Page 25 of Devil May Hunt (The Devils of Vitality #8)

Brennon didn’t know if it was the drug or the man—maybe all heats were like this—but sex had never been this satisfying before.

“Harder.” He shoved Gunho back onto the bed they’d been sharing the past two weekends, changing the angle so he could sink deeper onto the alpha’s scorching cock. The heat and the sharp burn from the stretch as he pounded up into him had him tossing his head back on a cry of pleasure.

The second heat had hit him the night they’d returned from the restaurant after being blown off by his parents.

Brennon had resisted then, pushing the alpha away up until the feeling that he was going to burst out of his own skin had started.

Then he’d given in and allowed the older man to take him to bed.

This time had been different. He’d been less stubborn, less concerned about coming off easy or playing into Gunho’s hands. The moment he’d stepped through the front door and gotten a whiff of that delicious spicy aroma, he’d lost it.

It helped he’d had a shit day and was in the mood to burn off some extra calories. Might as well take out his frustrations on the alpha’s body.

He didn’t really know why he was resisting anymore anyway. They’d come to an agreement, and this was permanent. That being the case, he should milk it for all it was worth.

Which meant taking advantage of the fact he had a massive cock readily available to him twenty-four-seven. There was no way Gunho would ever turn him down if he initiated.

The alpha gripped his hips and fucked into him, hitting that spot so deep inside it was uncomfortable as much as it was pleasure-inducing. He kept at it, driving up and holding him down over him for a second or so each time to ensure Brennon felt it.

“Going to come for me, pretty lover?” Gunho purred, smirking when Brennon met his gaze. “You look so good on top of me. Like a king on his throne. I’ll fuck you like this for the rest of our lives. Make you scream and call my name as you climax and—”

The orgasm hit him suddenly and he crumpled forward, hands slapping against Gunho’s chest as his entire body twitched and his dick emptied across the alpha’s stomach.

Gunho kept at it until he found his own release, then quickly rolled them over so that Brennon was more comfortable when the first push of the knot swelling at the base of his cock began. It forced its way into Brennon’s tight hole, and the alpha kissed his forehead when he whimpered.

Knotting was probably the strangest part about all of this. It was a bulge at the base of their appendages that inflated to lock an alpha and their mate together. The point was to keep the alpha’s come from dripping out, so a successful breeding was more likely.

Even though Brennon couldn’t get pregnant, Gunho’s body still reacted the same way. Because of the induced heat, Brennon’s body craved it as well. He could come a dozen times, but he was never fully satisfied until he felt that knot stretching him.

“Another minute,” Gunho said, kissing his cheek and the curve of his jaw.

“It’s fine.” He knew the knots lasted about two or so minutes. “I want to go again.”

“Already?”

“Don’t tease me. I was super nice just now and haven’t pointed out how weird it is that you referred to your cock as a throne.”

Gunho chuckled and rocked his hips. “Your heat is subsiding. You don’t feel as hot, and you sound of clearer mind.”

Brennon opened his eyes and glared up at him. “Are you refusing me?”

“No, pretty lover. I would never.”

“Then what?” He knew what. The alpha was trying to gauge his reaction, see if he was aware of what he was asking for, even though he no longer needed it.

Once the symptoms of the heat ended, Brennon could shove the alpha away and blame his actions on the drug.

But he didn’t want to. “I want you to keep touching me.” He lifted, grinding against the knot still buried inside of him. “Just like this.”

The triumphant gleam in Gunho’s eyes might have bothered Brennon, but a moment later, his knot shrunk, and he started pounding back into him with a fervor that had all thought vanishing from Brennon’s head.

* * *

“Are you sure you can’t make it?” Calder frowned as Brennon quickly dried off and tugged his uniform back on. They were in the locker rooms, having just trained and showered, and the blond was staring at Brennon as though he’d grown a second head. “What’s the rush?”

“It’s Friday,” Rin reminded on their other side. “He’s running home to his alpha like a good little boy.”

“Nothing little about me,” Brennon quipped, but his mood wasn’t soured by them. He tied his boot laces quickly, not bothering to double-knot them like he usually would.

