they’d slipped beneath the side door that led to a hallway. They passed the locker rooms and then entered one of the offices that had been set aside for visiting lecturers and trainers.

Almost as soon as he stepped beneath the threshold, the door slammed shut and Brennon found himself shoved against it, his cheek smushed painfully against the metal.

He struggled at first, but the alpha kept him in place with his larger form, growling low.

The warning was enough to have him freezing, a learned reaction from when they’d slept together that must have carried over.

“Want to tell me why you got weird the moment Kelevra Diar arrived?” Gunho asked.

Brennon tried to look at him over his shoulder, but a palm settled over his skull, keeping him in place so that all he could do was stare off to the side. “I didn’t.”

“Liar.” Gunho yanked him away from the door as quickly as he’d pinned him to it, practically tossing him against the desk on the far side of the room.

Before Brennon could react, he captured his nape and forced his head down, other hand reaching around him to fiddle with the belt of his commando pants.

“What are you doing?!” Brennon struggled, but he couldn’t pull away, letting out a frustrated sound when his pants were opened and tugged down to his knees.

Cool air brushed against his exposed parts and he bucked in a last-ditch attempt to shake himself loose, but all that did was cause an appreciative groan to rumble out of the alpha.

“I’ll ask again,” Gunho said, resting a hand on the desk at the side of Brennon’s face so he could see the leather belt he was now clutching. “Do you know what you’ve done wrong?”

Brennon blinked at the leather strap, mind struggling all of a sudden. “I…I hit you.”

“Do you really think that’s why you deserve to be punished, pretty lover?” He sighed in obvious annoyance when Brennon didn’t reply, pulling back to tug at Brennon’s wrists before securing them with the belt.

Brennon twisted them at his narrow back, but they were tight with no give at all.

The sound of metal jangling came next, and it took him a moment to realize the alpha was removing his own belt now.

“Gunho,” he couldn’t keep the thread of fear from his tone, knew the alpha had heard it when that earned him a shush.

“The plan isn’t to fuck you,” he reassured. “You’re being punished. You haven’t earned my cock. However, if you continue to forget proper etiquette, I might change my mind. I don’t think you’re allowed to call me by my first name.”

“Apologies, Imperial.”

The leather cracked against the air just before connecting with the sensitive flesh of Brennon’s ass. He jolted and cried out, trying to stand before he was forcefully shoved back into position.

“Alpha,” Gunho growled. “I am your alpha. You will treat me as such.”

“Bullshit!” He swore when another blow was delivered, landing against the same tender spot.

“Want to try that again, pretty lover?”

“I said,” he ground his teeth, “you aren’t my fucking al—”

The thick leather slapped against him three times, the sting reverberated down his thighs and up his spine. As a Royal, being treated this way was enough to have his pride howling, but it got worse when the alpha stepped in close and cupped the same cheek he’d just abused.

“Five more, as punishment for making me wait so long to see you,” Gunho said. “I’ll give you another five for your stubbornness.” His touch was gentle, his hand rubbing the globe of his ass.

“Wait.” Brennon shook his head when the alpha’s fingers tipped lower, grazing his balls. “Don’t.” Something strange was happening to his lower region, and he didn’t want the older man to notice.

“Have you decided to be good for me?” Gunho purred, thumb pressing beneath his cheeks to prod his hole once before pulling away. “Call me appropriately, and I’ll drop it to seven lashes.”

“Five.”

“We aren’t negotiating, Brennon. You’ll show me respect.”

“You haven’t earned my respect.”

“You made that clear when Kelevra arrived and you got jealous in front of me.”

Brennon frowned. “What? I wasn’t.”

“I saw it with my own eyes. Your crush ran to him, and you got distracted afterward.”

“That wasn’t because I was jealous.” He hadn’t been. “I wasn’t thinking about them at all.” Mostly. At least, not in the way he was being accused of.

“Oh?” He didn’t sound like he believed him. “What were you thinking about then?”

Brennon opened his mouth to explain, but caught himself. He couldn’t exactly confess that he’d been surprised by his own urges. That he’d been picturing Gunho naked, and that’s what had thrown him for a loop.

“Just,” he gave a defeated sigh, “give me the ten lashes and be done with it already.”