Rin gave him a once over. “You don’t seem ill.”

“Heat hasn’t hit,” he said.

“Then what’s the rush?” Calder repeated, crossing his arms. “Let’s eat at Tiff’s.

There’s a new soda flavor.” He’d returned from his mission with one of the Brumal members last week and was trying to catch up on all the new menu items at his favorite restaurants, which of course meant dragging Brennon and Rin along.

“Can’t.” Brennon grabbed his bag. “My Be’tessi is making dinner tonight. Gotta go.”

“You’re ditching us for—”

“A home-cooked meal and good sex?” Rin finished Calder’s sentence for him, but Brennon merely laughed.

“No way.” He patted his friend on the shoulder. “I’m ditching you for a home-cooked meal and phenomenal sex.”

* * *

“Mr. Cree!” a voice called out to Brennon a few days later as he was heading into the cafeteria, and he paused. A man dressed in an expensive suit was standing at the bottom of the steps, a briefcase clutched in his right hand. He bowed low the moment their eyes met and patiently waited.

“Who’s that?” Calder asked, both he and Rin stopping as well.

“No clue. Go on without me. I’ll catch up.” Brennon waved them off.

“He didn’t call you correctly,” Rin pointed out. “I don’t like him.”

“Me neither,” Calder agreed.

“We’ll wait for you right here.” Rin made a big show of propping a shoulder against one of the stone pillars holding up the balcony above them, staring the man down.

Brennon snorted but didn’t argue, heading back down the steps. “How can I help you?”

“Mr. Cree, I’m—” The man began to extend his hand, but Brennon cut him off.

“It’s Royal Consort actually.”

The man dropped his arm and cleared his throat. “Yes, well, forgive my rudeness. My name is Salz Morgan. I’m a representative sent by Emperor Hangyeol Idris.”

Brennon’s hackles rose at the name of Gunho’s grandfather, but if Salz noticed, he didn’t give himself away.

“If you have a moment,” he man said, “I have something of utmost importance to discuss with you. I’m positive you’ll want to hear what I have to say.”

Did he call Gunho? Text him at least? If he made a move for his multi-slate now, Salz would see and…Brennon was curious about what had brought this man all the way here. He’d heard all about how cold-hearted the Emperor of Glyph was, but this was a public setting, and there were witnesses.

Surely Salz wouldn’t try anything.

“Sure,” Brennon agreed.

“Perfect.” Salz held a hand out toward a suspicious black vehicle idling on the side of the road. “If you would.”

“Yeah, no.” He shook his head and slid his hands into the pockets of his black pants, drawing attention to his military uniform, just like he wanted. He smirked when Salz noticeably gulped. “We can talk right here.”

“With all due respect, this is sensitive information. It can’t be leaked.”

“There’s no one else around.” He and his friends had finished later than most, so the campus was practically empty.

Everyone who had lunch this time of day was already in the cafeteria, or off finding food elsewhere.

“Them? My friends don’t count. They can’t hear you from this distance anyway.

Speak, Mr. Morgan, or should I take your reservations as to meaning this isn’t as important as you made it sound? ”

“No, no.” Salz straightened. “All right. I only want to speak privately for your own sake. Please don’t be cross with me if your private business gets aired like dirty laundry.”

Brennon shrugged. As if he’d fall for that. “Go on.”

“It’s about your position as Royal Consort to Gunho Idris, Imperial Prince, fourth in line for the throne.”

“I know who he is.”

“Yes, of course. The thing is, his majesty has recently been made aware of how it is you came to bear that title. He’s enraged that his grandson would abuse his power in such a way and has ordered the pharmaceutical company behind the drug to deliver the antidote.

I have it here.” Salz reached into his briefcase and pulled a small velvet box from within, but he didn’t hand it over.

Brennon’s eyes narrowed on the box. “Let me guess, he wants something in return for this supposed generosity?”

He’d known there was an antidote, Gunho had all but admitted as much. But neither of them had talked about it since that first time. It was obvious there was no way the alpha was going to give it to him, at least, not any time soon. Not until he was secure in knowing Brennon wouldn’t leave him.

Brennon had figured that much out on his own, but this was a curveball he hadn’t seen coming.

“All he asks in return is for you to leave his grandson, and agree to testify against him in a court of law. You wouldn’t even need to leave your planet for that.

We can record you testifying first, and then if the courts ask for your presence, we’ll set up a live feed and have you attend remotely. ”

“Testify against him for what?” His grandfather was trying to get Gunho arrested? Damn. And he thought his family was messed up.

Salz gave him a look like he thought he was crazy for not knowing the answer himself.

“This drug he used on you is illegal. It’s yet to be approved by the board and hasn’t even completed all of its testing stages.

What he did was against several laws, and not just Glyphian and Vital ones.

It’s precisely for cases like yours, Mr. Cree, that it hasn’t been legalized.

Look at the damage it can do when placed in the wrong hands?

“It’s horrible what’s been done to you. Unforgivable.

No one should be forced into becoming someone’s mate.

The Intergalactic Conference will see to it that justice is served.

There’s no need to fear retaliation. I’ve brought several of the Imperial Guard with me.

They’re prepared to arrest him as soon as I give word you’re safe. ”

Brennon had resigned himself to his fate, but now…Salz was saying the Emperor of Glyph was prepared to return his life to him. They’d undo the awful heats, and take Gunho away. He’d be locked up in a highly secure prison, especially if the Intergalactic Conference really got involved.

They’d never see each other again.

It should have been what he wanted, and he could see why Salz was so certain he’d go along with the plan. A couple of weeks ago, he probably would have even considered it. But that was then.

This was now.

Yeah, maybe they’d started off terribly and he’d been forced into all of this.

Maybe he’d just gotten used to it, or was experiencing some type of Stockholm syndrome.

Brennon didn’t care. All he cared about was how he felt when he thought about going back to that monotonous day-to-day lifestyle he’d been living before meeting the alpha.

Terrible.

In the months he’d been with Gunho, Brennon had experienced more tenderness and acceptance than he had his entire life. He felt heard and wanted. Appreciated and cared for. It felt good giving back, as well. Just this morning, he’d been the first to send a good morning text, beating out the alpha.

Whatever this was between them, it was growing and evolving at a rapid pace, and Brennon was far too curious to see where it was going, to discover what they could become, to give up on them. Especially now for some asshole who didn’t even have the decency to come himself.

Who gave a shit who Hangyeol Idris was?

“I’m Vital,” Brennon stated calmly. “Go back and tell your majesty that he’s no emperor of mine.”

Salz sputtered, clearly struggling with how to respond.

“Also, you can pass on that you’re all mistaken.

Gunho didn’t force me into anything. I agreed to be his Royal Consort.

I’ll agree right now, on record, if you’d like.

If he’s planning on making false claims against me or my alpha, warn him that I’m prepared to fight back, and I have the backing of the Imperial family of Vitality.

Don’t I?” he called out that last part to Rin, who was still waiting at the top of the stairs with Calder.

“That’s correct,” Rin agreed without hesitation, and Salz spun on his heels to glare at him.

“And just who might you be?” the man asked.

“Royal Consort Rin Varun,” he replied with a smirk. “I’m sure Kelevra’s reputation precedes him.”

Salz paled.

“Gunho isn’t interested in your throne,” Brennon said. “And Hangyeol has other grandsons to continue his family bloodline. Tell him he should be grateful. So long as he doesn’t plot against us, he’ll have an ally in Vitality thanks to the grandson he despises so much.”

“You don’t have the authority to make a claim like that.”

“Yes,” Rin drawled, “he does actually.”

“Take it.” Salz shoved the box against Brennon’s chest. “You’ll regret this forever if you don’t. I witnessed that boy grow up. He’ll never let you go.”

“Didn’t you say you were a messenger from Glyph?” Brennon quirked a brow. “Pretty sure the only people who saw Gunho grow were all on Synastry.”

Salz dropped the box at his feet.

“You should really do your research before approaching someone,” he said. “If you had, you’d already know, there’s no one in this entire universe more stubborn than me.”

Brennon held his gaze and stepped forward, crushing the small box and whatever was inside of it beneath his boot.